Our first glimpse of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival fields was on our way to the hotel at the end of our road trip. We turned a corner in the farming area in Mt Vernon and there was a field of yellow and red. They were breathtaking and the pictures will give you just a hint of the awesomeness of them!
This post contains affiliate links, which means we receive a small commission when you make a purchase at NO additional cost to you. Check out our privacy policy for more information. Thank you for supporting this site!
In 1984, the first official Skagit Valley Tulip Festival was organized, featuring guided tours of the tulip fields and various events to showcase the beauty of the blooms. Since then, the festival has continued to grow, drawing visitors from around the world to experience the spectacle of millions of tulips in bloom. The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in Washington is a colorful quilt of color, where acres upon acres of tulips paint the landscape in hues of red, yellow, pink, and purple. Planning a trip to the Tulip Festival? Check out some our tips and suggestions below!
The Main Attraction | The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival Farms
While there are plenty of activities to do during the festival, the big draw of course is to explore the display gardens in the area. Currently there are four farms you can visit to see the gardens and they all require you to buy a ticket to visit – Roozengaarde, Tulip Town, Garden Rosalyn, and Tulip Valley Farms. Each farm offers its own unique charm and a kaleidoscope of tulip varieties, so make time to visit all of them if you can!
Split your visit your visit up into 2 days and visit as early in the morning as possible to avoid waiting in long lines. The festival gets over a million visitors a year, so be prepared for long lines during peak weekends.
Roozengaarde
Roozengaarde has over 200 varieties of tulips and 50 acres of display gardens, this farm is a paradise for tulip enthusiasts. Don’t miss the opportunity to stroll through their stunning gardens and order some bulbs to be delivered to your home. This farm is the biggest of the four and it is really stunning. They have a large parking lot and a stand where you can order snacks and beverages. They do have a giftshop but it is not very big, so we were a little disappointed in that.
This farm also has a field around the corner that just a parking area and tulips. It’s an additional cost per car to get in but it was one of our favorite stops because there was hardly anyone else there and we got some amazing photos!
Tulip Town
Tulip Town has a 8 acre display garden and over 50 tulip varieties. They also have a fun trolley ride around the fields, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the sea of blooms. There is a great indoor area that has a cafe, a wine and beer garden, a tulip display and a couple of areas to buy gifts. A couple of food trucks are on site as well. This farm is beautiful and I loved all of the photo props, like beautiful arches and frames they had around the farm. What I loved the most though was the Experience Pass that they offer. It does cost more than a general admission ticket, but it includes:
- A pick your own bouquet, where you are allowed to walk in one of the rows and pick the tulips you want.
- A tour of the farm, including behind the scenes areas and information on the process of planting and harvesting tulips.
- The chance to ask all of the questions about tulips that you want. I learned so much about planting them at my own house, it was really awesome.
- General admission ticket. After your tour you can explore the rest of the farm and take a trolley ride at your leisure.
I highly recommend doing this mini workshop! It was amazing to learn all about tulips and really enhanced the rest of our viewing of the tulips.
Garden Rosalyn
Garden Rosalyn is one of the newer farms, it has 6 acres of tulips with several variations. This farm is focuses on beautifully designed displays as well as a windmill and pond. They have a couple of food trucks and have a gift shop coming soon. This farm is dog friendly as well, so feel free to bring you dog and spend a couple of hours here. This garden is on the smaller side but it is a nice stop since there are less visitors that come here.
All the farms except for Roozengaarde are dog friendly. Make sure you check out each farm’s website for their current pet policies.
Tulip Valley Farms
Tulip Valley Farms features 30 acres of tulips planted amongst hazelnut trees and grassy rows. This is the only u pick tulip farm in the area. It is also dog friendly and encourages you to bring outside food for a picnic. The also have a couple of fancy display gardens as well as a daily tulip talk with a farmer.
The Best Time to Visit the Tulip Farms
The peak bloom period for tulips in Skagit Valley typically occurs from late March to mid-April, but timing can vary depending on weather conditions. I recommend checking the festival’s website for updated bloom reports to ensure you catch the flowers at their peak. We happened to catch the festival on peak weekend and it was really spectacular! There are varieties of tulips that bloom, early, mid and late season, so you should be able see some blooms during the festival depending on the weather.
