adventure
Selfie Spectacle
Head to the uber photo-worthy Skagit Valley, awash in tulips, with a plan written by Cathy Carroll WHEN WE THINK of adventure, our first thought usually goes to our muscles. Are we fit enough to hike that mountain, bike that distance, swim that lake? What we see along the way, however, may be the most memorable part of the journey. If there ever was an adventure for the eyes, it’s April in Skagit Valley. Millions of tulips, in pupil-popping red, yellow, white, pink, lavender—heck, a whole Crayola box of hues—spring forth, with a festival that coaxes people to blossom right along with them. Considering that last year’s Skagit Valley Tulip Festival was canceled just as pandemic lockdowns withered everyone’s plans, there’s a pent-up demand for taking in miles of bright, uplifting flower fields. This month-long event in its thirty-eighth year draws hundreds of thousands to the fields 60 miles north of Seattle between La Conner and Mount Vernon, with events cropping up throughout the area. You can take it in by driving through the area, however the experience truly unfolds at the two major tulip farms, RoozenGaarde/Washington Bulb Co. and Tulip Town. Each rotates hundreds of acres of bulb plantings and redesigns their show gardens every year, so the spectacle changes, drawing people back. This is where you can park and commence with the primary activity—taking some pretty amazing selfies. Considering the throngs of tulip-goers, not to mention the Instagram-able aspect and festival photography contests, some professional tips are in order. One thing is paramount: timing. Valley-based photographer Andy Porter of Sedro-Woolley, who has plied his craft in seventy countries, suggests heading out
Every year, show gardens are redesigned with hundreds of acres of new plantings at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival.
for sunrise, when the light is lovely and few people are around. Terry Divyak, owner of Shutter Tours in Seattle, said he still beats the crowds by arriving when the farms open at 9 a.m. Once you’re in, Divyak, an award-winning photographer, recommends seeking views that others overlook.
5 PRO PHOTO TIPS FOR TIPTOEING THROUGH THE TULIPS Hundreds of thousands of spring selfie-seekers will head to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival throughout April. Here’s how to make your photos pop. Photos, from left: Andy Porter, Shutter Tours, Shutter Tours, Andy Porter, Andy Porter
74 1889 WASHINGTON’S MAGAZINE
APRIL | MAY 2021
TIME YOUR VISIT
THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX
Plan to arrive early or stay late to avoid the crowds.
Search for views that others might overlook, such as unusual settings or framing.
