TULIP Festival @ Skagit Valley, La Conner & Deception Pass in SUV

We’ll stop to have a light breakfast on our way to the Skagit Valley.Take a quick jaunt south to the town of Mount Vernon. The historic community sits at the juncture of several rivers and sloughs, an irresistible attraction for an assortment of bird species — have those binoculars handy! The riverfront and adjacent downtown are ideal for exploring on foot and is featured on the National Register of Historic Places. Mount Vernon is also home to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, which draws guests from around the world each spring! Continue driving deeper into the Skagit River Valley, where fields are dotted with quaint farmhouses and a plethora of heritage barns. The Skagit Valley is home to the largest commercial flower bulb industry outside of Holland. Beginning in March and continuing through May, the entire valley is one huge carpet of blooms, with a backdrop of dramatic views of 10,781-foot Mount Baker and the North Cascades.

Close to Seattle but a world away, Camano Island State Park offers a mellow, less bustling, but equally friendly alternative to its busier neighbor, Cama Beach State Park. Forest loop trails provide cool, tranquil hiking, while shoreline strolls offer birding, shell and rock exploration and sweeping views of Puget Sound, Olympic Mountains and Mount Rainier

Deception Pass is Washington's most-visited state park for a reason. Mysterious coves, rugged cliffs, jaw-dropping sunsets, and a stomach-dropping high bridge make this park a go-to for locals and international travelers alike. Families can fish and swim in Cranberry Lake. Beach explorers look for shells along miles of Puget Sound beachfront. Hikers can trek through forests and out along bluffs. And birdwatchers fill their field guides with notes. You may see a whale or a family of seals as you gaze on the wild waters that once challenged early explorers.

The best-known location is the bridge. This iconic bridge opened in 1935 and, depending on the tide, sits about 18 stories above the water creating a spectacular frame for this saltwater canyon. Beneath the waves, ocean waterfalls swirl through the canyon at the height of the tide changes.

Head back to Seattle to your drop-off location.