Best Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter Destinations
Each of the four season offers fun and exciting vacation possibilities
Pick your favorite time of the year—there's bound to be a destination that sparkles with natural beauty and playful energy during those months. Whether you love sun, snow, or sand, or simply want to surround yourself with magnificent scenery, it's easy to find destinations where the whole family can celebrate the season.
Philadelphia: Indoor and Outdoor Spring Flowers
The big burst of cheery yellow daffodils and pastel-colored blossoms along Philly's major thoroughfares and parks gives promise that winter is finally fading. The weather can still be feisty, but that won't be a problem at the long-running indoor Philadelphia Flower Show, which is held at the enormous Pennsylvania Convention Center. If you can't make the show, there are still plenty of spring blooms around the city, including at the four-acre Azalea Garden near the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum—the very same steps that had a starring role in the movie “Rocky.” About an hour's drive west of there, the greater metropolitan area's beloved Longwood Gardens is awash in the fragrance of flowers. The vast display gardens and conservatory buildings are planted with so many varieties of flowers that a rainbow of colors will greet you throughout the season.
Spring in Tucson: The Desert in Bloom
If you think desert landscapes are all about sand and sagebrush—think again. Spring in the Sonoran Desert around Tucson, Arizona, will be a big, beautiful surprise for you. Wildflowers bust out in a huge carpet of color after ample winter rainfalls, but even in dry years, poppies, lupines and flowering shrubs dot the landscape with splashes of red, orange and blue. Cactuses bloom a bit later—pear in May and the mighty saguaros in June. Spring is an ideal time for the golfers in your family to hit the links, including the wallet-friendly municipal courses. Your little buckaroos will get a kick out of Old Tucson, where the price of admission transports youngsters and grown-ups alike back to the days of the Wild West.
Summer in Williamsburg: History and Theme Parks
School's out and the kids are free from busy schedules and homework. They probably won't even realize that your summer vacation in Colonial Williamsburg is educational, since you’re all having so much fun! History doesn't seem so staid when folks in Colonial garb reenact scenes in the actual buildings, gardens, workshops and taverns from the 17th and 18th centuries. Historic Jamestowne, a half-hour drive from Williamsburg, has an archaeological dig to visit and replicas of the small sailing ships that brought settlers to the New World. Another summer bonus: Instead of short breaks crammed between classes, the whole family can play all day at the Busch Gardens Williamsburg theme park and splash through another day at Water Country USA.
Summer in Wisconsin Dells: The Water Park Capital
Water has always been a big deal in Wisconsin Dells. The town's name came from the Wisconsin River's rapid rush as it carved majestic formations on the sandstone banks. You can still enjoy the scenery and small-town atmosphere when you stroll the city's River Walk. But these days, the big deal in Wisconsin Dells is the theme park-style pools, slides, rides and play areas that make it the Waterpark Capital of the World. Pack plenty of sunscreen along with your swim gear, and bring sneakers and shorts, too. You'll want to change into dry clothes when you leave the water parks to hike, ride a zipline, or explore nearby lakes and canyons.
New Hampshire Maximum Fall Foliage
It’s a good idea to bring cameras and warm coats on your autumn getaway to New Hampshire. The astonishing array of red, gold, orange and yellow leaves that color the hills and valleys are a photographer's dream, but there's also a chill in the air, what with winter not too far away. Before you go, check the Foliage Tracker at VisitNH.com to see where the brightest colors are. One option is to visit Manchester—about an hour outside of Boston—in October, when the colors are typically at their peak in the Merrimack Valley. Or you can meander on up to Concord, the state capital, and then head east through the countryside to Portsmouth for the full New England seacoast village experience, before looping back to Manchester or heading down I-95 to points south.
Olympic Peninsula Autumn: Forests, Salmon and Whales
Fall foliage isn't the only natural wonder that makes an autumn getaway great. The peaceful landscape of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula has spots where trees with flaming red and yellow leaves accent the evergreen forests. But this is also the season when salmon return to their spawning grounds, and you can get a good view of the phenomenon at the Hoh River Visitor Center in Olympic National Park. The salmon run attracts whales, so there's a good chance you'll spot one or more of the five species that populate the Strait of Juan de Fuca; you can either look for them from shore, or take a whale-watching boat tour out of Port Angeles.
Classic Aspen Winter: Skiing and Snow Sports
You have lots of choices in Colorado to indulge your love of winter sports, but the delightful blend of Old World charm and modern environmental awareness puts Aspen high on the list of go-to destinations. The four mountain resorts of Aspen Snowmass cater to both skiers and snowboarders at any level of expertise. There are lessons available at each mountain; and whether you are an expert or will be schussing down a slope for the very first time, a seasoned instructor will be happy to give you some pointers. The little town of Aspen has its share of Hollywood celebrity visitors during the winter months, but you don't need film credits behind your name to enjoy the apres ski scene, shop at the trendy boutiques and galleries, and snuggle down in a comfy, warm bed at the end of a thrilling day.
Winter in Sarasota: Sunny Florida Beaches
Florida beaches are a terrific cure for the wintertime blues, and the white sand beaches of Sarasota County on the Gulf of Mexico really do the trick. The average high temperatures from December through February are in the low 70s, and it rarely gets below 50 degrees at night. Step away from the sand and surf long enough to enjoy the local food, which features fresh produce and seafood. When you’re looking for some Americana and culture, check out both the Ringling Circus Museum and the Museum of Art in downtown Sarasota. Animal lovers will be happy to hang out with the lions, tigers and bears (oh, my!) at the Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary.
Ready to travel? Find hotels in Philadelphia, Tucson, Williamsburg, Wisconsin Dells, Manchester, Concord, Portsmouth, Olympic Peninsula, Port Angeles, Aspen, Sarasota.
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