What to Wear to the Tulip Festival
We saw people dressed all the way to formal, with very beautiful dresses to more practical boots and jeans. The weather can change pretty quickly in Skagit Valley, so being aware of what the weather is and being prepared for it is important. You are visiting a working farm, so if it has been raining, the pathways can be muddy. If you want to wear the fun shoes and dress, I would definitely recommend taking along a jacket and a change of shoes too, just in case. I really hate being cold, so I opted for layers and some practical shoes.
I also brought a beanie along as well and was really glad I did, the second day we were there it was a little windy and the beanie made it much more enjoyable to be outside.
We were also glad to have our sunglasses for that early morning sun and Randy never travels without sunscreen wherever we go! Don’t forget your camera either!! There were 4 of us on the trip and it was so fun to see the pictures afterwards to see what everyone thought was a cool variety of tulip!
What to Expect While Your at the Festival
Visiting the tulip festival is a feast for the senses. The vibrant colors of the tulips against the backdrop of the surrounding mountains create a picturesque scene that’s sure to leave you breathless. Be prepared for crowds, especially on weekends, but don’t let that deter you from experiencing the beauty of the blooms. Also, make time for other activities in the area, like visiting Deception Pass, go to the Mt Vernon Tulip Street Fair or go have afternoon tea at a tea house in the area.
Where to Stay for Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
For this trip, we stayed at the Majestic Inn & Spa in the nearby town of Anacortes. This hotel is in the downtown historic area and overlooks the marina. The Majestic Inn was a luxurious retreat after a day of exploring the tulip fields and surrounding areas. From its elegant accommodations to its spa services and fine dining options, it was the perfect home base for our tulip adventure.
We loved this hotel and would stay here again when were were in the area. This is a higher end hotel but the rooms were spacious and that roof top lounge was really awesome after a day out exploring! I found that the restaurant was fine but I wouldn’t want to eat there every night. It was just okay for the prices that they charged and Anacortes has tons of other great places to eat at. We only saw the spa but didn’t get to experience it – maybe next time!
If you are looking for a little less luxury, you can check out Hampton Inn & Suites in Burlington. They offer free breakfast, an indoor pool and hot tub. It’s just a short 15 min drive to the tulip fields and close to other activities as well, like downtown Mt Vernon and the Cascade Mall. This is a great homebase to explore the Skagit Valley area and it is nice to be able to come back to to the hotel and relax by the pool or in the hot tub.
Other Things to Do in the Area
In addition to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, the area has tons of activities to do! Here are some of our favorites:
- Go Hiking in Deception Pass State Park – The historic bridge and park is just a few minutes outside of Anacortes and is one of my favorite places! We have done a couple of hikes here but my favorite is the Lighthouse Point Loop. It gives you multiple views of the bridge and the ocean as well as parts that meander through the forest.
- Whale Watching from Anacortes – This 3 hour tour takes you out toward the San Juan Islands in search of Orca, Humpback, Grey and Minke whales. Along the way you might see some other sea creatures too, such as otters and seals!
- Take a day trip to San Juan Island – It’s an easy ferry ride from Anacortes to go visit San Juan, check out our day trip itinerary to make the most of your day there.
- Spend the day at Washington Park – Walk or drive the loop, stopping along the way to see if you can spot any sea life. Bring a picinic lunch and spend the rest of the day on the beach.
- Participate in a local event – Check out the event calendar for Anacortes and Mt Vernon to see what is going on while you are there. We saw a couple of parades, went to a street fair and did a city wide treasure hunt, called the Anacortes Nautical Treasure Hunt, where I won a cool piece of art from a local artist!
A visit to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is a magical experience that should be on everyone’s bucket list. With its breathtaking beauty, charming farms, and array of activities, it’s amazing way to celebrate the beginning of spring! So, lace up your shoes, grab your camera, and explore the breathtaking beauty of the tulips.
Want help planning your own amazing adventure to Skagit Valley? Contact me to get started!
Related Posts
Want to just see San Juan Island in a Day or see how to spend 4 days exploring the Puget Sound area? Check out our other posts to discover more.
The Perfect Day on San Juan Island | A Day Trip Itinerary
Ever think about island hopping in the state of Washington? There are plenty of islands to visit in the Puget Sound and we got you covered on how to start exploring the area.
4 Amazing Days Island Hopping in Washington State
Ever wonder what is north of Seattle? Or know that you can go island hopping in Washington State? There is so much to see and do in the Puget Sound area. We got you covered for a 4 day adventure.