Seeing the Tulips in the Skagit Valley
The first time I saw a field of tulips was a complete accident. Our family of 4 was out exploring near Mossyrock Washington during spring break and we happened to drive right past them. A sign on the edge of the field said we were welcome to walk through the tulips as long as we didn’t pick them or damage them. We enjoyed them very much.
Sadly, these fields no longer exist, and even then, they paled in comparison to those in the Skagit Valley. (Yes, I’ve heard the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm in Oregon is pretty great too. I haven’t made it there yet but it’s on my list.)
When I finally made it to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, it was on a girls trip with my sister, daughter, and sister in law. We stayed at a cheap motel – because that’s what we could afford at the time – but we had a great time. We enjoyed spending time with each other, and we liked the tulips very much, but we really had no clue what we were doing. We didn’t know if the tulips were actually blooming or not, or even where they were located. In the dozen or so years since then I’ve gotten much better at planning these trips. But on this trip, we were just winging it.
I’ve been back to the Tulip Festival several times with my husband Scott and here is what we’ve learned: Here are some helpful things to know:
Keep an eye on the ‘Skagit Valley Tulip Festival Bloom Map’ located online to see when and where the flowers are blooming. The Tulip Festival is in April each year, but the exact dates the flowers bloom varies from year to year. This map tracks what is blooming in the various fields.
Go in the middle of the week if at all possible to avoid the largest crowds
Buy your tickets online. While there may be a field or two that can be seen from the side of the road (with little to no parking), the best tulip viewing is in the tulip farms. There are 5 different tulip farms in the Skagit Valley and they all offer online ticket sales. Save yourself some time and money and purchase your tickets before you arrive. Ticket prices range from $15 - $20 depending on day and time. https://tulipfestival.org/gardens
Be prepared for mud. Rain boots are a good idea if we’ve had rain in the last few days.
Avoid rush hour If you must drive through Seattle to get there, avoid peak traffic times. If you take the ferry from Port Townsend to Whidbey Island, you may reserve your spot on the ferry ahead of time.
Golden hour and low wind are great for capturing photos of the tulips. This means going to see them later in the evening in the hour or two before sunset, or just after sunrise.
Be Patient. It may take a while to find parking and to make it to the entrance of the gardens. Be prepared to wait. It will be worth it.
Enjoy!