28 Great Getaways for Spring Weekends
Attractions: Traditional foods, Southern Appalachian music, arts and crafts fairs, and nature.
Best Time to Go: Third weekend of June, for the Rhododendron Festival.
Flickr/Kari
Attractions: Beach, golf, fishing, nature.
Best Time to Go: In April, the monthly average temperature rises to 68.5F – while the water temperature averages 69F.
Flickr/The Pug Father
Attractions: Waterfalls, mountains, wildlife, nature, hiking, horseback riding, fishing, camping.
Best Time to Go: Between April – when most campgrounds open – and June, when some of the waterfalls tend to dry up.
Flickr/Willy Volk
Attractions: Beach, boating, wildlife viewing including panthers, gopher tortoises and bald eagles– and no cars.
Best Time to Go: In May, for the island’s annual boat party.
Flickr/Willy Volk
Attractions: Thermal waters, spa, horse racing, architecture.
Best Time to Go: First two weeks of May, when the Hot Springs Music Festival takes place.
Flickr/Cletus Lee
Attractions: The Appalachian Mountains, a monumental 3,000-foot steel arch bridge, camping, fishing, whitewater rafting, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, horseback riding.
Best Time to Go: June, when temperatures can reach 75F.
Flickr/Michael McDonough
Attractions: Palo Duro Canyon State Park, camping, mountain biking, history, nature, horse riding.
Best Time to Go: Early in the spring. Remember, since it’s the desert, nights are often cool.
Wikimedia Commons
Attractions: Five state parks offer hiking, camping, swimming, fishing, lighthouses, and wine tasting – as well as fish boil platters, cherry picking and cherry pies.
Best Time to Go: Late April or May, for the cherry blossoms.
Flickr/James Jordan
Attractions: Wildlife viewing, fishing, camping, scenic drives, hiking, lakes.
Best Time to Go: May 15 weekend, when the park system kicks off the start of the season with free fishing.
city-data.net
Attractions: Boating, bicycle riding, horseback riding, fudge – and no cars.
Best Time to Go: June, when the weather is more reliable than earlier in the spring and the crowds haven’t arrived yet.
Flickr/Bud
Attractions: State park, nature, cliffs, caves, gorges, waterfalls, hiking, antiquing, scenic railway and air tours.
Best Time to Go: April, when the waterfalls are melting and wildflowers are blooming.
Flickr/Miriam Poling
Attractions: Pristine tallgrass prairies, trails, wildlife, hunting, fishing, hiking.
Best Time to Go: Late spring, when there’s abundant wildlife and wildflowers. It’s also the time when grass fires for grazing purposes (to promote quick new growth) take place. This can make for interesting landscapes with miles of flames and smoke.
Flickr/Hal Dick
Attractions: A 550-mile scenic road on the state’s western border along the Mississippi River, beautiful landscapes, nature, shopping, restaurants, museums, working locks and dams, biking, boating, rock climbing.
Best Time to Go: June, when temperatures reach the high 70s and low 80s and average precipitation isn’t at its highest.
Flickr/Scott Spaeth
Attractions: Golfing, fishing, biking, shopping, hot air balloon rides over lakes and woods, gambling, history, museums, car racing.
Best Time to Go: April, for a golf tournament, car show and marathon.
minnesota-resorts.com
Attractions: Biking, camping, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, kayaking, surfing, swimming, sand dunes.
Best Time to Go: Late May or early June when the weather is warmer and the park is less congested than in the middle of summer.
Flickr/Bob Mical
Attractions: Military history, 18th century fort, museum, lakes, canoe rentals, hiking, horticulture.
Best Time to Go: Early May, at opening time.
Flickr/Judy Baxter
Attractions: Ruins of a monumental railway bridge now reinvented as the Kinzua Bridge Sky Walk, nature, scenic views, woods, hunting, hiking.
Best Time to Go: May and June, when temperatures are in the 50s and 60s and average precipitation isn’t at its highest.
Flickr/Triforce_Goddess_64
Attractions: Architecture, history, wine tasting, lighthouses, antique shops, shopping, dining, farmers market, beach.
Best Time to Go: April, when the main wineries are up and running.
USAPics
Attractions: Shopping, dining, farms, museums, lighthouses, music concert series.
Best Time to Go: June, during the annual strawberry festival and when the Tuesday Night concert series begins.
Flickr/Birgit44
Attractions: Sandy beaches, swimming, wildlife, bird watching, fishing, kayaking, lighthouses.
Best Time to Go: Anytime after April, although federal beaches are closed during nesting season (April to July) while state beaches like Sand Point at the most southern tip of the island remain open.
Flickr/Charlie Kellogg
Attractions: Hiking, biking, shopping, antiques, art galleries, tubing, rafting, canoeing and kayaking on the Delaware River.
Best Time to Go: Early May, during the wine and art festivals.
Pinimg
Attractions: Largest state park in California and largest desert park in America. Hiking, wildlife viewing including desert bighorn sheep, wildflowers, camping.
Best Time to Go: April, when the flowers are blooming and the heat isn’t at its highest yet.
Flickr/slworking2
Attractions: Wildlife, hiking, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, camping, hot springs.
Best Time to Go: Early in spring, as May and June are the hottest and driest months.
Flickr/Drifty
Attractions: Largest and oldest botanical garden in Arizona with over 2,600 species of plants, wildlife, bird watching.
Best Time to Go: April, when desert wildflowers are blooming.
Flickr/Shona
Attractions: Mining history, ghost town, western reenactment and proximity to Death Valley (about a two-hour drive).
Best Time to Go: Memorial Day weekend, during the annual chili cook-off.
Flickr/larrymyhre
Attractions: Boating, scuba diving, snorkeling, parasailing, zip lining, beach, golf, spa, gambling, luxury hotels.
Best Time to Go: May or June, before crowds invade the island.
Flickr/Brewbooks
Attractions: Waterfalls, hiking, fishing, hunting, camping, woods, mountain biking, wildlife, hot springs, horseback riding, whitewater rafting.
Best Time to Go: June, when temperatures have risen.
Flickr/Bureau Of Land Managememnt
Attractions: Yakima River, views of Mount Rainier, wine tasting, craft brews, fishing, whitewater rafting.
Best Time to Go: End of April, during the spring wine tasting weekend, when you can sample unfinished wines from the barrel.
Flickr