It’s never too early to start planning your spring break vacation – especially if you’re an avid traveler or photographer.
Once you’re out of college, it’s not the party-heavy, crowded beach towns that tend to catch your fancy. Instead, spring break becomes a chance to relax, regroup, and get away from it all – preferably with some beautiful views of nature mixed in.
Here’s our pick for the most scenic and relaxing spots to spend your spring break this year.
Lisse, Holland
Holland is beautiful at any time of year, but the springtime is when you absolutely must visit. This is when you can see those iconic fields of brightly colored tulips stretching as far as the eye can see.
The Keukenof in Lisse is a world-famous garden and destination for travelers from around the world. It’s only open between March and May, so make sure you check the exact dates you want to travel to ensure you’ll be able to visit. And whether you take your photos on a DSLR camera or your smartphone, don’t run the risk of a dead battery. Those tulips make for some incredible photos.
The Grand Canyon, U.S.
Beat the summer crowds and see this awe-inspiring natural wonder in the spring, when daytime temperatures are pleasant and nights are cool (even cold).
Airfare and hotel rates should be a bit lower, and if you explore some of the areas around the Grand Canyon, you’ll see the beautiful desert flowers that appear seemingly overnight in an otherwise harsh landscape.
Washington, D.C.
If you haven’t seen D.C.’s cherry trees when they explode into pink clouds of blossoms each spring, then a trip to the country’s capital is in order.
The annual Cherry Blossom Festival is scheduled around when the blossoms are expected to bloom, but it’s not an exact science, of course, so check to see if any changes have been made in the weeks before you go.
You’ll be in good company – more than 1 million people travel to D.C. each year for the festival – but we think it’s worth it to get a photo of you and the family surrounded by beautiful pink blossoms.
Vancouver
For a Canadian city, Vancouver in the springtime has surprisingly mild weather, with most days in the 50s (Fahrenheit, that is).
Spring in Vancouver is not only mild, it’s beautiful too, as the city’s many parks begin to come alive again with flowers and greenery. There are festivals galore to keep you entertained, and hotel rooms are reasonably priced, as high season isn’t until summer.
Kauai, Hawaii
Any season in Hawaii is beautiful to an almost otherworldly degree, but springtime can be exceptional. Kauai, particularly, is known for its breathtaking scenery: high green cliffs, huge tropical flowers, and the grand Waimea Canyon, which is like a tropical Grand Canyon.
No photograph can do justice to the scenery here, but you’ll be tempted to try your best. As you’ll be taking mostly nature shots here, you may want to consider a lightweight tripod. This will help you get those wide-angle, deep perspective images that are so ideal for nature photography.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
If you’re a nature lover who can’t get all the way to Hawaii this spring, Jackson Hole is an excellent decision that’s a bit closer to home.
If you go in early March, you may still be able to hit the ski slopes that this town is known for – but if the snow isn’t cooperating, you’ve got plenty of hikes, canoe trips, and other outdoor excursions to take up your time.
It’s a lovely place for photographers, too. While you’re there, why not try snapping photos of the mountain scenery on horseback?
Spring is a wonderful time to travel, even though most of us schedule our vacations during the summer. Just make sure to share your photos with loved ones via the Nixplay app – it’s a great way to stay connected to family, no matter how far apart you may be.
Bea is Nixplay’s Social Media Manager. She enjoys drinking coffee, reading about wars, and writing stories. Send her a message at beatrice.bisais@nixplay.com.