After the long, gray winter, Washington’s Skagit County is abloom with color. The 2010 Tulip Festival is in full swing until the end of April.

Taking the scenic route to the festivities is our specialty! From Seattle, we have two recommendations to bring you to La Conner, Mount Vernon, and Sedro Woolley.

Our first option is to take a short ferry ride to Whidbey Island. The winding roads travel alongside forest, farmland, quaint towns, and stunning water views. After Deception Pass and Anacortes, you will arrive at the Tulip Festival.

Our second recommendation is our newest drive on myscenicdrives.com, The Rockport Loop. The Rockport Loop starts in Arlington, follows Washington Highway 530 along the Sauk River through the dense forest, and at Rockport, joins onto Washington Highway 20 heading west towards Sedro Woolley and the Festival’s festivities.

Before heading back home or if you are coming from north of Bellingham, check out Chuckanut Drive, often referred to as Washington’s Big Sur. This cliffhanger provides spectacular views of the San Juan Islands and the bays below, and has both some hiking opportunities and beach access.

The tulips bloomed early this year, so for the best experience, plan to make your trip this weekend. For more information about the Tulip Festival, visit tulipfestival.org. Enjoy!

Newest Drives

• The Oregon Coast: Cruise the scenic, Oregon coastal US-101 from Astoria to Brookings.
• The Rockport Loop: A loop around the Northern Cascades from Arlington to Sedro Woolley via Rockport