15 Spring Getaways
Where to walk through wildflowers, bike by the sea, take in waterfalls and gardens, and sample the flavors of the West.
Hikes: Marin's Green Gulch Zen center
Start your day at the Green Gulch Farm with a Zen meditation class, then head outdoors for a hike around the center's 115 acres of pristine Marin coastal ridgeline.
Circle back to the center for a tea break and walk in the gardens, and don't forget to pick up some of their freshly farmed produce to take home.
More on visiting the Zen Center
Bike: Explore Pacific Grove, CA
Mild weather and a spectacular seaside bike route make this low-key, lost-in-time Monterey Peninsula town ideal for a spring-time pedal.
See where to get the most scenic workout, grab a giant chocolate croissant, get a deal on a room, and explore an Asian sanctuary.
Make it a weekend in Pacific Grove
Bike: Discover Union City's marshlands
Take a day trip over to the Bay's Union City, where over 20 miles of trails will have you zipping through the area's best waterfront parks.
City: Denver's South Broadway
Spend the day in Denver's up-and-coming South Broadway neighborhood. Stop into the area's many eclectic stores, get a tasty (and cheap) lunch at Sputnik, then head to the Mayan Theatre for Art Deco decor and an artsy film.
City: Spring in Palm Desert
Palm Desert's mood is mod, its art is amazing, and it does the whole midcentury modern thing perfectly.
And of all California's desert resorts, it's also probably the most pedestrian- and bike-friendly. So ditch your car, hit the pool, stroll through galleries and gardens, and take your pick of excellent dining spots.
Garden: Nursery day trip to Corona del Mar, CA
Bold botanical displays and a nursery stocked for spring are at the heart of this Newport Beach neighborhood's best attractions.
Garden: Breathe deep in San Marino
Smell the flowers while you bask in the botanical oasis of a San Gabriel Valley town. The Huntington Gardens are only the beginning.
Garden: Nursery day trip to Livermore, CA
Spring doesn't get any better than this. Grapevines leafing out and roses in mad bloom leave you itching to get your hands in the earth.
You may know Livermore for its wines, but you'll love a day spent wandering its nurseries.
Garden: Spring fling in the San Gabriel mountains
Blooming gardens brighten the foothill city of La Cañada Flintridge, located just east of L.A. Take a day trip and explore the beauty of the town's Descanso Gardens and beyond.
Garden: Day trip to Denver Botanical Gardens
A visit to the almost-in-bloom Botanical Gardens, a plate of greens straight from the farm, and an abundance of plants and flowers available to buy are a great kickoff to spring. And don't miss the breathtaking views from City Park of the Rocky Mountains framing Denver.
More Denver must-see spots
Garden: Find your green thumb in Half Moon Bay, CA
Find everything you could ever need for your garden in this Northern California town. From the usuals, like perennials, to funky accents, like a key-hiding garden gnome.
Don't miss the local food either. Fresh ingredients are used to make delicious meals like seared scallops with baby greens, avocado, mango and cucumbers, and the San Benito House Deli boasts its homemade bread.
Garden: Nursery day trip to Portland's Sellwood neighborhood
Find your inner organic in this Portland town with fresh farm eats, a glueten-and dairy-free bakery, and enough nurserires and garden resources for everyone from ametuer to pro.
Check out Unique Antique shop for buckets of garden inspiration like bird feeders, birdhouses, locally made art, and potting benches crafted from old barn planks.
More of our favorite Portland places
Garden: Day trip to the Tucson Botanical Garden
Browse Southwestern nurseries full of succulents and Arizona flowers. Stop by Pure Beauty garden shop for some unique decor that is also eco-friendly, like a plastic light fixture turned planter. And don't forget to reward yourself with some delicious grub from La Cocina's Mexican restaurants. With seasonal dishes like Vietnamese salad rolls, you're sure to be satisfied.
Flavor: Oregon's unsung wine country
The wilds of Southern Oregon is wine country the way it used to be. Here, you don't see bus tours and grand châteaux, just down-home folks enjoying a glass of Chardonnay on a sunny afternoon.
Here's how to get there, and where to eat, sip, and stay
Flavor: Washington's Long Beach Peninsula
Escape to this stretch of Washington coast where fresh oysters and salmon are caught right offshore, and cranberries, wild berries, and mushrooms florish.
Stay at an inn within earshot of the sea, sample exciting seafood, take in the silvery flocks of migrating shorebirds, and enjoy the absence of crowds.
PIctured: An oyster smokehouse on the Long Beach Peninsula.
Visit our Travel the West page for more ideas about exploring this part of the country.
