Bluebells, tulips, and daffodils, oh my! If you’re looking to soak up all of spring’s glory, you can’t miss these natural gems. Fresh blooms visually say, “Spring has arrived.” My family has enjoyed making traditions (old and new) out of the marvelous hues and scents the season brings.
Burnside Farms
11008 Kettle Run Rd. Nokesville, VA 20181
Mid-April – Mid-May (depending on field conditions)
Admission: $19/Weekday, $21/weekend (PYO flowers included with admission… 5 stems for adults, kids under 5 are free).
Each year, our family marks the occasion by attending the Festival of Spring at Burnside Farms located in Nokesville, VA. Words can’t describe how breathtaking the experience is, but I’ll try to set the scene for you. Picture red, orange, yellow, and white tulips stretching as far as the eye can see, as well as golden-yellow daffodils – little pieces of sunshine on earth. There are more than 200 varieties of tulips and 30-plus varieties of daffodils.
If you haven’t experienced Burnside Farms, you need to and fast. It’s basically the equivalent of Holland which happens to be in Virginia. Tickets should be purchased in advance. The farm is about a one-hour drive from DC. In addition to marveling at the beauty, visitors are welcome to hand-pick blooms (it’s a hit with the kids!), and you can even borrow a cute woven basket to snip and hold the stems. The flower fields are the perfect backdrop for photo ops, so dress and plan accordingly. I intentionally choose tickets at the start or end of the day since the fields are directly in the sun (because who is a fan of squinty photos?!).
We’ve visited the farm over the years as a family, and it’s so fun to compare photos. My children are growing, but the flower fields produce the same nostalgic experience. A trip to Burnside truly never gets old, and we plan to keep up the tradition. My boys love to choose which flowers we cut and take home, but let’s be clear— they also come for all kinds of play opportunities. There’s a bit of everything – a giant jumping pillow, inflatable slides, a playground, antique tractors, authentic Dutch wooden shoes to “klomp” around in, and much more. What’s also nice is you can picnic, but sometimes there are food trucks.
Bluebells at Bull Run
Bull Run Regional Park | 7700 Bull Run Dr. Centreville, VA 20121
We recently escaped to the Bluebell Trail to take in nature’s blue flora decorations. This is the first year our family made it out to see the Bluebells growing wildly on a 1.5-mile trail at Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville, VA. The Bluebells recently hit peak bloom, and now is the perfect time to stroll the trail. Hikers, photographers, and nature lovers come from all over for the occasion.
After experiencing the pop of blue pastel flowers at peak bloom for myself, I can see the allure. It truly feels like a fairy garden. Had I not been in hiking clothes, I would have loved to be frolicking in a prairie gown carrying a picnic basket (there’s always next time!). Truly, these blooms make the perfect backdrop for spring photos.
I brought my eldest to the park for a “mom-and-son” date, and we met another family. The trail is short and flat, which makes it easy for all ages. Despite it only being 1.5 miles, we surprisingly didn’t finish and spent HOURS just playing. Between the water stream access points and sticks, the children were having a great time in nature’s playground. While there, we saw many other moms and children picnicking, relaxing, and snapping photos. Everyone had the right idea!
It’s important to note the Bluebells can also be pink or white, but on the particular trail we took (Occoquan), they sprawled in blue (hence the name). The park is rather large, but there are plenty of signs to point you in the direction of Bluebells. If you have yet to experience Bull Run Regional Park while the Bluebells are in bloom, it is something to pencil into your schedule. For daily updates on their bloom life, visit Bull Run Regional Park on social media.
Do you have other favorite locations to see spring in bloom? Tell us in the comments!
