Warm Weather and Sparser Crowds Await with These Spring Destinations
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
The city famous for its red light district and canals comes alive in spring, shaking off the heavy winter fog and embracing the warmer weather with bountiful tulip crops. There is no better time to explore the countryside around Amsterdam, where the classic photos of windmills in a field of tulips image is yours to take.
In the city itself, the trees lining the canals burst into leaf, and the cafes and restaurants spill into the cobbled streets again. Spring is the best time to cruise around on a bicycle and enjoy the buzz of a city emerging from winter.
San Sebastian, Spain
One of the best vacation ideas for food lovers is a week or two in San Sebastian, the great foodie town of Spain. Spring is the best season to sample the local fare, with everything from anchovies and mackerel, to idiazabal cheese, to baby broad beans and tender asparagus shoots.
The markets and fairs are overflowing with fresh local produce in spring, and feasting your eyes on the colorful stalls is as much fun as buying quality foodstuffs. Throughout town, bar tops brim with pintxos, snack-sized local specialties crafted from seasonal products.
For a more highbrow affair, you can check out one of the Michelin starred restaurants in town.
Looking to cool off this summer while getting some serious thrills? Take a visit to one (or all) of the best water parks in the USA.
New Orleans, United States
Beat the heat and humidity and visit New Orleans in spring. The warm, jasmine-scented nights and sunny days are more than enough to brighten spirits dampened by winter.
In between dramatic rainstorms you can absorb the lush sensuality of New Orleans, the atmosphere of the French Quarter and the live jazz and cocktail scene.
Then, of course, there’s Mardi Gras, making the Big Easy one of the best places to travel in April. The wild, colorful celebrations run for about two weeks, with endless parades and parties. Embrace the carnival spirit and throw on a mask so you can masquerade through the madness. Once it’s all over, you can enjoy the slow, southern pace of life as things settle down again.
