1. Naples, Florida
Think Miami vibes without the chaos – I found 27°C blue-sky days, bright white beaches, dolphins cruising past the shore, and a relaxed, upscale feel — and the Earth Day Festival and Pickleball Championships lighting up the calendar.
I flew into Fort Myers and was on the beach within 45 minutes, and I also took a fun airboat tour in Everglades National Park, and sampled the boutiques and alfresco dining – the spa-like Bluemercury was a stand-out!
Location: Gulf Coast, Florida, Southeast USA | Vibe: Upscale beach escape | Avg temp: 26°C to 27°C
My favorite highlights…
- Staying in the lush 4-star boutique Inn at Pelican Bay — lakeside dining, fire pits, Peloton bikes, and a cloud-like Serta® pillow-top mattress!
2. Texas Hill Country
April in Texas Hill Country felt like full-on spring on my visit— rolling hills carpeted in bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush, warm sunny days, perfect vineyard weather, and the bonus of the Bluebonnet Festival.
I flew into Austin, drove a 1.5 hours, and dove straight into Hill Country life — scenic drives along Willow City Loop, hikes at Enchanted Rock, tastings at Pedernales Cellars, and a steady diet of peach cobbler and breakfast tacos. Note – wildflower timings vary year to year.
Location: Central Texas, South-Central USA | Vibe: charming and unique | Avg temp: 24°C to 29°C
My personal highlights…
- Staying at Barons CreekSide Resort – I adored my Swiss log cabin and firefly-dotted creekside evenings with an earthy Tempranillo and live European music!
3. Santa Catalina Island, California
April showed this island at its best — I discovered sunny, mild days, wildflower-covered hills, quiet streets before summer crowds, the added buzz of SpringFest along the waterfront and an Easter Egg hunt too!
After a one-hour Catalina Express ferry from Newport Beach, I spent a long weekend hiking the Garden to Sky Trail via Hermit Gulch Trailhead, spotting a Catalina bison herd on an Eco-Tours Catalina Island Conservancy, and ending my days with Dragonberry Mojitos at Descanso Beach Club.
Location: Off Southern California Coast, Southwest USA | Vibe: unique island retreat | Avg temp: 18 to 20°C
My favorite highlights…
- Staying in the boho boutique Avalon Hotel — koi ponds, rooftop sunbathing, and thoughtful turn-down treats like hand-wrapped sea-salt caramels!
4. Antelope Valley, California
April was an Insta-worthy time for high desert region trip — the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve was blanketed in bright orange poppies, framed by gently contoured hills and huge skies that were perfect for spring hikes and golden-hour photos. The Antelope Valley Poppy Festival also took place this month.
I checked the Poppy Cam, escaped smoggy Los Angeles on a two-hour drive north for a weekend at nearby Oxford Inn Lancaster hiking poppy-lined trails and taking in very photogenic desert views. Note: the bloom timings vary each year.
Location: High Desert, Southern California, Southwest USA | Vibe: desert bloom hotspot | Avg temp: 21°C to 24°C
My highlights…
- Shopping at BLVD Farmers’ Market – the tangy green almonds and the smoky-sweet Bee & Bramble Velvet Amber Reserve were stand outs!
5. Tidal Basin and Washington DC
Early April was perfect for my D.C. break — the Tidal Basin was in full cherry blossom bloom, and the city buzzed with the National Cherry Blossom Festival and waterfront Petalpalooza which was pink-themed fun!
Flying into DCA, I spent four days at the elegant Hamilton Hotel and wandered the loop trail past the Jefferson Memorial and Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. Note: blossoms bloom anytime from mid-March to mid-April.
Location: Capital Region, Mid-Atlantic USA | Vibe: romantic city escape | Avg temp: 18°C to 21°C
My favorite highlights…
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Walking the Tidal Basin Loop Trail — there were cherry blossoms overhead, a faint scent from the indicator tree, and the tart perfume of crabapple blooms!
6. Port Townsend, Washington
I loved how spring suited this Victorian port perfectly – cherry blossom-lined streets, brightening waterfront parks, whale-watching, the lively Port Townsend Farmers Market, and even an Earth Day beach cleanup that turned into a fun way to meet locals.
After a two-hour drive from Seattle, I spent my days hiking Fort Worden State Park, wandering the historic downtown along Water Street, and watching for whales in Admiralty Inlet — with dinner at cozy Finistère as a delicious highlight!
Location: Olympic Peninsula, Northwest USA | Vibe: Victorian seaside town | Avg temp: 7°C to 16°C
My highlights…
- Staying at the unique Manresa Castle — a century-old, Prussian-inspired retreat filled with walnut wood and ornate red interiors!
7. Sedona, Arizona
This month felt ideal to me in Sedona — warm but not hot, red rock cliffs glowing under clear blue skies, desert wildflowers adding pops of color, and the added soulful energy of the Sedona Yoga Festival!
Driving in via Flagstaff, I spent three days hiking Cathedral Rock via the Back O’ Beyond Trailhead (AZ-179), indulging in an Ancestral Stone Massage at Mii Amo Spa, and spotting Venus and Saturn under Sedona’s famously dark pre-dawn skies.
Location: Northern Arizona, Southwest USA | Vibe: spiritual desert oasis | Avg temp: 16°C to 27°C
My favorite highlights…
- Staying at the romantic Inn Above Oak Creek Sedona – I adored the art-gallery heritage, soaking in my jacuzzi tub, and Moki, the resident black Spaniel!
8. Flint Hills, Kansas
I discovered spring was magical here — tallgrass prairie flushing lush green, wildflowers dotting the rolling hills, mild weather for long hikes, and the bonus of spotting bison, deer, and prairie dogs before the crowds.
