Fall in the Pacific Northwest means much more than a return of the rainy season. Kids go back to school, leaves change color and the scarves and gloves come out. Ranging from outdoor activities, shopping and dining, concerts and nightlife to historical locations, museums and public art, each of the Puget Sound region's cities and towns have diverse attractions, fall events and reasons to visit. In a game of Poker, it would be hard to know which city had the winning cards.

DuPont holds its own with shopping, dinning and a full 18-hole golf course. Both educational and entertaining, the DuPont Fall Festival and Hudson Bay Day showcase local history and culture with a family-friendly 2-day event Sept. 24 and 25. Pony rides, scarecrow building and pumpkin carving contest, a magic show and live music begin Saturday at DuPont's Clock Tower Park at 11 a.m.

During Hudson Bay Day at 1843 Fort Nisqually, kids can see how settlers roughed with wood-carving, needlecrafts, butter making demonstrations, period music, costumed historic re-enactments, a gun display, and a kid-focused archeology dig Sept. 25, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit www.ci.dupont.wa.us/

Steilacoom has the epitome of fall covered with the Festival of the Apple, a favorite annual event held at the Steilacoom Historical Museum. Appropriate for kids and adults alike, there will be 20 apple presses for cider making, apple-oriented foods and vendors Oct. 2, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. While there take in extraordinary views of fall foliage changing color on nearby islands and the breathtaking Puget Sound from Pioneer Park. Visit historical Bair Hardware & Drug and the Bair Bistro for exceptional made-to-order onion rings and hand-dipped milkshakes. Vist www.steilacoom.org for more information.

Those with a green thumb or just an eye of nature's beauty will fall in love with Lakewood's Lakewold Gardens. Avid gardeners and beginners can learn garden design with bulbs Sept. 17. "Enriching Our Lives in the Garden" on Oct. 1 is a day spent with award winning host of HGTV's "A Gardener's Diary," Erica Glasener. Cost is $20-$40.

It's all about kids on Truck and Tractor Day at Lakewood's largest park, Fort Steilacoom Park. On Oct. 29, kids can decorate pumpkins, climb on trucks and tractors and take hay rides (no cost, 3-6 p.m.). Haunted hay rides around the lake begin after dark. More information at http://lakewoldgardens.org.

Lakewood Playhouse presents up close and engaging theater experiences. Just in time to usher in fall winds and chills, the theater presents Something Wicked This Way Comes Sept. 23 to Oct. 16.

A visit to Puyallup's Pioneer Park Pavilion is a perfect place to start a walking tour of unique outdoor public art sculptures placed throughout the downtown area (www.arts downtown.org). It's also home to a large, family-friendly farmers market held Saturdays through Sept. and Sundays through mid-Oct. It's a great place to buy locally made crafts and über fresh produce. For information at www.puyallupmain street.com/farmers_market.html.

Moveable Feast, a roaming tour of area eateries begins Oct. 9 at Toscano's Cafe & Wine Bar. See what the locals love - grab a seat on a private bus with stops at restaurants in Sumner and Puyallup ($45 per person, 21+, http://puyallup sumnerchamber. chambermaster.com).

Don't miss the Puyallup Fair held Sept. 9-21 or 7th Annual Oktoberfest Northwest Oct. 7-9.

Find more information onthese events at www.oktoberfestnw.com and www.thefair.com/ puyallup-fair/

Emerald Queen Casino in Fife is a worthy opponent with live concerts and performances, gaming, multiple restaurants featuring Asian, American and European cuisine, and a hotel stay for adults all in one place. More at www.emeraldqueen.com.

Tacoma sees Puyallup's public art and raises it with internationally acclaimed Museum of Glass (www.museumofglass.org) and Tacoma Art Museum (www.tacomaartmuseum.org) and a newly revamped Cheney Stadium, home of the Tacoma Rainiers. Enjoy fine art or catch a baseball game without the hassle of heading to Seattle.

W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory in Wright Park (www.metroparkstacoma.org) showcases the exotic with monthly floral exhibits - both a treat for the senses and the intellect. Kid-friendly Point Defiance Park and Zoo (www.pdza.org) is open year round. Add the Tacoma Holiday Food and Gift Festival at Tacoma Dome to your calendar (Oct. 19-23). New this year is a full spread presented by Tacoma Dome chefs.