As Punxsutawney Phil predicted, spring is just around the corner, and the best way to celebrate an early spring season is with a floral-themed vacation. There are so many unique and remarkable flora around the world, and creating an itinerary highlighting these special blooms makes for the perfect springtime adventure.
Say hello to these fresh, floral forward destinations this spring. (Photo Credit: @axpphotography)
These destinations are known for their spectacular blooms, and should be at the top of your list when you are making your travel plans for this spring.
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Ahh Amsterdam — the land of delicious stroopwafels, gorgeous canals, and more bikes than people. This beautiful city is also a hot spot for spring travel due to the gorgeous tulips that sprout every March.
Can you think of a more quintessential spring flower? (Photo Credit: Anastasiia Vedmedenko)
Plan a visit to Amsterdam to see the gorgeous tulips. (Photo Credit: @axpphotography)
The Netherlands are famous for their colorful tulips, with the legendary Keukenhof gardens serving as the perfect day trip out of the city to see an endless rainbow of newly bloomed buds. Meanwhile, back in Amsterdam, the annual Tulip Festival runs from March 21 through May 12, so now is the time to book your flights for a floral vacation for the ages.
Where to stay: Kimpton De Witt Hotel
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles may be known for the glitz and glamor of the Hollywood scene, but just a quick drive outside of the city, it’s nature’s finest that commands the spotlight in the springtime.
Take a road trip to the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, where you can frolic through fields of vibrant orange poppies, stretching out as far as the eye can see. There are eight miles of trails to choose from to see the breathtaking blooms up close, and if you time it right, you may even witness a superbloom, which occurs when an abnormally high proportion of wildflowers all bloom simultaneously.
In the spring, the hills of California bloom orange in honor of the state flower. (Photo Credit: @artem)
Poppy season typically runs from mid-March to early May, and with California Poppy Day occuring on April 6, you have plenty of time to check out one of the Golden State’s most incredible natural phenomenons in real life.
Where to stay: Kimpton Everly Hotel, Kimpton Hotel Wilshire, Kimpton Hotel Palomar Beverly Hills, or Kimpton La Peer Hotel
Washington, DC
March marks the start of Cherry Blossom season in our nation’s capital, where more than 3,000 trees burst into beautiful pink and white bouquets that envelope the city. The city’s first Cherry Blossoms were a gift from Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki back in 1912, and today the trees signify both the arrival of spring as well as the connection of Japanese and American cultures.
Outside of Tokyo, the most famous cherry blossoms are in DC. (Photo Credit: Amelia Cui)
Celebrate the beauty of these historic trees and the long-lasting bond between the United States and Japan at the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which this year runs from March 20 – April 14.
Where to stay: Kimpton George Hotel or Kimpton Hotel Monaco Washington DC
Tokyo, Japan
If Washington DC is the domestic champion of Cherry Blossoms, Japan is the international heavyweight. The blush-colored bulbs begin to bloom in Tokyo around late March, drawing in enormous crowds who come to bask in the beauty of the flowers, a cultural phenomenon known as hanami.
For true floral beauty, visit Japan during Cherry Blossom season. (Photo Credit: Yu Kato)
In Tokyo, spring is truly a season to behold. (Photo Credit: @reddf)
Cherry Blossoms, or Sakura, take over the city, with locals and visitors alike picnicking under the trees, enjoying Sakura-themed food, drinks, and shopping, or attending one of the many Sakura festivals that occur annually.
While Tokyo is an extraordinary place to explore year-round, visiting during Cherry Blossom season is especially unique, and would make for an unforgettable experience.
Where to stay: Kimpton Shinjuku Hotel
Portland, Oregon
Nicknamed the “City of Roses,” Portland is the ultimate Spring destination for nature lovers who also happen to be hopeless romantics. Get lost wandering through the International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park, where more than 10,000 rose bushes flourish from late May through October.
No surprises here — Rose City is known for its namesake flower. (Photo Credit: Caroline Sterr)
Nestled amongst the lush greenery of Portland is where you will find the city’s rose garden. (Photo Credit: Sean Musil)
As the garden is actively used to test out new rose variants, you will see unique blooms that you may not see anywhere else — a testament to Portland’s commitment to its namesake. This city is the perfect destination to take your special someone on a couple’s trip, or to visit on your own when you need to remind yourself to take time to stop and smell the roses.
Where to stay: Kimpton Hotel Vintage Portland or Kimpton RiverPlace Hotel
Asheville, North Carolina
While Asheville is known for its stunning tapestry of changing leaves in autumn, spring is an underrated season for visiting this charming Southern city. Take a short drive to the Blue Ridge Parkway, and you’ll be greeted with a kaleidoscope of flora that bloom through the mountains every spring.
In North Carolina, wildflowers bloom as far as the eye can see. (Photo Credit: Wes Hicks)
Whether driving or hiking the region, the beauty will astound you. (Photo Credit: Wes Hicks)
You can hike popular trails like Graveyard Fields and Craggy Gardens, or you can move off the beaten path to see mesmerizing waterfalls or tranquil trails, with different wildflowers appearing at each level of elevation. You can plan out your trip with a helpful wildflower bloom schedule, and enjoy unbelievable views in this scenic destination.
Where to Stay: Kimpton Hotel Arras
Dallas, Texas
When it comes to floral hotspots, don’t mess with Texas. Wildflower watchers flock to Dallas in the spring to swim in an ocean of newly-bloomed bluebonnets, the state’s official flower.
Ennis, a small town just 25 minutes from Downtown Dallas, is where you should head for a gorgeous display of the state flower in all its glory. Bluebonnets thrive in Ennis every spring, but mid-April is the peak time frame to see the blooms at their best.
In Texas, fields of bluebonnets dominate in the spring. (Photo Credit: Thomas Schimonsky)
Say hello to the state flower of Texas. (Photo Credit: Ariel Romell)
During the month of April the town showcases more than 40 mapped bluebonnet trails, and if you visit the weekend of April 19-21 you will be able to attend the Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Festival, where the town celebrates the magical bloom season with live music and entertainment, food and drinks, games, and more.
Where to Stay: Kimpton Pittman Hotel
This spring, let these floral forward destinations lead you to destinations both well-known and unexpected. After all, as British-American novelist Frances Hodgson Burnett once said, “If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.”
