It is officially my favorite month, in the kitchen and in the outdoors. Let’s see… the past few days I’ve made homemade chunky applesauce from the fruit of my parent’s Kitsap Peninsula orchard, pureed sugar pumpkin for upcoming fall recipes, and roasted the last of the garden cherry tomatoes. Now, I’m ready to get out and see some blazing fall color and run through a corn maze or two. Care to join me?
Oregon
This weekend (October 16 – 18) is Hood River Valley Harvest Fest, a classic fall festival that takes place right on the waterfront overlooking the Columbia River. Sample local apples, microbrews, wine, cider and artisan cheeses. Browse booths filled with local art and crafts. Enjoy live music and plenty of games and activities for the whole family.
Where to stay? Check out our Columbia Gorge cheap sleeps picks.
Like the spooky stuff? Get hands-on at “Fields of Fear“–A Halloween Experience Unlike Any Other! at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Hillsboro. It’s a 30-minute live performance, complete with strobe effects, loud noises, and terrifying situations, and the audience participates (note you will be required to walk for the entire length of the performance.) Runs October 21 – 31. Tickets here or call 503-516-4840.
Want to know where to spot golden aspen and fiery vine maple? Keep up with the Oregon Fall Foliage Blog, or call the Oregon Fall Foliage Hotline at 800.547.5445 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
Washington
Don a dirndl and grab your beer stein! There’s still one weekend remaining of Leavenworth’s Oktoberfest, the next best thing to being in Munich (October 16 – 17). Live it up with live music, authentic German food, arts and crafts, Bavarian clothing, and activities for the whole family. 
Staying overnight? In a town with few budget options, the affordable Mrs. Anderson’s Guest House stands out for its warm hospitality and Victorian charm. Located in the heart of downtown, its nine rooms (starting at $39) are decorated with turn-of-the-century antiques, quilts, and vintage clothing. Buffet breakfast included.
Get lost in a maze of maize near Olympia. The Rutledge Corn Maze is one of the most haunted corn mazes you’ll find, and there are acres of pumpkins to boot! Bring your sweetie and a thermos of hot cider for a romantic ride in a horse drawn wagon to the pumpkin patch, and pick out a pumpkin together. Kids will love having their faces painted, joining a carving contest, and guessing the weight of the magic pumpkin. Weekends through October 31 in Tumwater (click for directions).
Make a weekend of it with an overnight stay in Olympia at the Fertile Ground Guest House ($110) where beautifully-furnished rooms in a 1908 craftsman offer comfort and tranquility. Breakfast (included) from the organic garden is healthy and delicious.
British Columbia
It’s all about getting spooked in Vancouver this fall. If you were a fan of the Vancouver Museum‘s annual Haunted Trolley Tours, you will be disappointed to hear they canned it. This year, though, they’re going even darker. In the spirit of Ravishing Beasts, their soon-to-open feature exhibit, the museum is hosting a Halloween-inspired event on the evening of October 30 that includes music and a cash bar, guided tours of the exhibit, and a screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic Psycho, the film that left an indelible mark on the practice of taxidermy. Buy tickets in advance here.
All aboard! It’s the Stanley Park Ghost Train, through November 1 from 6 to 10 pm nightly. Share your train ride with zombies and witches. Kid’s activities include face painting, a shadow puppet theatre, and the always-popular Children’s Haunted Farmyard and its spooky animals.
Make it a weekend trip with one of our suggested Vancouver cheap sleeps.
Photos: Shaded pumpkin by sarahbest. Apple picking by Bryan Danger Wheeler.
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That ghost train sounds like fun! Maybe we should head up to BC next weekend.