The best places to see flowers bloom in the United States

The Seattle area’s most famous mountain is well-known for hiking, snowshoeing, and backwoods getaways. However, did you know that peak and surrounding valley explodes in color during July and August? A summer hike is a feast for your eyes, from daisies to fireweed and avalanche lilies and more.

Anza-Borrego, a crown jewel in California, is well known for its desert landscape and other-worldly appearance. However, in the spring, usually in late February and early March, a “super bloom” — often deemed one of the best in the US, takes place. Parts of the park erupt in rainbow flora and can sometimes cause traffic jams, so plan accordingly.

Known for wine and space that goes on for days, the Hill Country of Texas is also a beautiful place to view wildflowers. Daisies, bluebonnets, primroses, and more dot the landscape from March to May.

From June to July, right along the Canadian border, purple asters, glacier lilies, and bear grass paint this remote park. You can view most on hikes around the numerous park lakes. Most notably Cobalt Lake, Hidden Lake, Iceberg Lake, and Upper Two Medicine Lake.

The first part of spring, typically March, brings wild violets and geraniums to bloom in the forests of Shenandoah National Park. As the season continues, additional flowers pop up, such as Quaker ladies in April and pink azaleas in May.

A bit smaller than some of the other displays on this list, Skagit County, just north of Seattle, has a great tulip festival every year. Depending on the weather, it can take place anytime in April. The tulips are all planted and maintained by various private growers, and it’s worth checking out a few different locations.

There’s no need to go all the way to Iceland or New Zealand to view magical lupines. Sugar Hill, a small town north of New Hampshire’s White Mountains, explodes every year in various shades of purple in June.

Tennessee might not be the first place you think of for wildflower viewing, but it's worth the trip for the year-round blooms of various types in the Smoky Mountains. Late winter and early spring bring hepaticas, then ephemerals, and finally, asters in the fall.

The long Alaskan summers are the perfect environment for wildflower blooms. And every year, numerous species can be found in Denali National Park. From bluebells to forget-me-nots and fireweed, you won’t be disappointed!

All those sunflower snaps you see on Instagram may have very well been taken in Florida’s Myakka State Forest. Every year in September and October, the yellow flowers pop up all over the state’s forests and hiking trails.

Okay, while not in the US, we couldn’t talk about annual blooms without mentioning Canada’s capital city. Ottawa is home to an internationally renowned tulip festival every May. The original bulbs were a gift from the Netherlands after WWII, where Canada helped liberate the Dutch. Now, travelers flock from all over North America to enjoy the lovely blooms.