"The promise of spring's arrival is enough to get anyone through the bitter winter." - Jen Selinsky
We have nearly made it through one of the darkest winters of most of our lives, and what better way to treat yourself than to plan a nice spring getaway!? Thinking about hitting the popular “spring break” spots conjures up scary images of rowdy teens without masks for us, so we have put together a list of our favorite places to visit this time of year that are less likely to draw those types of crowds. Instead, you can relax among beautiful blooming flowers and other natural wonders at these destinations. That sounds great to us!
1. Washington DC:
The biggest draw of Washington DC in the spring is, of course, the cherry blossoms! If you don’t know the history of these trees, the mayor of Tokyo gifted Washington DC with 3,000 cherry trees back in 1912 as a gift of friendship. The best spots to see the blooming cherry blossoms are around the tidal basin, Washington Monument, and Jefferson Memorial.
The peak bloom date is typically around April 4th, but visiting DC in mid-march to early April is your best bet.
2. Shenandoah National Park, Virginia:
If you want to get your flower fix a little farther away from the hustle and bustle of Washington DC, Shenandoah National Park is a great option! They are working hard to host the 95th annual Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival from April 22nd - May 1st. Whether you attend the festival or not, there are no shortage of flower displays throughout the national park.
Fun Fact: This national park is known for having 850 species of wildflowers.
3. Blue Ridge Mountains/Asheville, North Carolina:
We know, as North Carolinians we may be bias, but this had to make the list! Conditions for hiking around the Blue Ridge Parkway and Pisgah National Forest are perfect in the spring, with the added benefit of the displays of blooming wildflowers. There is also the stunning Biltmore Estate in Asheville that will be hosting the Biltmore Blooms festival from April 1st - May 27th. With thousands of tulips, flowering magnolia and cherry trees, and live music, a spring visit to the Biltmore is hard to beat.
4. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona:
It is a great idea to skip the summer crowds and visit this natural wonder during the spring! Average daytime temperatures range from the 50s-80s, instead of the sweltering 100 degree days that are common later in the year. The Grand Canyon National Park is naturally home to hundreds of flowering plants that will be in bloom. You can also snag some amazing hotel room views for lower prices than in the summer.
5. Skagit Valley, Washington:
The picturesque towns around Washington’s Skagit Valley include: La Conner, Mount Vernon, Bow, and Burlington. These towns are in a fertile valley that contains beautiful mountain views, fields of flowers for days, and waterfront areas. What else could you want? In April, you can visit the Skagit Valley Tulip festival to get your fill of tulips, daffodils, and irises. The flowers in full bloom are as close as we can get to the famous tulip fields in Holland this year.
6. San Diego, California:
One of our favorite parts of California will always be San Diego. Even better, is San Diego in the spring! Not only is the weather perfect (although that is usually the case), but there are many parks full of blooming flowers and outdoor attractions to keep you busy. Our top recommendations are to visit Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo, the flower fields of Carlsbad, and the stunning La Jolla seaside area.
If you’re itching to plan your first getaway of the year this spring as we are, we hope that this list helps you get some ideas flowing! Let us know your favorite springtime destination in the comments and stay safe out there.
Thanks for reading!
Nikki + Pam
