America's Best Parks to Visit in the Spring

Before you started working , you see forward to spring for one reason : saltation rupture . Then you got to the real world and , among other horrible realizations , discovered the months of March , April , and May did n’t come with an reflex trip to the beach . after , you realized you had to find other reasons to get unrestrained about the bound , like not throw to wear a coat or the return of that thing called the sun . Or , best of all , the chance to soak in said warm - give - sunshine coatless in one of those heroic green spaces we humans call park .

So with that in mind , here are the 15 better metropolis , state , and national park across America that come alive during the first full season of the twelvemonth .

Washington Park Arboretum

Seattle , WAIn Seattle , the first sunny day of outpouring also somehow unleashes a rash of " intellectual nourishment poisoning , " and many residents choose to lactate their illness in the Washington Park Arboretum , a 230 - Akka swath that posture between Lake Washington and Downtown Seattle . It ’s home to some of the most various plant life in America , where wetlands give way to timberland , and oak Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree remain firm next to Nipponese maple , rhododendrons , magnolias , and cacti . The crownwork gem of the commons is the Japanese garden , the largest of its kind outside Japan , that bursts with cherry blossom .

Death Valley National Park

Death Valley , CATypically the byname given to this area of desert in Southern California is accurate ; you ’d be firmly - press to find signs of life much past Scorpion and stranded automobilist . But thanks to El Niño , the lowering rains have made this Mungo Park shine in 2016 , with field of honor of wildflowers spanning the commonly dead - expect rocks . That ’s not to say the desertscapes here are n’t as spare - terrestrially telling as they always are . It ’s just to say that this leap might be the only time of year where you get to see it fill up with flowers , and the passable March conditions does n’t suffer either .

Encanto Park

Phoenix , AZIf you ’re on a family holiday to Arizona and your youngster have already irritatedeveryoneat the hotel consortium , head to Encanto Park . This 222 - Akka urban green space is one of the good metropolis parks in America , and boasts its own amusement common at Enchanted Island . Here , in the tolerable outpouring months , the kids can enjoy nine ride and satiate their faces with cotton wool candy while you soak in the sunshine and dry , mid-80 - degree temperatures . you’re able to also catch fish in the center of a desert at the common ’s adult male - made lagoon or play a dyad rounds of golf game on one of two public courses .

Crater of Diamonds State Park

Murfreesboro , ARSpring is the time of year of lovemaking , right ? And what is more amatory than drive your special lady friend to the middle of a volcanic field , get down on one knee , and drop the balance of the day drudge for a diamond ? Make every girl ’s phantasy come on-key in this Arkansas volcanic crater that ’s also a rhombus mine ; the parkexplains herethe complex geologic story behind all of it . Turns out , rhomb mining in Arkansas is an activity well done during the mild month of bound , even if you ’re not planning for your bounteous day . Just be careful not to get too emotional when you find a bright - blank rock – the field is also full of amethyst , garnet , jasper , agate , and crystal .

Fort De Soto Park

St. Petersburg , FLWhen people set out talking about thebest beach in Florida , names like Clearwater , Siesta Key , and Longboat Key get thrown around . But decently on that same stretch of sand is Fort De Soto , with all the same white moxie and turquoise water as its northern neighbors , but with a fraction of the people . The famous Florida beach might be the big draw , but during spring you’re able to enjoy the rest of the green without the equally illustrious Florida humidness . Take a kayak through tropic mangroves or between the five islands that make up the parking lot or stroll through the shady ribbon hammocks and enjoy the scene . If you ’re lucky , you might find yourself present to face with a manatee .

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

Yakutat City , AKThough summer is typically when masses contrive vacations to Alaska , the low - lying sun of spring makes this the most abnormally colorful sentence to go glacier spotting . Because the slant of the Light Within is far more elusive than summer , the glacier can depend like they ’re in a perpetual sunrise . But saying this park is remote would be place it mildly ; unless you ’re on a sail ship , it ’s only accessible via a 50 - international mile airwave taxicab , and there is absolutely no cellphone coverage . To play it safe , do n’t design to go before May ( just in case the weather gets a small too inhospitable ) but do make it before June and the summertime rush of holidaymaker .

Patterson Park

Baltimore , MDThe cherry bloom on the National Mall get all the Mid - Atlantic spring hype , but the trees on Hampstead Hill are every morsel as beautiful . The brilliant - pink petals perfectly complement the invention features of the brow pagoda , a four - news report watching tower that offers perfect scene of the Baltimore horizon and harbor on readable days . Trips to the parking lot also mark the prescribed beginning of warm conditions in this city , where residents cluster to the public pool or take boats out on the serene lake to commune with egrets and dispirited herons .

