Washington State is the largest tulip producing region in the United States.
The epicenter of production is an area known as the Skagit Valley. Straddling the Skagit River, as it winds from British Columbia south into the Puget Sound, this fertile floodplain consists of 90,000 acres of farmland. All of this made possible thanks to 147 miles of dykes and levees that crisscross the area. Source
From April 1-30 each year, the valley hosts a tulip festival. This festival brings an estimated 400,000 visitors to the region and boosts the local economy by approximately $65m. Source This year I was one of the 400,000 visitors.
There are several events the comprise the annual tulip festival. These center around the tulip fields themselves and the small towns of Mt Vernon, Burlington, and La Conner. Over the course of the month, the Skagit Valley communities host a gala, a tulip parade, art shows, salmon bakes and street fairs. However, the festival’s biggest draw is the area’s four open tulip farms.
The Farms
As I mentioned above, there were four tulip farms open to visitors this year. These included:
We chose to visit Tulip Town as this was their first year allowing pet dogs to come to the fields! 😍
Our visit to the fields was May 6th. Because of a colder than average spring, the tulips bloomed later in the season. So while the Tulip Festival ended April 30, all of the tulip fields are open until May 14. After this date the tulips will be topped, and the fields tilled in preparation for next season.
We purchased “anytime” tickets for Tulip Town at $25 per person. The advantage of these tickets was we could use them any day of the festival without reserving a particular date or timed entry. (A good thing since our visit to the field was delayed due to me catching covid!) The fee also covered parking, a trolley ride around the field and access to a beer/wine garden. Timed entry tickets ranged in price from free (ages 5 and under) to $17 at the gate for adults.
In addition to the trolley rides and beer garden, Tulip Town has several other amenities. These include a gift shop, a cafe and opportunities to buy fresh cut flowers, potted tulips and tulip bulbs. On the day of our visit there was also a food truck selling caramel popcorn and fresh mini doughnuts.
Some More Tulip Photos
I was really happy we were able to attend this year’s festival. Not only did 2023 mark the 40th anniversary of the event, but it had also marked NINE years since our last visit. Being with my husband and being allowed to bring our pooches was a great way to kick off spring and the “agro-tourism” season.
Looks beautiful 😍
It was! 😍
🌷🪻🌷🌷🪻🌷
such a nice photos of the tulip garden and the tulip flowers. tulip is one of my favourite flower and i am very happy to see the garden filled up of tulips...loved it.
They are such a happy flower. When the tulips are out you know sunshine is on the way! 😍
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That looks very cool. Tulips are a great flower. Unfortunately the deer around here make it impossible to keep them.
We used to have a bunch at our house, but the dogs would run them over and they eventually stopped blooming over the years. 😄
Lol. Your dogs look so silly ❤️
And by silly you mean dapper and distinguished. 😄
😂😅😅
!LUV all those flowers. Fields full of flowers are just awesome!
Here’s a special flower I spotted just for you! 🤪😍
Awww... Lucky Jasper and Kodi! They have been to Tulip Town. Nine years ago, then Kodi and Jasper was with you then? What's the name of your favorite tulip... speckled, very pretty! Good choice.
I have never been to Tulip Town. It must be so large!!! Thank you for sharing, That was wonderful!
!LADY
!LUV
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This is the first year the tulip fields allowed dogs to visit. So the other times we went Jasper and Kodi weren’t able to come along. And even this year only 2 of the four farms allowed dogs.
I am not sure the name of that tulip I liked. They probably had a sign… but I forgot to get a photo! 😄
Someday, I hope to visit!!!
By the way, I noticed that you used Threads sometime in April? Is there a reason you haven't used it lately? The user interface works better now. I just thought that maybe you want to give it another try
I am not a fan of Leo threads. It is Ok, but I do everything on my phone with hive signer. And none of that is very compatible with threads. And I hate Twitter… and threads just a copy Twitter. 😄 I still pop in sometimes, but it’s not a regular check in for me
Ah... Okay!!!
I lost my IG password, and for a while I wasn't on it. I'm back on... lurking on the background, hehehe!
So much color @dfinney, It looks like something created with AI Lol!😇
I am sure the "Woofers" were enjoying the day trip as well!! Glad to see you are feeling better!!!😀
Don’t say AI on hive! 😄🤪😄
I am glad I am feeling better too! And glad the festival got extended just to accommodate my illness! 😄
It was perfect timing, it’s like they planned it just for you two……..
Or should I say four!😇
Stunning photos ( all by @dfinney 😇) have a nice day!🤗
The fields on your pictures look exactly like those fields that I visited in Holland. I have no idea that you have something similar in the US. It's just that the fee that you paid is so high! We paid 2 EUR per person to visit farmer's field and it included coffee 🙂
Thank you for sharing!
Only 2 EU! It used to be less expensive here. And we could have paid just $15pp if I had selected a specific visit time and paid online.
Still more than €2 though. 🙂
Washington State has the largest tulip fields in the US, but I know Oregon and Michigan also have big Tulip farms. As do California and Texas… though their growing seasons are likely shorter.
Most of the big tulip farms here were started by Dutch immigrants. 🌷 🌷 🌷
I've got seven Tulips left in my garden today, I wonder what happened to my other 13 from last year? I better get some more this fall.
Nice! I just found one purple tulip in my yard under another bush. No idea where it came from. 😄