Tulips and Daffodils in Skagit Valley

Washington’s fertile Skagit Valley, north of Seattle, is a patchwork of verdant pastures and farmland offering a bounty of meat, produce and artisanal products like cheese and jam. But in the spring, the green grass is broken by massive stretches of yellow daffodils, and later by row after row of highlighter-hued tulips.

Tourists flock to the area to view the tulips especially. They’re on display at a number of farms one can drive or cycle to. The blooms tend to peak in April, though the exact timing depends on the weather and varies from one season to the next. The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival website has a bloom map and tracks the bloom’s progress, forecasting when the best times to go might be.

Farms welcome visitors, as long as you respect the properties you visit and don’t take anything other than pictures. Enthusiasts will enjoy the display gardens at RoozenGaarde and Tulip Town, where new varieties are showcased in impressive collections. There are also flowers and food for purchase at these locations.

If you can, visit during the week or early in the morning, as traffic can get congested on the rural roads on weekends and in the afternoons.