During the month of April, Skagit Valley becomes the destination for thousands of sightseers. Nestled at the foot of the Cascades are fields upon fields filled with the vibrant colors of every tulip imaginable. Having visited once before on a rainy spring day, my husband and I thought we would head out to see the Tulips again, this time in the sun!

The Tulip Festival hosts several events throughout the month, though my main objective was simply to walk among the tulips and take way to many pictures that I have every intention of framing, but will inevitably end up in a shoe box. It's hard to resist snapping pictures of the rich color and beautiful simplicity of the tulips. While there are several fields full of these flowers, there are only a few farms that allow you to stop and walk among the tulips. The two that we visited were Roozengaarde and Tulip Town. Both were worth the stops and the minimal entrance fee, however, Tulip Town was undeniably my favorite. They offered a larger variety of tulips to view as well as a large selection of cut tulips and bulbs to purchase. There were also vendors selling food and, of course, coffee. The farm offered buggy rides as well; a great distraction for kids getting bored while Mom and Dad ohh and aah over thousands of tulips.

The trip to Skagit Valley was definitely worth the drive, about an hour and a half north of Seattle. It makes the perfect day trip for both families and couples. There are plenty of tulips to see, and the towns of La Conner and Mount Vernon also have several quaint restaurants. We ate at the Farmhouse Inn (360 466-4411) which had a large selection of home-style food and an endless choice of pies. Remember, that the weather in April is unpredictable so be prepared for rain, wind, or sun. The day we visited the Tulip festival was sunny, yet the pathways were still muddy. So even if it is one of those rare warm, sunny days in early spring, wear sneakers or any other appropriate outdoor shoe. I bet the woman in the strappy high-heeled sandals I saw carefully stepping around the puddles wished she had.

Photos by Brian J. Kreick

For more information on the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, visit their website: www.tulipfestival.org