Skip to content

Best Places to See Washington’s Blooming Spring Flowers

The Pacific Northwest shows its true colors during the spring’s flower festivals

By Beau Iverson March 25, 2019

Yellow and red tulips from bellow on a sunny spring day.
Yellow and red tulips from bellow on a sunny spring day.

This article originally appeared in the March 2019 issue of Seattle magazine.

This article appears in print in the March 2019 issue. Click here to subscribe.

Goodbye gloom, hello bloom. Our annual influx of springtime daylight is coming (spring forward on March 10!), and with it a vibrant interruption in our dreary winter weather. Whether it’s daffodils or tulips that do it for you, Seattle is a fantastic home base for beholding the floral blossoms.

Within Seattle, by mid-March the University of Washington Quad is awash in crowds that come to view the cherry blossoms (check the blooming stage of the trees). Farther afield, daffodils get their due during the fifth annual La Conner Daffodil Festival, with events throughout March and more than 450 acres of blooms. It’s followed by the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival (4/1–4/30), and finally by Wenatchee’s Washington State Apple Blossom Festival (4/25–5/5). Check websites for specific events.

Follow Us

Victoria, B.C.: A European-Inspired Getaway in Seattle’s Backyard

Victoria, B.C.: A European-Inspired Getaway in Seattle’s Backyard

With gas prices soaring and flights canceled, a little Old World charm is just a boat ride away.

Skip the airport chaos and discover Victoria, B.C., a European-inspired getaway right in Seattle’s backyard. Explore castles, historic pubs, and high tea.

Every Day Is the Weekend in Carlsbad, California

Every Day Is the Weekend in Carlsbad, California

Seven miles of shoreline and a come-as-you-are pace make this coastal city north of San Diego an easy escape.

It was the first night, first dinner, and our server arrived with the calm authority of a man who loves his job. He set down the ceviche and surveyed the room, with locals at every table and the ocean just blocks away, and said it like he was reporting the weather: “Every day is the…

Whitefish Has Range

Whitefish Has Range

James Beard-caliber dining, a thriving literary journal, and a bike ride along Glacier’s famous Going-to-the-Sun Road make this old Western Montana railroad town feel bigger than expected.

The first thing we notice at Herb & Omni is the room itself. Dark-beamed ceilings. Gilded mirrors clustered salon-style across the walls. Pendant lights that belong in a Milanese townhouse. The space feels warm, ornate, and transportive. Even the cocktail menu suggests expectations are about to be rearranged. Then the food arrives. A potato chip…

Summer Getaway: The Quiet Side of Jamaica

Summer Getaway: The Quiet Side of Jamaica

Perched above the sands of the island’s South Coast, Bluefields Bay is an idyllic destination that feels refreshingly off the beaten path.

Escape to Bluefields Bay Villas on Jamaica’s quiet South Coast. Discover an off-the-beaten-path luxury resort with private pools and personal chefs.