Spring is the perfect time to go traveling. You can shake off the cabin fever from winter and it’s a shoulder season for many weekend destinations around the US, which means you can get great deals on hotels and flights.
Spring is full of opportunities for you and your family to enjoy. You can view the cherry blossoms in DC or San Fransisco or enjoy a full day of skiing and water sports, and horseback riding in the evening. Spring is also the time of festivals and flowers, so there are plenty of options if you’re looking to travel.
Washington D.C.
Washington DC is an absolute must-visit. As the capital of the US, it has no lack of attractions for US citizens and foreign tourists alike. However, DC comes alive in the spring, when the annual Cherry Blossom Festival takes place.
The festival runs from March 20th to April 17th this year, so there’s still time to catch it. However, there’s plenty to see and do besides the festival, like visiting the Tidal Basin and nearby monuments, Arlington Cemetary, and of course the Smithsonian and other free museums.
There are enough activities to stretch into a full-length vacation, but taking a weekend to view the cherry blossoms and visit the museums is excellent.
San Francisco
Perhaps DC is too far for you. Maybe you want to visit another iconic American city and enjoy cherry blossoms with a more Japanese setting. San Francisco has you covered. The Japantown Cherry Blossom Festival is held on weekends in mid-April, taking place on April 11th & 12th and 18th & 19th this year.
If you want more to do than just view cherry blossoms, San Francisco has no lack of sights to see and things to do. April 24th is the Opening Day on the Bay, and get there early to see hundreds of boats take to the water.
If you’re a fan of the arts, visit San Francisco between April 21st and May 1st to participate in the San Francisco International Film Festival. It’s the longest-running film festival globally, and every spring, independent film-makers the world over descend upon the city to show off their creative vision.
San Francisco has a lot going on in the spring, making it the perfect season to visit. And there are plenty more attractions that make it a popular tourist destination year-round.
Sanibel Island
Florida beaches are practically synonymous with spring break. Wild parties, crazy clubs, packed beaches. This isn’t any of those.
Sanibel Island is a more remote island getaway close to Fort Myers. Fewer amenities and abundant nature make it the ideal spring getaway without dealing with drunk college kids. Now, the quieter atmosphere comes at a price. There’s not much to do besides hiking, biking, and the beach, but that can be precisely what you want.
Sanibel’s warm weather, gentle surf, and pristine beaches make it the perfect springtime beach getaway. And besides, doing nothing but relaxing is what we go to the beach for.
Point Pleasant
The first thing that comes to mind when I think of New Jersey is the iconic boardwalk. Hitting the beach and taking in the boardwalk and rides are a time-honored New Jersey tradition. And that’s precisely what this is.
And spring is the perfect time to visit. You can beat the crowds of New Yorkers who drive and take the train down and enjoy the newly-opened stores and rides on the boardwalk. Take a day at the amusement park and a day at the beach for the perfect long weekend.
While there aren’t many spring events, that means fewer crowds, and you’ll have Point Pleasant just to yourself.
The Great Smoky Mountains
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has 12 million visitors a year. To put it into perspective, Yellowstone, the park I put at the top of my 5 Best National Parks article, gets 4 million visitors a year. That’s three times as many people in the park than Yellowstone. However, you can beat the crowds by going in the spring.
Firstly, there are three entrances into this massive national park, Gatlinburg TN, Townsend TN, and Cherokee, NC. Next, the park has numerous hiking trails, the park’s main draw. And in springtime, animals are just coming out of hibernation, not to mention the birding opportunities. And, of course, wildflowers.
The waterfalls in the park are incredibly scenic in the spring, the snowmelt swelling them to create picturesque scenes. However, there’s a lot of rain. Like a lot, higher altitudes of the park are classified as temperate rainforests. But if you like a little bit of rainfall while hiking, this is the perfect park.
And if you think nature is the only reason to visit the park, you’re dead wrong. There Is a lot of cultural attraction like an honest-to-goodness ghost town abandoned when the park was designated and a nearby Cherokee reservation. Check out the museums and history centers to learn more about the people who originally inhabited the land and the Trail of Tears, where 4,000 Cherokee died of exposure.
