If the name Skagit Valley sounds familiar that’s because it probably is. The verdant valley in Washington produces everything from cheese and beer to garlic and berries. Seafood is plucked from the sea and served up fresh and all-you-can-pick blueberry farms dot the landscape. The edible bounty is noteworthy, but the valley is best known for its tens of millions of tulips covering the valley every spring.
The blooms can be viewed and celebrated during the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, which is considered to be the largest tulip festival in the U.S. This year, the festival’s 41st, will feature a parade, art shows, a downtown street fair, and more — all set to a colorful, blooming backdrop.
“The Skagit Valley is perfectly situated for the cultivation of hearty, vibrant tulips,” Nicole Roozen, executive director of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, said in a press release shared with Travel + Leisure. “Each year, visitors flock to the Skagit Valley to behold row upon row of delightfully color-coordinated tulips. The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is a celebration of the bloom and the endless beauty of the Pacific Northwest.”
Skagit Valley sits between Seattle and the U.S.-Canadian border in Washington’s northwestern corner. The valley is just over one hour by car from Seattle and 1.5 hours from Vancouver. To the west of the valley, there are 60 miles of coastline, including the San Juan Islands.
Read more at travelandleisure.com