Just two hours southwest of Kansas City, I hiked trails in the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve (starting from the Prairie Trailhead near the Visitor Center) and drove the Flint Hills Scenic Byway (KS-177) gazing at endless rolling hills of native grasses.
Location: Eastern Kansas, Midwest USA | Vibe: rolling green prairies | Avg temp: 13°C to 21°C
My highlights…
- Staying in boho luxury tents at the Flint Hills Glamping – I adored the cute copper lanterns, macramé cushions and sitting on my porch with a Watt’s Coffee Co. Americano!
9. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
April was just right in this upbeat seaside city — I found sunny, mild days, quiet beaches to stretch out on, a lively boardwalk vibe without summer crowds or prices, and the added buzz of the Myrtle Beach Food Truck Festival and the hugely popular SOS Spring Safari.
Flying into MYR, I spent a week enjoying Grand Strand beach days, riding the SkyWheel gazing at coastal views, wandering the flower-filled paths at Brookgreen Gardens, and stopping by the legendary Bowery for their Double D’s Dill Chips!
Location: Atlantic Coast, South Carolina, Southeast USA | Vibe: lively coastal resort | Avg temp: 20°C to 23°C
My favorite highlights…
- Staying at the upscale 4-star Marina Inn at Grande Dunes – I enjoyed waking to marina views, my spacious mini-suite, and playing on the Har-Tru courts!
10. Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina
Spring completely exceeded my expectations here — mild hiking weather, budding trees, wildflowers like trillium and mountain laurel, and the bonus of spotting wildlife, including a black bear!
Spring brought fantastic music and culture here — from the Blue Ridge Music Trails Spring Concert Series to nearby MerleFest — and after flying into Asheville, I based myself at the quirky 4-star Blind Tiger Hotel, drove flower-lined stretches of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and took in beautiful mountain views from Rough Ridge!
Location: Western North Carolina, Southeast USA | Vibe: Peaceful mountain retreat | Avg temp: 15°C to 21°C
My favorite highlights…
- Visiting the Blue Ridge Music Center along the way – I especially loved the touchscreens where I could explore all the different banjo styles and the awesome sound booth!
11. San Diego, California
I personally thought this coastal beauty truly sparkled in spring — peaceful streets, lower prices, warm sunshine, flower-stuffed Balboa Park, almost-summer beach days (although not quite swim-ready without a wetsuit), Little Italy’s ArtWalk buzz, and the jaw-dropping technicolor ranunculus fields in Carlsbad.
I drove two hours down the Pacific Coast Highway from Los Angeles, mixing Balboa Park culture, sea lion spotting at La Jolla Cove, and laid-back beach time!
Location: Southern California, Southwest USA | Vibe: laid-back coastal city | Avg temp: 19°C to 21°C (evenings were still cool after sunset)
My favorite highlights…
- Staying at the funky 4-star boutique The Pearl – I loved relaxing in the hammocks around the swimming pool, the heavenly Parachute Home bed and spa-like Finery x Casetta poplin bathrobes!
12. Nantucket Island, Massachusetts
Famous for its summer crowds, this island felt like a secret on my late April trip — windswept beaches, quiet cobblestone streets, spring daffodils, and the cheerful buzz of the Daffodil Festival and quirky Daffy Hat Pageant!
I took the ferry from Hyannis and spent a quiet week on Nantucket, browsing Historic District boutiques, admiring Sconset cottages, visiting the Whaling Museum, and walking near-empty beaches. Note: some restaurants are still closed until mid-week in April.
Location: Off the Coast of Massachusetts, Northeast USA | Vibe: Historic New England island | Avg temp: 11°C to 13°C
My highlights…
- Staying at the boho-chic 4-star boutique 21 Broad Hotel — vitamin C–infused showers and quiet veranda mornings with a Sconset Blend coffee!
13. Bisti Badlands, New Mexico
This month was ideal for exploring this surreal desert wilderness — I experienced clear skies, comfortable hiking temps, and otherworldly landscapes of hoodoos, petrified wood, and strange rock formations. Even the cacti and yucca were out in bloom, adding pretty splashes of color.
I flew into Albuquerque and drove three hours northwest checking into the gorgeous Casa Blanca Inn & Suites in Farmington. I drove an hour from there to explore the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, hiking pale clay washes to the Cracked Eggs and Alien Throne formations. Note – GPS was essential!
Location: Northwestern New Mexico, Southwest USA | Vibe: alien-like desert landscape | Avg temp: 15°C to 21°C
My highlights…
- Breathing in the dry, sun-baked scent of the desert while standing among the cracked, egg-like rock formations — the silence here felt otherworldly!
14. Caddo Lake, Texas and Louisiana
This maze of bayous and cypress swamps made a very memorable spring getaway for me — there was mild weather, fresh green leaves, wildflowers along the banks, and perfect conditions for paddling and photographing moss-draped trees before the summer heat arrived.
Spring also brought a fun local buzz with the Caddo Lake Earth Day Festival and the Annual Car Show and Swap Meet, and after a 2.5-hour drive from Dallas I spent a peaceful week at the quirky Moonglow Lodge, birdwatching around the lake and browsing antique shops in nearby Jefferson (loved the eclectic Old Vault)!
Location: East Texas / Northwest Louisiana, South USA | Vibe: mysterious swamp | Avg temp: 21°C to 27°C
My highlights…
- Going on a Mossy Brake Camp Swamp Tour – I loved Patrick’s quirky stories, spotting turtles and eerie alligators gliding by, and breathing in the earthy scent of moss and wet reeds!
Author’s Travel Note:
I’ve spent 12+ years traveling across the US in every season, staying in the most interesting hotels I can find and seeking out the kinds of soulful, memorable experiences that don’t always show up in guidebooks. All of the places and stays mentioned here were personally visited and self-funded.
