6 Best Spring Destinations in the USA for Adventure Lovers!

1. Sedona, Arizona

Sedona is a stunning desert town in Arizona with a rough population of ten thousand people. Sedona is known for its beautiful red rock formations, high canyon walls and unique energy vortices which are known to be healing in nature. It is also a place where art is celebrated thereby inviting a diverse crowd every year.

Sedona is one of the best spring destinations in the USA for families because the weather is pleasant at this time of the year and there are lots of hiking trails for hikers of all ages and abilities. Here are a few fun things to do in Sedona during your visit.

• Hike to the Birthing Cave to see a unique rock formation.
• Wake up early to hike to the Devil’s bridge and snap an iconic Sedona picture here.
• Visit the Seven Sacred Pools for a series of natural pools with beautiful scenery.
• Enjoy a romantic sunset at Cathedral Rock.
• Drive along the Red Rock scenic byway and take in the surroundings.
• Shop at Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village in Oak Creek.
• Enjoy a spa or wellness treatment or even a meditation class.
• Visit the stunning Chapel of the Holy Cross.

Check out my Sedona Arizona – A Complete Travel Guide for a detailed trip planning guide to Sedona.

2. Oahu, Hawaii

One can never go wrong in visiting Hawaii in the Spring. Temperatures are in mid to late 70s with low humidity during the day which is perfect for snorkeling and exploring outdoors. Spring is also peak whale watching season in Oahu making this one of the best Hawaiian Islands to visit in the Spring.

During your visit to Oahu, there’s lots of adventures to do including my favorites listed below:

• Relax at Waikiki Beach.
• Hike to the summit of Diamond Head State Monument. This trail is short and perfect for everyone.
• Go snorkeling at Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve.
• Explore the sand bars during low tide at Kane’ohe Bay. This is a lesser known gem for snorkeling.
• Spend a quiet afternoon at Byodo-In Temple.
• Visit the Kualoa Ranch to see where Jurassic Park was filmed.
• Spend an afternoon at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial.
• Take a tour in a cute little train ride at the Dole Plantation.
• Experience chocolate tasting at Mānoa Chocolate & Wine Bar.
• Spent a day watching the surfers in action at Haleiwa, a charming and historic Surf town in the North shore.

Here’s an interesting fun fact. We actually named our dog as “Manoa” after experiencing the deliciousness of Manoa Chocolates 🙂

3. Zion, Utah

Zion is one of the best Spring destinations in the the Southwest of USA. It is also a perfect time to catch some beautiful Spring blooms in Zion National Park. I got to visit Zion National Park in the middle of winter when it was still pretty cold in the mornings and evenings. It is not a stretch to say that a visit to Zion National Park feels transformative. The sheer height of canyons and the deep chasms leave you feeling humble with a sense of child-like wonder and gratitude for nature.

While there is lots of hiking and exploring to do in Zion, here are some suggestions on things to do in Zion National Park in the Spring!

• Hike the short but most scenic 1.2 mile Canyon Overlook Trail.
• Get adventurous and go see the night-blooming flowers such as Evening Primrose and the Sacred Datura. You can also see wildflowers blooming near Weeping Rock and Emerald pools if timed right.
• Head to the Riverside Walk trail to see wildflowers through April.
• Rent an e-bike and ride around Zion National Park and skip the long shuttle lines.
• Spring is when waterfalls are typically full so it’s a good time to hike the Emerald Pools Trail.
• Enjoy festivities at Springdale’s Earth Day Celebration.

The narrows might not be open until late spring but if it does, this is a good time to hike the narrows. Be mindful of the water levels before hiking.

4. Portland, Oregon

Portland is a quirky fun city to visit in Oregon and it is a great base camp to many lush hikes and waterfalls in the Spring. You can also catch the many flower blooms like Tulips, Cherry blossoms and roses this time.

If you’re planning to visit Portland in the Spring, here are the best things to do!

• Check out the century old Portland Rose Festival.
• Enjoy the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival filled with large tulip fields, Dutch cuisine, hot air balloon rides and more, perfect for the whole family.
• Visit Oregon’s most stunning waterfalls which are only a short drive from Portland such as Multnomah Falls, Latourell Falls and the Wahkeena Falls.
• Go see the Cherry blossoms at Tom McCall Waterfront Park.
• Go whale watching on the Oregon Coast.
• Spend a morning at the Portland Farmers Market.

5. San Diego, California

San Diego is a coastal city in Southern California that is blessed with pleasant weather and lots of sun throughout the year which makes it one of the best spring destinations in the USA! It is known as “America’s finest city” for all the best reasons!

• Enjoy the pristine beaches and long coastline of La Jolla.
• Attend the largest environmental fair in Balboa Park that happens every spring.
• Visit Carlsbad to see 50 acres of colorful and vibrant blooms of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers.
• Spring is the best time to go hiking at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, Cowles Mountain and Cuyamaca Rancho State Park.
• Explore the tide pools at Cabrillo National Monument during low tide.
• Attend the annual Sicilian Festival in San Diego’s Little Italy.
• March is perfect to go whale watching as gray whales migrate to Alaska.

6. San Juan, Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is an often overlooked Caribbean Paradise in the spring. Puerto Rico is an unincorporated US territory so you do not need your passport to visit here from the US. A driver’s licence will do! You may need a stop over flight based on where you are flying from but we had the most adventurous trip ever to Puerto Rico at the start of Spring a few years ago. Winter and Spring are great times to plan a visit to San Juan in Puerto Rico.

San Juan is the largest city and the capital of Puerto Rico known for its historical buildings and streets, endless white sand beaches and incredible rain forests which are under an hour drive from San Juan.

• Start your visit with a stroll through the most colorful streets of Old San Juan. Enjoy the vibrant buildings, live music and great food.
• Enjoy stunning ocean views while taking in the history of Castillo San Felipe Del Morro which served as an important military outpost in the past. Also check our the San Cristobal Castle.
• Do a half day trip to El Yunque National Forest – the only tropical rainforest in the US National Forest system which is located just outside San Juan.
• Enjoy a beach day at one of San Juan’s finest beaches such as El Escambron, Condado or Ocean beach.
• If you are craving a night adventure, go night kayaking at Condado Lagoon.
• Rent a bike and enjoy a scenic ride from Condado to Old San Juan along designated bike routes.

If you end up renting a car, there are lot of adventures which are a short drive from San Juan!

I hope you enjoyed this list of Best Spring Destinations in the USA. You cannot go wrong with any of these places.

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