There are also many museums and cabins relating to the area’s early settlers, but if you want something a little more thrilling, you can take a whitewater rafting tour, though it gets a bit wild in the spring when the snowmelt and rainfall swell rivers.
Sedona
There’s never really a wrong time to visit Sedona, but spring is truly something special. The agreeable weather and fewer crowds make it easy to enjoy this artistic town and scenery.
With temps centered around the low 80s, it’s the perfect time for outdoor activity in Sedona. There is some excellent hiking and biking, but that goes for all of Sedona’s other activities, like horseback riding, helicopter tours, jeep tours, or just walking around town looking for art installations.
Sedona has a lot of art and history to explore, from Native American cultural museums and sites to hundreds of art galleries. The gorgeous desert views attract artists of all stripes, and the art scene is one of the primary reasons people visit Sedona. The green growth of plants against the striking backdrop of the giant red mesas creates a once-in-a-lifetime landscape that any artist would dream of.
The fresh air, mild weather, and jaw-dropping beauty make Sedona one of the best springtime destinations.
New Orleans
You might think there wouldn’t be much to do in New Orleans after Mardi Gras. You’d be wrong. Spring is one of the best times to visit New Orleans, and they have plenty of festivals and events to celebrate the end of winter.
Many of these festivals are returning this year after the hard-hitting pandemic, making them incredibly hectic and grand. Such festivals include Jazz Fest, the French Quarter Festival, and my personal favorite, the New Orleans Book Festival.
More spring events are the Queen Nefertari Exhibit at the New Orleans Museum of Art, which runs through July 17th, an excellent exhibition at an already stunning museum. If you’re disappointed you won’t be able to see any parades, don’t fret. On Sunday’s, second lines, African American traditional parades, run through the streets of the French Quarter and Treme. Anyone can join in, and there’s always music, laughter, and fun.
Spring is the return of crawfish season, and any New Orleans native will tell you it’s the best time of year to try this zesty cajun dish. There’s always something going on in New Orleans, so check out their spring festivals to find your favorite.
You probably know I recently visited New Orleans during Mardi Gras season if you follow my blog. The city, the nightlife, and the attractions were all genuinely spectacular, and I recommend the city to anyone who wants to celebrate.
Annapolis
Maryland might not be the first thing you think of when it comes to springtime destinations. But the city has a lot happening in the spring, from the blooming flowers, opening beaches, and, what the city is known for, sailing.
The Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show takes place April 29th through May 1st. Sailing is one of the biggest draws of Annapolis, and it makes a perfect weekend adventure. If sailing doesn’t interest you, perhaps the city will. Annapolis is full of blooming flowers, shopping districts, and attractions to enjoy.
This includes the beaches which open up in the spring and have few visitors. However, Annapolis has plenty more outdoor activities besides swimming and sailing, hiking, biking, gardens, and more. If a spring shower starts coming down, duck into one of the city’s many museums and art galleries.
The Annapolis Book Festival takes place on April 9th and is an ideal time to visit the city for a bookworm like me. There’s much more to see and appreciate in the city than meets the eye, making it the perfect weekend adventure.
Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach is the iconic American beach, and spring is the perfect time to beat the crowds and get a great price. Hotel prices can be a third of what they are during peak season, so spring is the perfect time to book.
Beating crowds and prices that can’t be beaten spells the perfect getaway trip. Myrtle Beach has plenty of places to stay and things to do. While the low prices are the main springtime draw, you can still swim, hike, and shop around to shake off that cabin fever.
Myrtle Beach is an iconic beach getaway that’s perfect for everyone.
Charleston
South Carolina has some great beaches. And that includes their capital Charleston, and it has it all. Gorgeous architecture, history, shopping, entertainment, everything you could want on a weekend getaway or vacation.
Spring has a couple of festivals, and the city streets drip with wisteria blooms, making this city one of the best springtime destinations I’ve encountered. The 2022 Annual Festival of Houses and Gardens started March 16th and ends April 9th. Historical and modern houses are opened to the public to show off the interiors, while their expansive gardens are open for viewing.
If that is too short notice, the North Charleston Arts Festival is May 4th through 8th, and it’s a fantastic celebration of Charleston’s art scene. If arts aren’t your thing, the Safe Sounds at Firefly concert series starts April 17th, and takes place in the evenings. So you can spend your day chilling on the beach then head to the Firefly Distillery to take in the local music scene.
