10 Best Places to Travel to See Flowers

Chihuahuan Desert

At around 230,000 square miles, the Chihuahuan Desert is the largest desert in North America, and is host to seven national parks in Texas and New Mexico.

“When the late-winter doldrums of March hit, the northern edge of the Chihuahuan Desert comes alive. The gray desert mountains glow yellow with wildflowers that are sure to uplift your spirits,” says Birds & Blooms reader Martin Frentzel of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Lookout Mountain, Georgia

“The rich pink blooms of this Cherokee brave dogwood popped in the springtime sun in Lookout Mountain, Georgia. Pink is my favorite color, so I was drawn to this photogenic feast of color, background contrast and natural light. I was thrilled to capture the beauty of these blooms as they proudly signaled the beginning of spring,” says reader Sandra Lemay of Apopka, Florida.

Holland, Michigan

“Holland, Michigan, has a tulip festival every spring. I went there hoping to get a photo of a tulip that stood out from the others. After a thorough search, I found this purple tulip that popped from the surrounding white blooms. I titled this photo ‘Stand Out in a Crowd’ because I like to think people don’t need to be afraid to be different,” says reader Blair Celano of Spring Lake, Michigan.

See more pretty pictures of tulips to make you dream of spring.

Washington D.C.

“The best time of year to visit the nation’s capital is in April, during the peak weekend for the blooming of the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin. In this photo, the Washington Monument is lined up and framed with the beautiful blooming trees in the foreground,” says reader Erik Dowell of Ocean City, Maryland.

Texas Hill Country

“Spring in Texas Hill Country is known for wildflowers adorning roadsides, especially our state flower, the bluebonnet. I try to avoid the busiest of these tourist-attracting areas, so I took a little-known road that blessed me with an unspoiled bounty of bluebonnets and no other cars in sight!” says reader Tiffany Hartmann of Fredericksburg, Texas.

Editor’s Note: Use courtesy and common sense. When visiting bluebonnet hotspots and other places to see flowers, remember to be respectful of property lines and the plants. Stay on trails, do not pick the flowers, and stay alert for the wildlife that lives among them, such as snakes and fire ants.

Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve

“In March 2020, the California poppies in the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve opened in the afternoon just one week into the COVID-19 pandemic, showing that the beauty of spring was still abundant and inspiring despite difficult times,” says reader Melissa Finifrock of Palmdale, California.

Holland Ridge Farms, Cream Ridge, New Jersey

“Captured at Holland Ridge Farms in Cream Ridge, New Jersey, I took this photo of vibrant tulips using my Nikon D3100 and a Tokina 11-20mm lens,” says reader Scott Miller of Scotch Plains, New Jersey.

U-Pick Pointers: If you visit a farm where you can pick your own flowers, these tricks can help you make a great bouquet: Stick to a color scheme, pick ones with sturdy stems and buds that aren’t fully open yet, and strip the leaves off in the field.

Skagit Valley, Washington

“I photographed these red and white tulips in the Skagit Valley of Washington. These fields are essential to the community’s economy and culture. The annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival draws over a million people to the tulip farms in the spring to enjoy the simple beauty of a field carpeted with vibrant blooms,” says reader Adrianne Lauman of Stanwood, Washington.

Mohonk Mountain House, New York

“I look forward to visit Mohonk Mountain House with my aunts every year. It’s a lovely historic resort on a glacial lake in New York’s Hudson Valley. It has beautiful gardens to explore. This rhododendron garden was off to the side and away from the formal garden, surrounding one of the summer houses. I loved how gorgeous it was—overgrown and naturally beautiful,” says reader Heather Ballard of Accord, New York.

Clark Gardens, Weatherford, Texas

“I had the pleasure of visiting Clark Gardens near Weatherford, Texas. I was amazed by these big, beautiful poppies—the largest I have ever seen! They were all over the gardens, and they were stunning,” says reader Ashley Campbell of Canyon, Texas.

Did You Know: Clark Gardens started as the personal garden of Billie and Max Clark in 1972. They later started a nonprofit organization and donated 143 acres. The gardens opened to the public in 2000, making it one of the best places to see flowers.