Cherry Blossoms and Japanese Culture
The University of Washington Quad
Head to the University of Washington campus for one of Seattle's most dramatic spring sights, a ring of cherry trees circling The Quad. These 29 Yoshino cherry trees were a gift to Seattle from Japan, and their fragrant pink flowers open from mid-March through early April.
Arrive in early April and you may catch the tail end of the show. Look for the trees near the south end of Memorial Way NE, and keep your plans a little flexible, since bloom timing shifts from year to year.
Cherry Blossom and Japanese Cultural Festival
The blossoms earn their own celebration in early April, when the Cherry Blossom and Japanese Cultural Festival fills the South Fountain Lawn at Seattle Center for three days. Check the festival's official listing for this year's exact dates and schedule before you go.
Gardens in Full Spring Color
Washington Park Arboretum
Wander the paths of the Washington Park Arboretum, where rhododendrons begin blooming in late February and reach their peak between April and May. Expect waves of white, pink and maroon flowers lining your route.
Keep an eye out for azaleas, magnolias, dogwoods and more cherry blossoms along the way. The Arboretum rewards an unhurried walk, especially on a clear spring afternoon.
Seattle Japanese Garden
Step right next door to the Seattle Japanese Garden, which shares many of the same spring highlights. Its azaleas, magnolias and cherry blossoms make an easy pairing with an Arboretum visit on the same day. Confirm current hours before you set out.
Kubota Garden and the Seattle Chinese Garden
For a quieter outing, explore Kubota Garden in south Seattle or the Seattle Chinese Garden in West Seattle, both offering a variety of spring blooms. Either one makes a good choice when the better known spots feel busy.
Day Trip to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
April's headline flower event sits about 90 minutes north of Seattle by car. The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival celebrates fields that are generally in full bloom throughout the month, in a valley that produces more tulip, iris and daffodil bulbs than any other county in the United States.
Planning Your Visit
Start at RoozenGaarde, one of the best known places to see the fields. Because the tulip fields shift from week to week, check the festival's bloom map to see which ones are flowering before you leave, and enjoy the drive between fields as part of the fun.
These are working farm fields, so dress for mud and wear shoes you do not mind getting dirty. Families with young kids will find plenty of room to roam, and little ones often enjoy the dirt as much as the flowers.
Lunch in La Conner
Break up a day among the fields with lunch in La Conner, a small waterside town. Come in March instead and you can catch the La Conner Daffodil Festival, trading tulips for fields of yellow.
Flowers Right in the City
Not every April day needs a road trip. Browse the fresh flower stalls at Pike Place Market, bursting with local blooms and an experience all their own. It is an easy way to soak up the season downtown.
Roses Ahead in May
If your trip stretches into late spring, the roses take over. The Woodland Park Rose Garden comes alive by May and especially through June, and the rose garden in Centennial Park, overlooking Elliott Bay, is another lovely place to spend those months.
For more ideas beyond the gardens, browse our guide to things to do in Seattle any time of year.
