Top Spring Travel Destinations

So I wanted to get back to posting a little about travel for three reasons...1) I have the itch to travel and know we won't be traveling for a long time and 2) I had lots of people tell me it was fun to read and 3) (which you could argue could be combined with 1) I love to write about it!  I think that I should get my own show like Samantha Brown....just saying.

Today's post is about great travel destinations in the Spring. We are safely into April so it's safe to say Spring (er...Summer...er...weird weather patterns!) are here to stay.  Here are some wonderful places we should check out when they are in "full bloom".

1) New York City

Why go now?
Baseball season openers rally Yankees (April 13) and Mets (April 5) fans, cherry blossoms set the Brooklyn Botanic Garden ablaze (April 21–29), and the reels turn at the Tribeca Film Festival(April 18–29). 


Insider Tip (yea, I got this from somewhere, no I have not been to New York!): 

Set out with Urban Oyster for expert guide-led glimpses of authentic NYC (Manhattan food carts, Brooklyn breweries, and more).

2) Tuscany, Italy

Why go now:

Before summer’s tourist crowds pour in, rub elbows with the Tuscan locals for a slew of quirky, age-old spring festivals dedicated to everything from medieval-style crossbow competitions (several locations, dates vary) to luck-carrying crickets (Festa del Grilloin Florence, May 17) to cart explosions (Scoppio del Carro in Florence, April 8).

Insider Tip: 

Explore pastoral Tuscan landscapes via a self-guided weeklong cycling tour, customized with cooking classes or wine tastings, with Pure Adventures.

3) Miami, Florida

Why go now: 

Beach bums-cum-culture vultures can indulge their taste buds at the Miami Wine & Food Festival (April 18–21); or partake in the Miami Beach Gay Pride celebrations (April 13–15). Sports enthusiasts, meanwhile, are anticipating the new state-of-the-art Miami Marlins stadium (it opened April 4), complete with a duo of aquariums set behind home plate. 

Insider Tip: 

For 25 cents, ride the South Beach Local bus for a quick-and-easy tour of the Art Deco Historic District.

4) Paso Robles, California

Why go now: 

Tour the wine trails of this burgeoning California wine region in mid-May and catch the 30th annual Paso Robles Wine Festival (May 18–20), too, with 70 area wineries pouring in Downtown City Park, and a gaggle of local chefs showcasing their farm-fresh fare. Also worthwhile: the 20th annual Hospice du Rhone (April 26–28), celebrating all things Rhône.

Insider Tip: Build your preference-based wine tasting itinerary via the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance’s recently launched Interactive Trip Planner.

5) Mallorca, Spain

Why go now: 

Head to Spain’s most popular Mediterranean isle during the third week of May for the transporting medieval festival held at Capdepera Castle, or take in other traditional spring fetes, complete with processions, reenactments, and entertainment, like the Festa de l'Ángel at the Bellver Castle in Palma in mid-April, or Les Valentes Dones in Sóller in May.

Insider Tip: 

Mallorca’s Serra de Tramuntana Mountains—recently designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site—are primed for hiking.

6)  Prague

Why go now: 

Springtime sees Prague blossom in everything from its flowering magnolia trees to its cultural offerings. The world-class Prague Spring Music Festival (May 12–June 3) brings three weeks of symphony, opera, and chamber concerts to the city. Peruse the handcrafted goods and traditional foods of the Easter markets (March 24–April 15) in Old Town Square, or hit the stalls of the foodie-and-beer lover’s haven, Czech Beer Festival Prague (May 17–June 2).

Insider Tip: The generous blooms of Petrín Hill lend well to a springtime stroll.

7) Sydney, Australia

Why go now: 

Sample autumn Down Under with Sydney's ramped-up cultural calendar, including the Museum of Contemporary Art, which re-opened in March, with a new rooftop café and sculpture terrace. Nab hot tickets like the Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour(March 24–April 15), or catch Vivid Sydney’s "festival of music, light, and ideas" (May 25–June 11), featuring an illuminated Sydney Opera House.

Insider Tip:

Get a local’s perspective of Sydney from the passenger seat of 1960s classic Australian vehicle, courtesy of My Sydney Detour’s bespoke tours.

8) Saint Lucia

Why go now: 

While peak winter crowds and rates typically wind down after April, the annual Saint Lucia Jazz Festival (April 30–May 13), headlined by Lionel Richie this year, ensures that Saint Lucia remains on the Caribbean’s hot list well into spring.

Insider Tip:  Catch weekly jazz headlined by renowned local artist Carl Gustave at the Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa (Thursday nights through late spring).

And there you go!  Places to head out to in the Spring (next year!) or if you are super spontaneous you can book it now and head out :)  We will have baby coming so we are saving our money, but maybe we can go somewhere next Spring as a little Babymoon (I know those are suppose to happen BEFORE baby, but we're broke and busy) and graduation present for the hubby!