Why go: There’s something about rows upon rows of brightly-colored tulips that screams: Goodbye winter, hello spring! The time is now to catch the flower fireworks show that blankets Skagit Valley farmland each April.
Festival of flowers: The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival runs April 1-30, 2024. Sprawling fields of technicolor bulbs dot the landscape from Mt. Vernon west to La Conner and north to Burlington, with two main hubs for flower-seeking tourists–Tulip Town ( Monday – Thursday from 10am to 6pm, and Friday – Sunday from 9am to 7pm. Admission is $15 per adult, $7 for kids, free for kids 5 and under) and Roozengaarde (Weekdays 9am – 7pm, Weekends 8am – 7pm, $15 per person, free for kids 2 and under). Don’t miss the two smaller tulip farms for a unique experience–Garden Rosalyn and the area’s newest grower, Tulip Valley Farms.
See the tulip map. The tulip fields are about 65 miles north of Seattle via I-5.
Keepin’ it local: Your visit contributes to a thriving local agricultural economy–the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is one of the top destination events for the Pacific Northwest and brings in about $14 million to local businesses. Plus these tulips fields aren’t just for a pretty show–they yield around 100 million cut flowers each year and provide 75% of the nation’s commercially-sold tulips.
Photo op: Pack your camera! Pro and novice photographers alike flock to the blooming tulip fields that frame unique family portraits and provide for artistic compositions. For the most pop! in your photos, hit the fields well before the midday bright sunshine washes out the bloom’s bright hues; early mornings, the waning light of dusk, and overcast days provide the best filtered light for saturated petals. Leave the drones at home.
Parade this way: The annual “Washington Federal Tulip Parade” is great fun for kids, 2pm April 8, 2023 in La Conner.
A most scenic drive: Stretch the springtime scenery into a whole day with a motor up Chuckanut Drive; plan your route and stops with our handy Chuckanut Drive itinerary.
Tour de bike: Rent a bike (from Skagit Cycle in Burlington, $75 per day) or bring your own for a self-guided two-wheel tour through the tulip fields. Got a large group? Country Cycling offers fully-supported guided tours to see the tulips.
Go shopping: A must-stop shop in historic downtown La Conner is Pac Nor Westy – stock up on Pacific Northwest-themed T-shirts, artwork, stationary, books, mugs and more.
Best breakfast: Fuel up for a day of petal-peeping with a made-from-scratch giant cinnamon roll or tasty plate of morning hash at Calico Cupboard Cafe & Bakery (choose from their two tulip-country locations – La Conner or Mt. Vernon)
Lively local lunch: Follow the signs to the popular Kiwanis Salmon BBQ in Hillcrest Park (every day in April from 11am-7pm, $20 for a 3-ounce plate / $23 for a 5-ounce plate). Your plate will be piled high with generous portions of wild salmon barbecued over alder, baked potato, slaw, and garlic bread, plus ice cream for dessert. This is always a must-stop for our family!
A GREAT, BIG sandwich: We rarely go to the Skagit flats without a lunch stop at The Rex (previously known as Rexville Grocery, 19271 Best Rd, Mt Vernon). Their Reuben–generous enough to feed two hungry people–is simply amazing.
Make it a weekend: The cute, budget-friendly rooms at Hotel Planter are in an historic downtown building within walking distance to all of La Conner’s great restaurants, shops and art galleries. The inn gets bonus points for its private gazebo hot tub set in a sprawling, beautifully-landscaped garden, the perfect place to unwind after a day of sight-seeing.
Pitch a tent nearby: One of Puget Sound’s most scenic camping parks —Deception Pass State Park–is just 13 miles from La Conner. Other nearby campgrounds include Bay View State Park and Larabee State Park (which is first-come, first served camping for all of April).
In Oregon? Head to the Willamette Valley for the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival. It runs March 24 – April 30, 2023.
