The Most Beautiful Places in North America To Visit This Spring

Anyone who resides in a country with four discernible seasons will agree that springtime is particularly glorious, especially after months of frigid temperatures. Layers of clothing are shed, the majority of the population comes out of hibernation, ice melts and trees begin to blossom.

There is a certain joy that comes along with booking a spring vacation in January, but as it turns out, this month is also a particularly practical time to start looking into spring travel. Recent data shows that flight prices tend to be most reasonable 115 to 21 days before travel.

While spring break may have many holidaymakers heading south, there are also a few destinations closer to home that are especially wonderful between mid-March and mid-June. To celebrate the launch of Kensington Tours’ new customizable, private-guided journeys through the United States and Canada, which help travelers experience undiscovered beauty at their doorsteps, we’ve put together a primer on the most beautiful places in North America to see in the spring. These places boast incomparable blooms, great seasonal festivals and mild weather that enhance their appeal.

Washington, D.C.

Washington is painted in a wash of pink as the city’s cherry blossoms bloom each spring. Typically arriving between the end of March and beginning of April, they tend to stick around for just a few weeks. Book a Washington, D.C. vacation during this time and you’ll be privy to some of the best spring photo ops in the nation with blossoms framing the capital city’s most iconic buildings in addition to explorations of the city’s main attractions: The Capitol Building, The National Archives and The Smithsonian. The most popular places to visit during cherry blossom season are the Tidal Basin, which provides great photo ops near the Jefferson Memorial, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial.

Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville is colorful at any time of year, but spring is especially vibrant. Awesome April, an annual occurrence, promises a major event each weekend and a host of festivals celebrating everything from beer to fashion and flowers in bloom. The city’s most photogenic spots include Cheekwood Estate and Gardens, an arboretum filled with snowdrops, crocus, hyacinths, daffodils, magnolias, redbuds, and dogwoods, The Parthenon, a full-scale replica of the Athenian original, and a host of city streets adorned with beautiful murals. Beyond the photo ops, no vacation in Nashville would be complete without a trip to the Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame.

California’s Deserts

Traveling to the desert in search of plant life may seem counterintuitive but book your California getaway at just the right time and you could be lucky enough to experience an explosion of color in this typically arid landscape. The state’s super blooms are a rare springtime occurrence encouraged by a combination of substantial rainfall, cool daytime temperatures, and cold nights. Wildflowers including lupine, ocotillo, desert lavender and poppies can be so prolific that in 2019 they were said to be visible from space. A road trip into the desert in search of blooms can be the perfect complement to a tour of California’s coastline, from Santa Barbara to San Diego.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Low humidity and a host of local festivals make New Orleans an especially attractive destination in spring. The city’s Garden District is at its most lush during this time of year, as is City Park, a 1,300-acre public green space in the center of the city. Add to this April’s annual French Quarter Festival, Freret Street Festival, New Orleans Food and Wine Experience, and the city’s Spring Garden Show and you’ll see quickly see how The Big Easy’s appeal extends beyond Mardi Gras. Round out your New Orleans vacation with a tour of Lafayette Cemetery No.1, a Creole cooking class and a jazz show at Preservation Hall.

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