Spring is coming… Wildflowers are blooming!
This post is about wildflowers. You SHOULD NOT pick, nor touch, wildflowers. Experience them with your eyes and through the lenses of your cameras only, so others can enjoy the beauty of nature too!
Teach it to your kids and read this note from USDA and Forest Service for more infos.
Roses are red, violets are blue, and so are you… Yes, spring is drawing near, and with it, the bewitching hues and fragrances of flowers. And with so much rainfall this winter, springtime really promises to be a magnificently colorful wildflower season! It will be the perfect year to go see the desert in full bloom! Some places are already blooming as you read these lines, so get ready to experience the incredible sights with your kids, as it is a great activity to do with them.
Spring is really the best time to visit a desert, all the more so because of the high contrasts you can find with flowers in full bloom in the scenery. It might be too early now for some places, but bloom season has definitely started and will progress until late summer and even early October depending of the locations. This post will help you plan ahead and choose the right destination for you. You might even want to go on a road trip if you’re not close to the place that entices you the most! Ask me to help you out with the planning on usawithgigi.com.
Let’s not forget that taking a road trip is by far the best way to see those wildflowers! Also, it’s important to always call before going as the weather changes have a real impact on wildflowers. Plan ahead and carefully if you want to make the most of your trip and delight your kids’ eyes to the fullest.
So without further ado, let’s dive into these mesmerizing wildflower fields!
Great Wildflowers sightings in the U.S.
Here is a list of great wildflowers sightings all around the USA. I’ve selected only a few places, and there are a lot of other great spots to experience wildflowers blooming. Contact me to get informations and find a cool place near you. Some places even hold wildflowers festivals worth a try for the whole family’s delight.
Death Valley National Park, CA
Located in Mojave Desert about 125 miles of Las Vegas. https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/nature/wildflower-seasons.htm
Crested Butte, CO
Located 200 miles of Aspen and 230 miles of Denver. https://travelcrestedbutte.com/crested-butte-wildflower-guide/ .
Use this cool bloom locator to plan your visit!
Experience Crested Butte’s 10 day long festival: Crested Butte Wildflower Festival – In the Wildflower Capital of Colorado
Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve State Natural Reserve, CA
Located in Lancaster, California. Usually blooming mid-March to late April. I’ve always been there in April and was never disappointed! https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=627
MY TAKES ON ANTELOPE VALLEY CALIFORNIA POPPIES
- Use the convenient Webcam on the site to monitor the bloom before planning your trip.
- Make it a day trip with picnic! BE AWARE though, you can’t picnic in the wildflower field itself, as it is a widely protected area. Picnic in designated areas only.
- It gets crowded fast, so be early on week-ends, or try to visit on a week-day.
- Please, respect the designated paths, as I’ve seen too many people entering the field for some shots and even picking wildflowers.
- Visit the Jane S. Pinheiro Interpretive Center for beautiful exhibits, videos, a nice gallery of Jane’s watercolor paintings and a gift shop. (Opens during the spring wildflower bloom from March 1st through Mother’s Day)
- The view over the valley to the San Gabriel Moutains is definitely worth a look! (near the interpretive displays at the Jane S. Pinheiro Center)
Anza Borrego State Park, CA
Located in Borrego Springs, about 65 miles East of San Diego. https://theabf.org/explore-anza-borrego/wildflowers/
Shenandoah National Park, VA
Shenandoah National Park extends along the Blue Ridge Mountains in the beautiful state of Virginia. Wildflowers – Shenandoah National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov). They also have a cool and convenient wildflower calendar with the names of the flowers blooming each month, check it out here!
Chino Hills State Park, CA
Located in Chino Hills, about 15 miles from Disneyland, 35 miles from downtown L.A. https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=648
Texas Hill, TX
There’s a great festival held in Ennis, Texas, with a 40 miles trail to do. Check it out: About | Bluebonnet Trails and Festival | Ennis, TX
Great Smoky Mountain National Park, TN-NC
On the Tennessee – North Carolina border, in Gatlinburg about 40 miles of Knoxville TN. Wildflowers – Great Smoky Mountains National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov). You can also check out the wildflower pilgrimage held each year in the park: Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage
Sugar Hill, NH
Famous for its beautifull Lupine flower fields, there’s no denying that the Sugar Hill Lupine Festival And Market is worth a look! HOME | Lupinefestsugarhill (lupinefestival.com)
Mount Rainier National Park, WA
Wildflowers in Mount Rainier are summer bloomers. It’s best to go there in mid-July. Check out the wildflower status before planning your visit: Discover Wildflowers – Mount Rainier National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
Whatever the destination, remember to educate your kids on how to protect and preserve wilderness, so they too may share the beautiful memories they will have on this wildflower sighting trip with their own kids in the future!
There’s a lot of other areas with wildflowers in the USA; I can help you find one near you or help you plan a trip on USAWITHGIGI.COM!
My Kids Activity Planning website is COMING SOON!
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