You Won’t Want To Miss The World-Famous Daffodil Bloom In Washington This Spring

It might still be chilly outside, but spring is nearly here in the Evergreen State. After months of unending gloom and oh-so-much gray, there's no antidote to the winter bummers quite like traveling to see spring flowers in Washington.

Find the best bloom of them all near La Conner. It might not be what you think!

Few blooms are as synonymous with springtime in Washington as Skagit Valley's tulips. For the entirety of April, this sleepy part of our state is transformed into a celebration of this vibrant flower. What began as a quaint local tradition in 1984 is now a tourism boon, attracting over one million visitors each year.

But just 15 minutes southwest of Mt. Vernon's tulip fever is another spectacular Washington bloom: La Conner's daffodils. Preceding tulip season by only a couple of weeks, this event doesn't get half the attention it deserves. What's more, enjoying it is entirely free!

Skagit County grows over 1,000 acres of flowers, but not all are tulips. Daffodils are also a crucial crop, accounting for many of the 20 million bulbs shipped annually from the county to customers worldwide.

Many daffodil farms are private, meaning you can't walk through the fields, but the view from the road is also dazzling. Still others, like RoozenGaarde, do allow visitors. Just make sure to check their website in advance!

The daffodil fields are in full bloom for the entirety of March, but if you can't make it to La Conner, consider checking out Pierce County's Daffodil Festival in Puyallup. For 90 years, this event has celebrated the sunny flower and those who grow it, and today, it hosts an array of events ranging from parades to auctions.

Still, I recommend visiting the fields in person. While tulip farms may boast more color, the acres of bright yellow in every direction are just as striking.

If you've been looking for road trip ideas to inaugurate the change of seasons, pack up your car. This splendid Washington bloom will thaw whatever cold remains of Northwest winter.

If you're planning to see spring flowers in Washington, don't limit yourself to tulips! Just minutes away, there's an equally spectacular event, and it's high time it got the buzz it deserves. Seeing La Conner's daffodils is the perfect way to mark springtime without the crowds or the prices of other flower extravaganzas.