Are you looking for travel ideas based on the Wheel of the Year? Here are some ideas for vacation getaways, both far away and in our own Pacific Northwest backyard, that relate to the Sabbats and their celebrations.
This issue's focus: Oestara.
Oestara marks the return of spring and the reemergence of the God and Goddess from their winter travels in the underworld. With their rise, they are saluted by the warming earth with a celebration of daffodils, hyacinths and tulips. The blooming of spring flowers is an event marked around the world, a joyous occasion that signals the end of hibernation and the beginning of the growing season.
One of the most notable places for experiencing the colors and scents of spring is the Netherlands. As well known for tulips as they are for windmills and wooden shoes, the nurseries of the Netherlands ship millions of bulbs worldwide each year. Their fields explode each spring with mile after mile of vibrant reds, yellows and purples. One of the most famous gardens in the Netherlands is the Keukenhof Gardens in the city of Lisse, southwest of Amsterdam near Leiden. The public is permitted to enter from March 27 to May 2, when over 70 acres are in bloom, beginning with the first appearance of crocuses through the last of the winter snow.
Daffodils, jonquils and tulips are next to bloom, followed lastly by strong scented hyacinths. You are welcome to stroll the immaculately manicured grounds, but no picking, please. Also in Lisse is the Museum Voor de Bloembollenstreek, a museum dedicated to the history of tulip raising.
North of Lisse is the beautiful Renaissance city of Haarlem, ending place for the regions' Flower Parade, which begins in the village of Noordwjk on April 26. To get an idea of the volume of flowers the Netherlands deals with, visit the world's largest flower auction in Aalsmeer, a short trip from Haarlem. Beginning at 7:30 a.m. Monday through Friday, visitors can observe as literal trainloads of bulbs and flowers are auctioned off to nurseries from around the world.
Outside of the Netherlands, the largest supplier of spring bulbs is our own Skagit Valley, and we celebrate every year with the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. From March 28 to April 13, the 1500 acres between the towns of Mount Vernon and La Conner are ablaze with spring color, and there are special events to mark the occasion. You can tiptoe through the tulips on your own or take a tour. The Victoria Clipper has packages available, which include a Clipper trip from Seattle to La Conner, an overnight stay at a local inn and a guided tour of the fields.
Other spring trips are offered to Victoria, British Columbia, and the world-famous Butchart Gardens. If you don't mind crowds and a pricey entrance fee, you may not find more perfect gardens anywhere else in the world.
To explore the offerings of spring on the Internet, there are many possibilities. You can find out all about the beauty of the Dutch countryside at the Netherlands Board of Tourism site at www.NBT.nl/NBT-Welcome.html. At this site, you can learn more about the Netherlands, with everything from hotels and restaurants to museums and art galleries to culture and history.
On a local level, there is a site for the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival located at www.tulipfestival.org. Along with a map of the area, there is a list of events and a field update area to advise of which fields are nearing their peak blooming time. And Butchart Gardens has its own site at www.pinc.com/butchart, with information on hours, admission prices and special events. Happy traveling!
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