I live in Washington state in the Pacific Northwest, and it’s one of the best decisions that I ever made. Where else could I have a large black bear with a sore paw, a cougar, and a bobcat in my yard all in one week? That just happened to me followed by two coyotes that made quite an interesting pair.
When I moved from Colorado I was concerned that nothing could measure up to the wonderful outdoor lifestyle that existed there. But, the evergreen state of Washington, has it all!
From luminous snow capped mountains…
to lush, moss hung, temperate rain forests…
from windswept beaches…
to cascading waterfalls. You can literally go skiing in the morning in the Cascades, and be at an oceanfront restaurant by late afternoon.
From that first chilly morning when you put on a sweater…
to the day when you shuffle through the newly fallen leaves…TS Eliot said it beautifully: “Fall is delicious.”
As we hike through the Olympic Mountains on a misty, early fall morning, we are reminded that autumn and the feelings stirred by it, seem to connect the centuries and touch our very roots.
When I’m out photographing in one of the many wetlands, and that first flock of geese flies over with their melodious honking, it reminds me that nature is forever…constant and true.
When the first snow of the season begins to fall in the Cascade Mountains, the ground cover becomes a quilt-like palette of beautifully woven colors.
Picture Lake reflects Mt Rainier while reflecting the saying (as we look out our window on a beautiful sunny day) ‘ it’s going to be a good day today… the mountain is out.’
As we drive towards Walla Walla and the wine country, September is a perfect time to choose from more than 120 wineries for some amazing tasting experiences, along with some fabulous Northwest cuisine.
I love this description of Northwest dining that was written by a New York food critic: ‘Dining in the Pacific Northwest can be a beautiful hot bed of marionberries, flannel and salmon. Even though some days can resemble a Japanese print with misty skies and gray-blue waves, nothing dilutes the majesty of a plate of fresh oysters and sour dough bread, served with a good bottle of Washington wine. It will enable the sea to turn to a brilliant turquoise, make the evergreens sparkle and make your palette erupt with life.’
Even the desert areas of Washington are beginning to show off their early autumn splendor.
These are the golden days in the Pacific Northwest…days when it’s time to think about the saying that says: ‘You should sit in nature 15 minutes a day, unless you’re busy. Then you should sit for an hour.’
As we head to the Olympic Peninsula, the beautiful Lake Quinault area is displaying its golden finery…
canoes are waiting to be rented…
and it’s time for an afternoon hike in either the Quinault or the Hoh Rain Forest…said to be the finest remaining temperate rain forest in the world.
There’s always a chance to see a buck deer in velvet or…
or a bull elk…part of a large herd that call the Lake Quinault area home.
A bit further afield are the stunning San Juan Islands…each with their own individual personality; nestled in quaint harbors, with jazz festivals, lighthouses, and scenic drives.
It’s a perfect time to jump on a Washington state ferry and head to a quaint inn or lodge for a salmon dinner, and don’t forget that special bottle of crisp Washington white.
Washington state is a land of horse farms and ranches, and even boasts one of the oldest rodeos in the country on Labor Day weekend in Ellensburg.
All country roads lead to an amazing hike or a one of a kind adventure…drive in any direction, and it will be a great getaway.
Whether you are heading towards the shore or the mountains…
the day promises to be a photo op that will go into your family album.
A stop at Snoqualmie Falls is exhilarating in any season, and it’s the perfect place for a Sunday brunch in the rustic lodge.
And in Seattle, the trees have just turned a brilliant red and yellow in the Japanese Garden.
A special treat is to go underground at the Hiram Locks in Seattle where there is a long panel of windows that shows the salmon run as it is happening.
And no fall excursion is complete without a stop at Seattle’s Arboretum.
Any road in any direction will take you to a diverse place of great beauty.
Whether it’s the rolling hills of the Palouse…
or a day boating on Lake Washington with fresh crab and cheese…
there is a wonderful saying that goes: ‘what a beautiful way to find your magic…it’s been waiting for you in the colors of fall.’
With over 3,000 waterfalls in the state, Sol Duc Falls on the Olympic Peninsula reminds us that Washington holds the record for the most waterfalls in the country. As autumn flows into winter, the mountains will once again display a new kind of splendor.
Right now there is a beautiful pair of camouflaged ducks in the wetlands … but soon great migrations of swans and snow geese will fly into Skagit County…
and the brilliant sunsets will reflect a new kind of beauty.
There used to be a poster that I would see around town that said: ‘The beauty of Washington state is more than just scenery…it’s a way of life.’ And, it’s true. Everyone kids us that we are always Eddie Bauer or REI dressed; always ready for a hike. They joke that we wear socks and sandals. I can’t deny any of that; I think it’s just part of our charm and how we are ready for anything outdoors in a moment’s notice.
We will end our time on a Washington beach at sunset…hoping that if you haven’t spent time in the Pacific Northwest, you will join us for a visit. It truly is a state that has it all! For an artist or a photographer, like me, it’s a living canvas. And we are so happy to share it with you whenever we can. Fall is a kaleidoscope of color and adventure just waiting to be explored. It is the essence of the great Pacific Northwest! (And don’t listen to what others say about our weather…fall is glorious in Washington state…it’s like the old Perry Como song…’the bluest skies you’ll ever see are in Seattle.’)
Photographed Entirely in Washington State…Boating on Lake Washington Was A Cover That I Did For Northwest Magazine. The Other Two Food Shots Were Featured In My Card Series: The Best Of The Northwest Restaurants With Their Most Renowned Recipes.
Stay tuned for more fall travelogues as we travel to the national parks in Utah in peak color season…visit the salmon run with thousands of eagles in British Columbia…and watch as thousands of snow geese and swans fly into Skagit County here in Washington. Autumn at it’s finest!
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Just loved your comment. For a photographer our state is truly a living canvas! When I first moved here I took my daughter to a different part of the state every weekend and we hiked everywhere. How lucky to live in such a wonderful part of the country!
Beautiful, I want to go to the peninsula right now. I love the Quinault Lodge and that whole area. You should be writing for the Washington State Tourism.