This Huge Tulip Farm Is Philly’s (Better) Version of L.A.’s Poppy Fields
New Jersey's Holland Ridge Farms is ready for your photos — and even your flower-picking. But visit quickly, because they'll be gone soon.
Perhaps a photo of an Instagram influencer (or your friend, or, in my case, family member) posing in a field of tangerine orange poppies has recently found its way to your social media timeline.
If so, whoever pictured is very likely one of the many, many people (like, droves of people) pilgrimaging from Los Angeles proper to nearby state parks to photograph themselves amongst poppy “super blooms,” which look just as super as they sound. Unfortunately for Mother Earth, who really needs a break from all our shit shows right now, many of those people have trampled the delicate flowers in their quest for the perfect Instagram post, which wildlife enthusiasts are none too happy about. (One couple even landed a helicopter on them.)
Here in beautiful ol’ Philadelphia (where people would never do such a thing), we can get great springtime social media pics without worrying about harming the blooms. We have our own flower-haven equivalent nearby — in the wilderness of New Jersey!
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Millions of tulips are currently in bloom and open to the public at Holland Ridge Farms, a quiet oasis in Cream Ridge Township, which is less than 20 miles east of Trenton (and nearly an hour drive from Philly).
The 153-acre property (a former dairy farm) is owned and maintained by the Jansens, a Dutch American Family that boasts four generations of tulip growers. Opening the farm was a “lifelong vision” for Casey Jansen, Sr., who moved to the U.S. from Holland about 55 years ago, according to the Holland Ridge Farms website. Holland Ridge Farm opened to the public in April 2018 with its first ever Tulip Festival — the largest on the East Coast, per the family.
Unlike the poppy fields, the tulip farm was planted in neat little rows, so you can walk and stand and sit amongst the flowers without trampling all over them. Check out this drone footage of the farm:
A quick warning: The tulips don’t last long. They experience only about two weeks of bloom, according to the farm’s creative director, Cynthia Soler, and they were in high bloom last weekend. The flowers are now at about 70 percent, she said — so you’re going to want to visit as soon as possible. Soler said the fields will likely close after 6 p.m. on Sunday. (And like the poppy fields, expect plenty of Instagrammers if you do go.)
One advantage of the tulip fields? You can pick the flowers and not feel evil about it. In fact, you can get a nice little basket to hold them in before you take them home.
Admission to the farm will cost you $10 on the weekend if you buy tickets online and in advance. The price for same-day entry is $12. For seniors, entry is $8 in advance and $10 on the day of and at the ticket booth. For children ages 3-12, entry will cost $7-8. Entry is two dollars cheaper during the week (for all).
The farm is located at 86 Rues Road in Cream Ridge (as mentioned). It’s open between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. every day — but the ticket booth closes promptly at 5 p.m., so make sure you get there early. FYI, if you have a good time (or if you miss the short time window), you’ll probably be pleased to know that the tulip farm does this whole thing all over again in the fall — but with big, beautiful sunflowers.
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