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Love in bloom
Note from 10Best: Someday, we’ll all be ready to pack our suitcases again and head out on our next adventures. In the meantime, we’ll keep sharing the places that inspire us.
A field full of flowers can be one of the prettiest and most romantic places in the world. Here are 10 such locations that can be found around the globe.
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Tulips in the Netherlands
When you think of iconic flower-filled destinations, the Netherlands and its tulips probably come to mind. It’s possible to see these colorful blooms in and around Amsterdam during March, April and May. Cycling the Flower Route or visiting the Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse make for better viewing.
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Bluebonnets in Texas
Drive through Texas Hill Country in April, and you’re bound to see bluebonnets extending out along the roadside. Check out the areas around Fredericksburg or the area between Austin, San Antonio, Lampasas and Junction. The Texas Department of Transportation scatters more than 30,000 pounds of wildflower seed per year, making for a lovely and romantic road trip.
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Lavender in Provence, France
The fields of purple blooms along the Lavender Route in Provence, France smell just as beautiful as they look. The area is home to some of the most picturesque villages in the country. Make the drive during the summer when the plants are in full bloom, and be sure to pick up some lavender honey to take home with you.
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Poppies of the California Mojave Desert
Each spring, the grasslands of the Mojave Desert come to life with fields of orange and red poppies as far as the eye can see. When you visit the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, you’ll have eight miles of hiking trails across the gently rolling hills to enjoy.
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Daffodils in the Cotswolds, U.K.
Early spring brings daffodils to the Cotswolds. See them on a walk through Gloucestershire’s Leadon Valley, aptly nicknamed Daffodil Way.
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Baby Blue Eyes at the Hitachi Seaside Park, Japan
Japan may be best known for cherry blossoms, but at Hitachi Seaside Park, it’s the rolling hills of baby blue eyes that steal the show. After the blue blossoms fade, you’ll see burning bush, cosmos, zinnia and roses throughout the rest of the year. In autumn, the leaves on the trees are just as colorful as the flowers.
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Sunflowers in Tuscany, Italy
Nothing says “summer” like a field of sunflowers, and one of the most romantic places to see them is in Tuscany. As you drive between medieval villages perched on hilltops, you’ll pass endless fields of these yellow beauties when they peak in mid-July. If you get there early, you can spot fields of red poppies.
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Ranunculus fields in San Diego, California
A visit to the Carlsbad Flower Fields has become a spring tradition for many a San Diego resident. Over 50 acres of hills along the Carlsbad coast are covered in rainbow-hued ranunculus blooms. Walk the paths through the fields, take a tractor-driven wagon ride, get lost in the sweet pea maze or picnic in one of the themed gardens.
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Bluebells in England
In spring, the woodlands of England put on a colorful spectacle of their own when the bluebells begin to bloom. These iconic British wildflowers create a carpet of purple and blue in the 1,100 bluebell woods scattered throughout the country. If you’re passing through, check with the nearest town for any scheduled bluebell walks.
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Wildflowers on Mount Rainier in Washington
There’s a little bit of everything in the wildflower fields of Mount Rainier National Park come springtime, and the colorful meadows enjoy a backdrop of the snow-capped peak. While the window for wildflower viewing is largely weather-dependent, the subalpine meadows are typically at their most colorful in late July and early August.
10Best is a part of the USA TODAY Network, providing an authentically local point of view on destinations around the world, in addition to travel and lifestyle advice.