The festival started back in March, but there are events going all through April. This is an iconic event in the greater Seattle area. As such, traffic can be a bit of a monster. Just plan to be stuck in traffic, and your life will be better. If you want to avoid crowds go mid-week. It helps a lot. However, for the next few weeks, many school districts will be on spring break, so it won’t be perfect. But far fewer cars.
I’ve biked the fields before, which is great especially when the weather’s nice (don’t bank on that during spring in Seattle). A great bit of advice is to park at a park-and-ride and bike from there. I’ve parked at Washington Elementary School, but I don’t know if that’s sanctioned, so I risked tickets or towing.
Getting hungry? In Mount Vernon one of my favorite places to eat is the Calico Cupboard. It’s a favorite for most everyone who knows anything about the region. So, budget plenty of time. At last check, they didn’t take reservations. It’s first come, first serve. It’s worth the wait, but, especially if you have younger kids, you’ll want to strategize that. Or you could head to the one in La Conner, which isn’t that far.
If you’re thinking of a treat, and you’re not too frozen from the tulip fields, check out the Big Scoop Ice Cream shop. A regional classic place and just a lot of fun.
If you want something warm and caffeinated, Mount Vernon does have it’s share of Starbucks, but you should check out Woods Coffee, though it’s pretty small. There’s also Ristretto Coffee Lounge which has been on my list of places to try.
The Washington State Department of Transportation has pulled together some great tips. Definitely take a few minutes and review these. It’ll eliminate a ton of aggravation. And don’t forget to check out the interactive map before you go. It’s quite well done.
May your tulip excursion be delightful!