For the first time ever, I’m welcoming a guest blogger! Suzette, from the travel blog Try Something Fun, is here to share her experience of the beautiful Skagit Valley tulip fields in Washington.
Flower gardens are one of my favorite things to see when I’m traveling because they bring me peace. They truly drain the stress right out of my world. There are other reasons as well; gardens are often designed with cultural concepts in mind. In Japan, some gardens are examples of harmony between man and nature. I can definitely see the truth in that, because the colors and shapes orchestrated by nature just amaze me sometimes.
One of my favorite gardens and a real bucket-list experience is the sprawling tulip fields of the Skagit Valley in Washington State. It’s home to thousands of acres of vibrant tulip fields that are typically in bloom throughout the month of April. There is even an online map indicating which flowers are in bloom at which locations.
The Skagit Valley is a 2-hour drive from Vancouver or Seattle and it’s definitely worth the trip. When I visited in the last week of April, I chose to see the Roozen Gaarde tulip fields. I paid a $5.00 entry fee and then had pleasure walking among the flowers and taking in the scenery. Purple and red tulips, blue skies and white fluffy clouds—it was perfect. Be warned though, it can be a little muddy so don’t wear nice shoes.
I was happy to see fields of daffodils because those are my grandma’s favorite flower.
I was not expecting anything beyond the flower fields, so imagine my surprise to find their gorgeous display garden featuring 90 tulip varieties and 140 other bulb varieties—and it’s open year-round! The more compact display garden is so lovely because of the beautiful color combinations in each flowerbed as well as unusual varieties that I had never seen before.
One of my favorites is the salmon parrot tulip that had floppy blooms larger than my head!
The Skagit Valley inspired me to find other flower fields and gardens, so I’ve been having a lot of fun taking road trips right here on the west coast of the US. For example there are flower fields of Dahlias in Oregon, Ranunculus in San Diego, Lavender in Napa, Water Lilies in Echo Park, Poppies in the Antelope Valley, Sunflowers in Sacramento, Calla Lilies in Big Sur, and Sweet Peas with Larkspurs in Lompoc.
Last but not least, there are other tulip festivals beyond the Skagit Valley, namely in the Netherlands and also Ottawa (a symbol of the bond between Canada and the Netherlands), both held in spring.
Hopefully I’ve convinced you to see the flower fields for yourself, but if you can’t, I hope you at least pick up some fresh flowers at your local market to light up your home and put a smile on your face!
Suzette is a super talented photographer and her blog is full of awesome travel tips and unique destinations, so be sure to check her out!
Her blog, Try Something Fun
This is beautiful, Hannah, thank you so much for sharing! I’m honored to be your first guest blogger. Looking forward to the blooms of spring! XO Suzette
I’m super happy to have had you! :D