Charleston is a nigh perfect city with plenty to see and explore so take your time to enjoy it.
Texas Hill Country
The hills of Texas’s outback are filled to the brim with beauty and adventure. It makes a brilliant getaway, is filled with things to do, and has lovely countryside to explore. Spring here means boundless fields of wildflowers, and breezy weather to enjoy them.
Personally, I think the best way to explore this area is a road trip. You can tour all of the charming cities and towns that make up the Texas Hills, while still getting your fill of fields. There is plenty of bed and breakfasts you can stay at while you explore everything the area has to offer.
When you choose the Texas Hill Country, you have an amazing trip to plan, from the wild outdoors to the small towns that dot the landscape. The area is romantic, adventurous, and beautiful.
Vail
Now, as you might be able to tell from my article about ski resorts in Ohio, I’m a huge fan of skiing. And spring is one of the best times to hit the slopes. The slopes and lifts are uncrowded, the weather temperate enough to wear sweaters, and the powder fresh. Vail Colorado is one of the best places to ski in the spring, or in the winter.
Now skiing might not be what you had in mind for a spring retreat, however, spring in the mountains of Colorado is a lot more than just shredding some powder. Wildlife is just beginning to wake up from their long winter naps and you can see them everywhere in the forests. Birds are also returning and songs fill the air as you head down the mountain.
If skiing isn’t your cup of cocoa there’s plenty else to do in Vail, like whitewater rafting, hiking, gardens, museums, and shopping. Taking your time to explore Vail beyond the mountain yields wonderful memories and experiences.
So take your time thinking about whether you want to break out your skis one more time and shred some slopes.
Finger Lakes
The Finger Lakes region in New York comes alive during the spring. Not only is the area uncrowded, but you can also score some fantastic deals on travel to cure your cabin fever. Touring the area via road trip is a great option to get out of the house and into nature.
You can take your time smelling the wildflowers in Watkins Glen State Park, go on a wine tour, or go antiquing. The area has a lot of events in May and June, like the Celebrate Commemorate Festival that celebrates the founding of Memorial Day on May 24th through May 30th.
You can rent a boat or a standing paddleboat to explore some of the region’s famous lakes or join a fishing tournament to try and land the biggest fish. Whatever you choose to do, you’re sure to have a good time.
Kennebunkport
One of the best-kept secrets of Kennebunkport is that the beach is open year-round. Another is that spring is one of the best times to visit. Maine is New England territory, and it shows tons of tourist activities and great seafood. And you get to beat the crowds!
If you want to visit the New England coastline, spring is a fantastic time, with fewer people and better prices. The beach will likely be too cold to swim, but you can still walk alongside it and enjoy the ocean view.
The food is good year-round! Whenever you head to Maine, make sure you eat some delicious New England food like clam chowder or lobster. Attend the annual May Day Festival to celebrate the arrival of spring, or Head over on the fourth Sunday in March for Maine Maple Sunday to commemorate the sweet syrup.
Timberline
I know, I know—another spring skiing destination. However, Timberline is a lot more than just skiing. Hiking, biking, history, culture, watersports, windsurfing, and skiing. Whereas Vail’s final runs are early to mid-April, the season is still going strong in Mt. Hood, where they operate through Memorial Day.
Mt. Hood is right next to the Columbian River Gorge, the windsurfing capital of the world. Snow turns to slush in the afternoon; head down the mountain and spend time on the lake to make the most of your trip.
There are tons of hiking trails, mountain biking, and small towns to explore too, so Timberline is well worth a weekend visit, or even two or three.
So Many Choices, So Little Time
As you can see, there’s plenty to see and do in the spring to shake off the dregs of winter. There are tons of flower festivals, music and art, and destinations for you to experience.
You can see the cherry blossoms in DC or San Francisco, hit the beach at Sanibel or Myrtle, play on the water in Annapolis or Finger Lakes, or ski in Vail or Timberline. It’s no wonder spring is the season of opportunity with so much to see and do.
So shake off that cabin fever, packs your bags, and plan an epic weekend getaway. Get out there this spring, and take all the sights the season of renewal has to offer.
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