I used to live nearby and could go whichever week I wanted, but now that I reside on the other side of the state my travel options are more restricted. This year it was looking like a mild winter, so I opted to schedule time off for the first week in April. In the weeks leading up to my trip, the tulip growers themselves were forecasting decent blooms by the end of March. In March's final week, however, a sudden cold snap and a surprise April Fools' Day snow caused all the flowers to collectively hit their "snooze" buttons.
Alas, it was too late to cancel my plans. I was committed.
Normally when the fields are in full bloom, it's a full-day event for me. I start at Tulip Town from when they open until lunch and grab a bite before heading to Roozengaarde until dinner, where I grab a bite in La Conner. (Tip: Visiting the growers in this order allows you work your way north-to-south, which is easier traffic-wise than attempting the other direction.)
With minimal blooms this time, however, I had much shorter visits. This didn't get me down, though. There's so much to do. So, what do you do when you're stuck with minimal blooms? I'll tell you what to do!
Art Appreciation is Always in Season
My favorite art gallery is Art in a Pickle Barn, which several years ago actually outgrew the pickle barn and in recent years has been hosted by Azusa Farms & Gardens. It's just up the road from Tulip Town. (Driving hint: Your GPS will take you to the entrance off Highway 20, but if you just head north on Bradshaw Rd from Tulip Town, it has a back driveway at the dead-end you can easily access without dealing with the highway traffic.) It provides a nice indoor reprieve from the inevitable rain as well. You can vote for your favorite piece in their People's Choice competition.
Tulip Town also has a small indoor art gallery where for three years in a row I've purchased from the same artist, Barbara Marks. The featured artists take turns running the register throughout the month and love to discuss their art. They have original prints but also lots of prints, mugs, magnets, etc. with art featured on them.
La Conner is magical with beer and shopping
La Conner is always worth a stop, Tulip Festival or no. Despite it being rainy and mid-week, I still struggled to find parking downtown. So I parked in their pay lot on the edge of town and walked through downtown. A few years ago they revamped their boardwalk which runs along the Swinomish Channel. Several sculptural art pieces dot the boardwalk and really the town in general.
Lunch was found at La Conner Brewing Company. They have a rotating selection of decent beer. This time around they were featuring a raspberry wheat ale which was absolutely amazing! It had a bit of raspberry flavor that wasn't too sweet or overpowering. I also noshed on their Thai chicken pizza that was on special that day. They brew beer and ciders, but even if you're a teetotaler the food is always excellent on its own.
There's not enough room to describe the shopping in La Conner. I always go antiquing at Nasty Jack's Antiques, which is my favorite antique store ever. I particularly appreciate their brothel memorabilia and vintage comics, but they have a wide variety of books, furniture, vintage kitchen utensils, and anything else you could imagine. They also have an old-timey photo booth in the back as well.
Across from the brewery, I also found myself drawn to Handmade La Conner. Their window display featured a lap quilt that read "Thug Life", and inside the store did not disappoint. They had lots of gifts such as mugs, stationary, and crafts. Amusingly, many were profanity-laden, which suits me just fine. They also have a massive selection of soaps, lotions, and candles that they make on-site in the back room of the establishment. I was tickled to have discovered this gem of a store that I'd never been to before!
There is just so much hiking!
As evidenced by my other blog, I love hiking. Despite the rain, I headed out to Kukutali Preserve on the Swinomish reservation. It's a nice short hike near La Conner that heads out around a small forested island. Amusingly, daffodils have migrated out to this island and grow among the trees and ferns.
A bit further away, Anacortes has tons of hiking as well. The Anacortes Community Forest Lands (ACFL) are massive, with a vast network of trails that weave through them. Sugarloaf is a particular favorite hike of mine that's short and steep, but with over 50 miles of intersecting trails, there are lots of options. Be sure to bring a map with you!
There's still some color in the fields
Roozengaarde grows more than tulips. They grow daffodils, which bloom early, and irises, which bloom late, so throughout the month you're going to find something that's colorful and growing out of the mud. Unfortunately they can't control when the flowers decide to bloom. Even if nature decides to not cooperate, you can still find some flowers and then go do all the other things I just listed to make up for the rest of the day!
Whatever happens, make the most of it and have fun!
No comments:
Post a Comment