Top 15 Spring Escapes
Where to walk through wildflowers, bike by the sea, take in waterfalls and gardens, and sample the flavors of the West while the world is in bloom.
Walk through Albuquerque's EDo
Spring is the best time for a stroll through Albuquerque's food loving neighborhood, just east of downtown (EDo, get it?).
Stock up on native plants in Phoenix
Spring in Phoenix is prime time for nursery shopping. Pick your plants, then either follow your nose to the heavenly scent of citrus groves in bloom, or head for a hike with breathtaking city views.
Cruise around Boise
This city is made for cyclists―and spring is an especially great time to visit, with leafy streets, wildflower-lined trails, and cool high-desert air.
Stretching 29.7 miles along the beautiful Boise River waterfront, the Boise River Greenbelt offers pretty, mellow riding suitable for all setups, with fun and food along the way.
Hike Yellowstone National Park
Geysers, mountain peaks, meadows, and lake overlooks: No matter what your hiking ability, one of our favorite paths in Yellowstone National Park
―like the open meadows of Canyon Road trail, pictured here―
will have what you're looking for.
11 great Yellowstone hikes
Phoenix's outdoor gardens
Explore Phoenix's cutting-edge gardens and open spaces before summer heat sends you indoors.
See where locals line up for wood-fired pizzas, watch the waterworks at Arizona Falls, browse nurseries and gardens, and enjoy healthy, sophisticated food.
Here, steel arches at the Desert Botanical Gardens frame one of the country's most artful cactus and succulent collections.
Hike through Anza-Borrego's spring glory
The beauty of Anza-Borrego's wildflower bloom―one of the best in all the West―is not just the physical display but its ephemeral nature. This is glory on the go.
Explore Portland's Chinatown
A mix of old and new makes this riverside neighborhood a funky-fun place to spend the day.
Hire a pedicab to pedal you around the neighborhood's attractions, eat at the new hot spot, take in the cherry blossoms, and more.
Things to do in Portland's Chinatown
Pedal to the next pint in Fort Collins
Cruise the Poudre River Trail past wildflowers and river wildlife, then turn in to one of the area's four breweries for a tour and tasting.
Hike to the West's best waterfalls
Waterfalls are raging right now. Here are our favorite spots in the West where you can feel the spray.
Pictured: Multnomah Falls near Portland, OR, where a moderate 1.2-mile zigzagging trail leaves you feeling on top of the world.
Top 10 waterfalls
Explore Upper Newport Bay
Locals come to this Southern California bay year-round to hike, bike, and escape the sound of freeway traffic. But with wildflowers like California sagebrush at their peak, the wetlands are at their best in April.
Rustic gourmet on Orcas Island
Spring on Orcas Island has the same farm-fresh food―just fewer people. Rent your own little cabin by the water and savor the island's bounty.
Here's where to find the farms, orchard stands, cottages, and cafes.
Gourmet getaway to Orcas Island
Walk Reno's waterfront district
There's no need to spend a weekend in Reno dancing with a one-armed bandit. Instead, stroll along the Truckee River Walk with a view of the cool Sierra Nevada peaks in the distance.
Better yet, get in the water for a cool-off, a mellow drift, or an adrenaline-pumping ride. In the spring, all the action is on the river.
Savor a weekend in Sonoma's Dry Creek Valley
Early spring brings a green freshness to the vineyards of Dry Creek Valley.
Discover the ultimate picnic spot and more finds from our wine editor's off-season escape to a quiet corner of California's wine country.
Dry Creek Valley travel planner
Park hop in Denver
Enjoy parks, botanic gardens, and dining amidst blooming plants in and around this mountain town.
Get our guide to the best places to buy plants, where to dine in a garden, the most impressive rooftop garden, 4 Denver boutiques for stylish green thumbs, and a photo tour of the beautiful Tagawa Gardens.
Go garden hopping in Denver
Bike along Skagit Valley's flowering fields
Spring is the right time to catch Skagit Valley's colorful crop of tulips in bloom. Celebrate at the area's annual tulip festival, then rent a bike and take to the road, exploring the valley while stopping for photo ops of the rainbow-striped flowering fields before you.
