Four Stunning Spring Getaways in the US

Mar 20, 2025

Spring is finally here! Today we’re sharing four great picks for amazing springtime destinations in the US that you simply must explore with your friends and family. We’ve got everything you need to enjoy a week away from the daily grind. From fields of flowers to oceanside stays to southern retreats, you’ll find a little bit of everything you’ve ever wanted, and then some! No matter if you’re booking the kids a fun-filled family getaway for spring break, or looking to take a long weekend with friends, we can guarantee you’re going to have a great time at these destinations. We’ll be focusing on the best Spring Blossoms and flowers to see in these areas while you’re there!

Washington, DC

The Cherry Blossoms of the Tidal Basin are arguably one of the most famous sites to visit in DC, blooming in the last week of March through the first week of April. Peak bloom does depend on the weather in the weeks leading up to the start of spring, but that’s generally a great timeline to aim for. This year the National Cherry Blossom Festival runs from March 20 through April 13th.

The US Botanic Garden offers free entry to its gorgeous gardens. The National Garden and Conservatory are open from 10AM to 5PM daily. The Botanic Garden and its sites feature seasonal flower exhibitions, as well as permanent installations such as the Orchid House with 5,000 orchid specimens, the World Deserts Rom, the Rose Garden, First Ladies Water Garden, and more.

Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens is a unique stop in Northeast DC featuring stunning aquatic flowers throughout the gardens, with peak viewing time in June through July when lotus blossoms and lilies are in full bloom

You simply must stop by the Bluebells at Bull Run Regional Park and enjoy the 1.5 mile trail through Virginia Bluebells, a native flower that peaks just after Cherry Blossom season. Great Falls Park is another wonderful place to view Bluebells, and the Bluebells at the Bend Festival takes place in April.

The Floral Library at the National Mall is a perfect destination for picnics, and really comes to life during April when tulip season starts! Likewise, the Netherlands Carillon near Arlington National Cemetery is another outstanding show of tulip blossoms with great scenic views of the nearby monuments as well.

Gatlinburg, TN

Smoky Mountains National Park is also known to flower enthusiasts as ”Wildflower National Park” thanks to its abundance of native flora. More than 1,000 species of flowers and flowering shrubs bloom here each season. The annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage commemorates the start to the Spring season with a spectacular 4 to 5 day festival! You don’t want to miss this memorable event, and definitely make sure to bring your camera to take pictures of the stunning blossoms! You can enjoy a history and nature walk, photographic tours, special art classes, educational seminars and lectures, and more during the annual festival.

Take a trip to Anakeesta’s Vista Gardens Arboretum for an absolutely stunning sensory garden walk and mountaintop retreat. It makes for a truly unforgettable experience with its cascading waterfalls, creative installations and botanical art, beautiful birdsongs from local birds, and more. This beautiful garden was a restoration project following the Wildfires of 2016, and has blossomed into a gorgeous artistic installation and curated garden.

Outer Banks, NC

The stunning 10 acre Elizabethan Gardens in Manteo are one of the top spots in OBX for flowers; recreating a 16th century English pleasure garden, this garden is in its prime in the spring and early summer with 50 cultivars of rhododendrons and 100 cultivars of hydrangeas and roses!

The Dare Country Arboretum and Teaching Garden is open daily from sunrise to sunset and free for all to enjoy. It’s jampacked with multiple mini gardens each featuring a different style of flowers and arrangements. This venue is also dog friendly and has picnic areas to enjoy.

All up and down the shoreline of the beaches in Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, and Southern Shores, you’ll find beautiful native wildflowers that thrive in the sandy, humid environment along with the stunning sunny-yellow blossoms of the Prickly Pear cacti.

Island Farm is a living history farm from the mid-1800s housing the Roanoke Island Farmstand, a dairy, farmhouse, farm animals, and more. The Kitchen Garden is a wonderful venue to learn about medicinal and culinary plants and flowers as well as the history of early farming. Each season the farm features transitional blooms including native plants like the Jerusalem artichoke.

San Diego, CA

Ring in Spring in San Diego by immersing yourselves in spring florals at The Flower Fields in Carlsbad; 55 acres of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers bloom from 6 to 8 weeks each spring, in early March through early May! The Flower Fields makes a truly memorable family photo op, and an unforgettable experience.

Explore the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park is a stunning botanical garden and museum dedicated to traditional Japanese garden practices and Japanese cultural traditions; May 4th is children’s day with special performances, traditional cultural foods, and plenty of interactive activities.

Encinitas’ San Diego Botanic Garden covers 37 acres with nearly 4,000 incredible plants from all around the globe, and the country’s largest bamboo collection; explore bamboo groves, desert gardens, tropical rainforests, native California plants, and much more!

The San Diego Zoo is also an accredited Botanical Garden housing more than 700,000 plants representing more than 4,500 species; the third Friday of each month is Plant Day & Orchid Odyssey, specifically highlighting its flora and plant related activities for visitors.