7 Spring Flings in the Northwest

Spring is the right time to catch the colorful crop of tulips in bloom in Washington's Skagit Valley. Celebrate at the area's annual tulip festival, then rent a bike and take to the road, exploring the valley while stopping for photo ops of the rainbow-striped flowering fields before you. More: Skagit Valley spring escape

Boise, Idaho is made for cyclists―and spring is an especially great time to visit, with leafy streets, wildflower-lined trails, and cool high-desert air.

More: Explore Boise by bike

Southern Oregon's Applegate Valley is wine country the way it used to be. Here, you don't see bus tours and grand châteaux, just down-home folks enjoying a glass of Chardonnay on a sunny afternoon. More: Explore Applegate Valley, OR

A mix of old and new makes Portland's riverside Chinatown a funky-fun place to spend the day. Hire a pedicab to pedal you around the neighborhood's attractions, eat at the new hot spot, take in the cherry blossoms, and more.

More: One perfect day in Portland's Chinatown

Find your inner organic in Portland's Sellwood district with fresh farm eats and enough nurseries and garden resources for everyone from ametuer to pro. More: One perfect day in Portland's Sellwood neighborhood

Spring on Orcas Island has the same farm-fresh food―just fewer people. Rent your own little cabin by the water and savor the island’s bounty.

More: Gourmet getaway to Orcas Island

Escape to Washington's Long Beach Peninsula, where fresh oysters and salmon are caught right offshore, and cranberries, wild berries, and mushrooms florish. More: Explore Washington's hidden coast