Why You Need to Visit Skagit Valley, Washington

Just 65 miles north of Seattle, Skagit Valley is home to a multitude of watchable wildlife. Take a hike through the National Estuarine for some amazing birdwatching year-round (don't forget your binoculars!). And if you enjoy craft beer AND birds, there's even a Skagit Farm to Pint passport so you can combine the two activities. This area is also a place where you can engage in various activities such as whale watching or visiting a shellfish farm and sampling some of the freshest oysters available.

One of the biggest reasons to visit in the spring is that the Skagit Valley hosts the largest tulip festival in the United States. Visiting the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival north of Seattle is an experience unlike any other in Washington. Fields of endless varieties of tulips and daffodils create a stunning rainbow across the valley floor, which is a remarkable contrast to the blue and green earth tones of the Cascade Mountains in the background. The prime tulip season is generally mid-April, with fields of daffodils preceding while irises and lillies take over the show in late April into May. The area’s maritime climate, cool but not freezing winters that evolve into warm summers, is remarkably similar to that of the Netherlands and is ideal for bulb growth. The slow, cool transition to summer weather provides the plants with months to form large blooms and develop their signature vibrant colors. It’s no surprise that Skagit County is the number one producer of iris, daffodil, and tulip bulbs in the United States. In addition to flowers, food, and fiber products, agriculture in the Skagit Valley provides habitat for thousands of swans, snow geese, and ducks. Four farms make up the self-guided Tulip festival and each provides a unique experience. At Tulip Town you can take a trolley tour through the blooms. Garden Rosalyn is known for its intricate displays of blooms and also hosts several food trucks. Tulip Town and Garden Rosalyn even allow well-mannered dogs. Tulip Valley Farm features over 10 miles of grass "Tulip Trails" with amazing views of the North Cascades and Olympics as the backdrop. While there you can savor a wide assortment of food trucks, a beer, wine, and cider garden, as well as the spectacular "Night Bloom" light show after dark. Roozengaarde features a 5-acre garden display, a 25-acre tulip field, and a 25-acre daffodil field Make sure that you plan your trip well in advance and consider visiting during the week to avoid the insanity of the weekend traffic. And, if you are a wine afficionado, you'll be happy to hear that there are five wineries and tasting rooms that are easily added to the Tulip Festival route between Mount Vernon and La Conner. Along the way you’ll discover wineries producing world-class wines, all while soaking up the wild beauty of this agricultural valley.

Another exciting reason to visit Skagit Valley is that Anacortes is hosting their very first ever Nautical Treasure Hunt. From April 14-23, treasure hunters will set out to explore the island in search of prize balls hidden throughout Anacortes. If a treasure hunter finds a prize ball, they can exchange it for an artist-created nautical treasure at a number of retail partners. It's a wonderful and fun way to explore the local Anacortes businesses and amazing natural resources.

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