Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival
/Since this location is just a few miles from my home, we just take part of a day to do this trip.
There are so many great times to visit the fields. Often there is stormy weather in late March and April.
The beautiful tulip colors in front of a stormy backdrop makes for very dramatic photos. If you are lucky, you can even catch a rainbow over the fields. http://www.woodenshoe.com/
Another great time to visit is at sunrise. They rotate fields, but there is one field that gives a great view of Mt. Hood behind the tulips. Also, be checking their website to see if the hot air balloons are going to be lifting off. The balloons only lift off when the weather is good and usually only Fridays through Sundays. The balloons begin setting up at sunrise, so don’t be late to the fields.
We have gone to the fields for sunset. The golden hour is nice, but this isn’t my favorite time to be at the fields. The tulips need sunlight to make the colors glow.
I love going when the sky is a beautiful blue and the sun is shining. I catch the tulips with the light glowing through them. They just glow.
On the weekends the vendor’s booths are open. Trust me, get some of the sausage. It’s delicious. Dave and I go down there just for lunch. It does cost to go to the fields. You can buy a season pass for a discount in March. The season pass allows you onto the fields before and after closing. You can get a free day pass for the next season if you order tulips. If you make an $80 order, you get a season pass for the next season. This various from season to season, so be sure to check before you order.
If you want to make a day of it, there are many other beautiful locations to photograph. Silvercreek Falls are close by. There are several trails, walking bridges, streams, and waterfalls (duh) to enjoy. There’s even a great waterfall that you can walk behind. http://oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkPage&parkId=151
Another area nearby is the Oregon Gardens http://www.oregongarden.org/. They have manicured flower beds including a really fun area set up to attract the native birds and a large Koi pond. The city of Silverton is a very picturesque town full of cute shops and eateries.
On the way to Silvercreek Falls or Oregon Gardens, take highway 213 to see the wildflower fields. Silver Falls Seed Company has many fields where they grow wildflowers for seed. I would call to see where the fields are in bloom. https://silverfallsseed.com/
Abiqua Creek Falls is also nearby and the falls are beautiful. http://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Abiqua_Falls_Hike
The Abby in Mt. Angel is a beautiful building and the town itself is quite charming. There is a great German restaurant named Glockenspiel (190 E Charles Street). It's a very charming city with plenty to photograph. They host an amazing Oktoberfest that shouldn't be missed. http://www.oktoberfest.org/