Note: The Corner of 1st & Adventure is reader-supported. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, all at no cost to you.
Due to an unexpected moment last spring, I have a short, 1.5-second video clip on my phone of our then-15-month old falling face-first into a stately row of purple tulips. The still shots I was able to clip out of it are rather humorous, with my favorite showing his eyes tightly shut as one bloom compresses against his lower lip (for the record, he was completely fine, and somehow only broke that one tulip stem). Anyway, you might be wondering how this came about.
After 30 (or Maybe 25), They’re All the Same
I buck the norm in a lot of ways. For example, I don’t terribly care to celebrate my birthday, it’s just not a big deal to me. So rather than look for some elaborate way to celebrate turning 35 **insert unenthusiastic “yay” here (think “…and there was much rejoicing” from Monty Python and the Holy Grail)**, I invited my parents and sister to join my wife, son and I for a little trek up the road to the tulip fields of Skagit Valley in mid-April.
I live only about 20 minutes south of the Skagit Valley; my wife and I both grew up locally and are very familiar with the annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. We share a mix of the awe and wonder of tourists and visitors plus the frustration and trepidation locals have regarding the effects on traffic. If we do visit, we try to go during the week (when the locals venture out) and we visit the lesser-known farms. While the biggest name farm might have the most pristine landscaping and elaborate display gardens, the smaller farms provide a more close-up experience.
Tiptoeing Not Required
Last year, we chose to go to Tulip Valley Farms, founded by Mount Vernon native Andrew Miller, who had some fresh ideas for the longstanding tulip festival. While other farms take in much of their revenue through bulb harvesting (blooms are just a seasonal bonus feature), Tulip Valley Farms operates with hands-on, touchable experiences as their primary focus. It is the only u-pick tulip farm in the valley, where you are actually encouraged to walk the rows and touch the plants (preferably with your hands, rather than your face).
Ironically, Andrew is actually colorblind (This seems like it should be in a “The Far Side” panel), but what he lacks in cones, he makes up for in passion. Combine this with the creative, full-spectrum eyes of his wife, Holly (Chief Color Officer), and you have a partnership for success in the fields. This year, they will welcome visitors to enjoy 2.5 million tulips from 150 varieties, spread across 10 tranquil acres.
The Tulip Valley Farms setting is perfect for those enviable Instagram photos and reels. The garden displays feel a bit more laid back than the scrupulous display gardens at some of the other area farms, but the visual feast is just as bountiful. Being a smaller farm, Tulip Valley Farms also lacks the crowding that is common at the bigger farms. And for those of us with little ones, the worry of them touching or breaking a plant goes away. After our son fell on that specific plant, we simply picked up the broken stem and added it to our little growing handful of blooms to take with us.
If you happen to be on site at the right time, be sure to catch one of the scheduled talks with Andrew himself, as he shares interesting facts and humor about tulips and tulip farming. In this 30 to 45-minute chat, I can guarantee you will learn several great points to share around the water cooler the next day, or trivia night at one of the local breweries. This year, he will host his “Tulip Talks” three times daily!
What’s New?
Along with adding in extra “Tulip Talks,” Andrew and company are fresh off some prestigious recognition and inspiration from half a world away in the tulip capitol of the world. This winter, Tulip Valley Farms was crowned “The World’s Most Scenic Tulip U-Pick” at the World Tulip Summit in The Hague, Netherlands. Along with some hardware, the Tulip Valley Farms family returned home with ideas and advice from some of the world’s premier tulip growers, helping craft and perfect their vision back in the fields.
On the less joyful side of the inspiration wall, Andrew is also coming out of a battle with malignant melanoma, having undergone surgery and a tough recovery that left him laser-focused on his dreams for the farm. In his blog, Andrew remarks, “I relearned to cherish the dirt under my nails, the mud on my boots, the joy and laughter of visitors at the farm, and the quiet strength of those fighting alongside me.” As a reminder of his journey and a tribute to cancer-affected individuals, Tulip Valley Farms will feature a “Hope Garden” this year, with pink and white tulips.
Back for its second year, the unique “Night Bloom” is the only nighttime tulip experience in the country. While the tulips might close up their petals for the night, the color rush is no less pronounced, with lights and lasers painting the scene. Have you ever seen a tulip glow in the dark? Me neither, but apparently the tulip pollen has a natural phosphorescence, and I’m excited to experience it for myself this year in the “Black Garden!”
Know Before You Go:
While nobody can quite predict the exact dates the tulips will open, Tulip Valley Farms keeps their social media followers up to date on the progress. Follow them on Instagram for updates!
Pricing is very reasonable (a family of 4 can get in for under $60), with a ticket granting admission to the entire 30-acre farm **Ordering online saves you $3 per ticket**
U-pick tulips are $2 per stem if you buy on-site, but for the best value, you can pre-purchase online and get a bundle of 10 stems for only $15. My mother, sister and I chose this option last year, each returning home with our own personally-selected bouquet (plus that one unfortunate purple tulip courtesy of our little guy).
Night Bloom takes place on Friday and Saturday evenings during the festival, but requires a separate admission.
Be sure to bring a camera and your classiest tulip attire (or this shirt if you can’t find your Klederdracht) for those dazzling family photos, and consider bringing a small picnic lunch to enjoy at one of the tables far back in the rows!
All photos and content © Eric S. Allan 2024-2025
For media and publication inquiries: eric@corneroffirstandadventure.com
Treeline Adventure Guides 
Leave a comment