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When travelers envision spring trips, naturally a desire to bask in the world’s floral delights becomes a priority. Who doesn’t have a trip to the tulip fields in the Netherlands, cherry blossoms in Japan and, closer to home, super blooms across California on their bucket list? While my home state is best known for trees that remain verdant year-round, come spring, plenty of other colors dot the Washington landscape.
RECOMMENDED: The best places to see wildflowers in the U.S.
Daffodils north and south of Seattle
March kicks off the flowering season across the state with daffodils providing much-needed shades of sunshine after a long winter. Travelers have a choice between two wonderful destinations for viewing these bright golden buds.
La Conner, located along the Swinomish Channel about an hour and a half drive north of Seattle, hosts a picture-perfect Daffodil Festival. Travelers can wander numerous fields and display gardens full of this early spring flower. This bloom map will help you choose where to go, and new this year, Tulip Valley, the largest U-pick tulip farm on the West Coast, is even offering pick-your-own daffodils!
Closer to the urban center, Tacoma (just a 40-minute drive or an hour train ride south of Seattle) also hosts a daffodil festival, which culminates in a parade the first weekend in April.
Cherry blossoms in Seattle and King County
Parts of the Emerald City turn pink each March and April thanks to cherry trees. The University of Washington quad (check the webcam for blossom updates) and the nearby Washington Park Arboretum are prime viewing locations. From mid-to-late March, many U District neighborhood businesses participate in the U District Cherry Blossom Festival in the form of fun themed sales (such as discounts off anything pink) and offerings like floral cocktails.
For those visiting the Pacific Northwest hoping to lace up hiking boots, Cougar Mountain, just a 30-minute drive away, offers beautiful trails that fill with rosy hues for a few weeks each spring.
Skagit Valley tulip fields
From April to early May, this fertile valley northeast of Seattle fills with brilliant tulip fields (originally planted by Dutch immigrants) that delight visitors. The four main gardens are RoozenGaarde, Garden Rosalyn, Tulip Town and Tulip Valley Farms (the latter hosts Night Blooms, with post-sunset viewing experiences of artfully lit fields on select Saturdays). You can check the flower status and purchase tickets here; prices range from $12 to $25.
Craving more adventurous outdoor activities? The North Cascade Highway typically reopens for the season between late-April and mid-May, and while most trails will still be melting and muddy, it’s the ideal time to see waterfalls in full force.
Visit Washington’s Second City
For intrepid travelers looking to explore a different corner of the Pacific Northwest, I wholeheartedly recommend Spokane and its Lilac Festival (which takes place in early May). Outside the festivities, Manito Park, a free public park that’s a quick drive from downtown, has a beautiful lilac garden as well as other regional plant displays to explore.
Outside of lilac mania, High Drive Bluff, a beautiful recreation area on the city’s South Hill has over 20 miles of trails that explode in rainbow blooms in May and June. A particular favorite is the arrowleaf balsamroot, a stunning yellow flower that’s a part of the sunflower family.
Wenatchee’s apple blossoms
This eastern Washington city proudly proclaims itself the “Apple Capital of the World,” and as a born-and-raised Washingtonian, no apple tastes as good as the homegrown ones. Unfortunately, apple picking season isn’t year-round. Luckily, Wenatchee has plenty to offer in all months, and come late April through early May, it’s the Apple Blossom Festival season! Outside the grand event (which includes a food fair, numerous parades, live music and much more), these white-with-pink-undertone blooms can be seen all across the valley.
For active visitors (Wenatchee is an Eastern Washington hub of outdoor adventure), a trip out of town is a must in spring. Wildflower season here overlaps with apple blossom season and the Sage Hill trail system provides epic mountain vistas painted with purple lupine and yellow balsamroot. Additionally, for an easy trek option complete with rainbow viewing, the Horse Lake Preserve is another local favorite.