The rich bottomland of the Skagit (SKAJ-et) Valley near Mount Vernon produces peas, potatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, cucumbers, strawberries, raspberries, spinach, corn, vegetable seeds, and the area’s best-known crops: daffodils, tulips, and irises. More than half the world’s cabbage and spinach seeds are grown in the valley.

With a fast-growing population of more than 26,000, the city of Mount Vernon is largest in the county, and in spring is certainly among the prettiest: tulips and daffodils are everywhere, from fields to yards to gas stations. The attractive downtown features brick-fronted buildings, planters filled with flowers, and a prosperous mixture of stores.

Getting to Skagit Valley

Skagit Transit (360/757-4433, www.skat.org, $0.75 per ride or $1.50 for day pass) offers daily bus service throughout Skagit Country, including Mt. Vernon and Burlington. Of particular note is Route 615, which runs from Skagit Station (105 E. Kincaid St.) through farmlands and to La Conner. The station is also the landing point for a weekday express connector from Everett Station ($2) and a Monday–Saturday express route from Bellingham ($0.75).

Amtrak (800/872-7245, www.amtrak.com) provides daily train connections from Mount Vernon north to Vancouver, B.C., and south to Seattle on the Cascades train.

Airporter Shuttle (360/380-8800 or 800/235-5247, www.airporter.com) has connections to Sea-Tac Airport. Greyhound (360/336-5111 or 800/231-2222, www.greyhound.com) has long-haul bus service from the Mount Vernon terminal at 1101 S. 2nd Street.

Skagit Eagle Air (360/757-1036 or 800/542-7600, www.skagiteagleair.com) takes you on flightseeing tours over the tulip fields from Skagit Regional Airport.