All Things Fall As Follows

If summer must end, there’s only one way to find a silver lining. Plan for all things fall. Washington’s state capital region has things covered with a tasting trip along the Thurston Bountiful Byway featuring craft producers (think: seasonal sips from Sandstone Distillery) along this 60-mile agritourism route. See sunflower fields, explore a corn maze or visit a Halloween Town. No pumpkin spice lattes here! It’s all things fall as follows.

Find All Things Fall in the Olympia region (@snickersv)

Starting in October, a handful of family farms will transform for the season with festive corn mazes, pumpkin patches, sunflower fields and more.

Add these can’t miss farm experiences and events to your fall bucket list:   

Rutledge Corn Maze. Family friendly activities include a pumpkin patch, cow train, story times and more. At night, the maze transforms into a space for zombie apocalypse paintball or haunted maze experience. The 2019 maze design will depict the American Heart Association in support of the Rutledge Family’s connection to the cause.

Lattin’s Family Farm. Find pony rides, apple bobbing, plenty of pumpkins, bluegrass music and fall fun at this family farm. Work up an appetite to enjoy the farm’s famous apple fritters, apple crisp, caramel apples, cider doughnuts and more.

Schilter Family Farm. Finding the perfect pumpkin is just the beginning at Schilter Family Farm. Find a five-acre corn maze, sunflower fields, a hay pyramid, a corn cannon, farm animals, pony and tractor rides and much more.

Hunter Farm. Visit the farm for every fall photo opportunity imaginable. From giant slides to carousels, pumpkins and corn mazes, Hunter Family Farms provides a pumpkin patch and much more.

Spooky Small Town: Bucoda Becomes “Boo-coda” in October. Halloween enthusiasts, take note! During the month of October, the tiny town of Bucoda with big Halloween spirit becomes “Boo-coda,” and hosts a series of events throughout the month. Located 30 miles south of Olympia, Bo-coda hosts a variety of frightfully-fun events, including casket races, hearse processions, Zombie 5k race, Jack-O-Lantern carving contests, Thriller dance lessons, pumpkin pancake feeds,  and Scary-Nights, a haunted house that is not for the faint of heart.  Held in the town gym known for paranormal activity, guests claim to have witnessed doors slamming unprovoked, spooky giggling from inanimate objects and more.

See the Salmon: Seasonal Spawning at Tumwater Falls. It doesn’t get more Pacific Northwest than to search for salmon spawning! Every year, Pacific salmon make the big journey as they travel hundreds of miles through the ocean to local streams at the end of their lives. From September to late October, the salmon reach the streams to mate and bury their eggs, where they are later hatched. Tumwater Falls Park near Olympia is the perfect location to watch the spawning process in the Deschutes River. Bring the kids and watch the salmon jump the fish ladders! Salmon stewards are on hand for egg-taking operations on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, and are happy to answer questions. Pro tip: bring binoculars for an even closer look! For more information, click here.

Haunting History: Book a Stay at a Victorian B&B.Olympia is a community full of history, and when Halloween rolls around it’s a fun time to imagine the friendly spirits still lingering from the past. Step back in time and book a stay at one of Olympia’s historic bed and breakfasts. While there’s no resident ghosts here, these B&Bs delight travelers with their haunting history, charming architecture and cozy amenities. Make up your own ghost story and consider one of these two, iconic stays:

Swantown Inn & Spa. Built in 1889 by William G. White, and his wife Amanda, the Swantown Inn & Spa is a 17-room Queen Anne/Eastlake Victorian Mansion. Ultimately the White’s time with the home was very short-lived, as they suffered financial hardships and had to foreclose in 1895. 

The Marie Bed & Breakfast. Historically known as the McIntyre House, the Marie Bed and Breakfast was built in 1892 by Mr. J.R. McIntyre. The home remained in the ownership of his descendants for over 100 years. 

For more trip-planning information visit experienceolympia.com or connect on Facebook (@ExperienceOlympiaandBeyond), Twitter (@Experience_Oly) and Instagram (@ExperienceOly).

 Photo Credit Below Courtesy; Clickery Photography 2018