Pedernales Falls State Park

Johnson City , TXWhile this state car park might not be one of thebest political party rivers in America , it ’s still a spectacular place to visit . About 30 miles west of Austin , the Pedernales River carve its way though limestone until it arrives at the " falls , " a gradual 50 foot drop-off over about 3/5 of a mile . You ca n’t swim that part , of class , but if you need to go for a relaxing tube drive that does n’t include the revelers you ’ll find at San Marcos and Guadalupe , this park might be the best in Texas .

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

Calabasas , CAThis mountainous area northward of Santa Monica is n’t a clear - cut national Mungo Park like Glacier or Yellowstone . It ’s a collection of smaller protected areas run from Runyon Canyon all the way to Point Mugu , meander its way through Malibu , Pacific Palisades , and lots of other deadly expensive places . After the winter rains , the bright greens here counterpoint perfectly with the California sky and the Pacific Ocean , take a leak this the most scenic time of yr to visit . The water will still be cold at the beach of Malibu , but hikes through the 500 mile of trails will make you realize Southern California is about a lot more than traffic and motion picture stars . you’re able to also visit the operative movie set at Paramount Ranch , which was used to filmDr . Quinn , Medicine Woman !

Everglades National Park

Miami , FLContrary to whatmovies might tell you , this swamp just west of Miami is n’t full of colorful drug informants , computer hackers , and move back master copy malefactor living in streamlet - down shacks . Though , thank you , Carl Hiaasen . What you will ascertain is a wizard river of grass give agency to a canopy of cypress tree diagram that is one of the most unequaled and thin ecosystem in the domain . Here , you ’ll just as in all likelihood see an alligator crossing the road in front of you as you will a blue heron flying next to your car , and the cooler temperatures make spring the best time to chit-chat . That path you could enjoy an airboat drive without a second - level suntan , or bike through Shark Valley without lose your body weight in stew . And while Miami is full of thing that will make you rock your promontory and say , " Only in Florida , " the Everglades might be the only one you in reality wish .

Boston Common and Public Garden

Boston , MAThe pair of parks in the midriff of Boston is the starting point for the 2.5 - naut mi historical Freedom Trail ( walk it ! ) and has host everything from British flock to public suspension in its 382 age . But the quondam city park in America is especially pleasurable during bound , when the Frog Pond turns from skate skating rink into wading puddle and the luggage carousel bug out a spinning . Blooming blossom also make a walkway through Boston Public Garden about much more than just erstwhile building ; for a combination of history and scenery , there ’s no ripe spot in the spring .

National Mall and Memorial Parks

Washington , DCIf you ’re American , we really do n’t need to explain to you why , at least once , you need to go see the cherry efflorescence in DC . The white flowers that blanket the National Mall in March and April are literally famous all over the world , and give a sense of serenity in a city filled with conflict . Of course , there ’s much more to the Mall than just cherry red trees ; between bring in the rude sights , you’re able to chat the Smithsonian museums , the noted national monuments , and all those other place you saw during the 20 - minute opening credit toHouse of Cards .

Audubon Park

New Orleans , LAYour intermediate weekend visitor to New Orleans seldom comes back talking about the light air and natural smells . Unless part of their trip included some time at this car park about six international mile from Downtown . The live oaks and Spanish moss that take this calm stain on the Mississippi are like a footling slice of the bayou without the crazy swamp mass , and the New Orleans weather in natural spring makes this one of the few meter you could savour it without stifling humidity . But if biking , run , or walking through this impressive southern foliation is n’t your theme of fun , there ’s also a equality - three executive golf game course and a menagerie .

Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park

Ontonagon MIMichigan ’s Upper Peninsula has long been known as a position for people who do n’t much care to be around anybody else . And nowhere can this be better accomplished than in " the Porkies , " a 60,000 - acre wilderness domain that is as remote as it is restrain . The dizzyingly improbable hemlock and pines that occupy the forest make a visitant seem insignificant , and because the park gets further from civilization the farsighted one hikes , completely disconnect here is n’t just a alternative – it ’s a necessity . Though there is a visitor lodge , the wilderness is best experience by backpack to one of its bumpkinly cabin or yurt , or just mark up bivouac in the center of nowhere . summertime is its interfering season and while it ’s not exactly Times Square , it ’s not as much of an " into the wild " experience as you ’ll get in spring . Just make certain you ascertain the conditions forecast , as wintertime in the UP has been known to last into April .

Diamond Head State Monument

Oahu , HawaiiThough there ’s really never a BAD time to visit Hawaii ( unless there ’s a dengue fever fever outbreak ) , spring brings cooling breezes and clearer skies . So if you ’re snuff it to boost to the top of Oahu ’s most recognizable peak , this is the season to do it . Just south-east of Waikiki , this 300,000 - year - old volcanic crater offers one of the more challenging rise in Hawaii , ascending nearly 560 foot in the .8 miles from trailhead to breast . On the trail you ’ll traverse switchbacks and rise through a tunnel before come at the glorious peak that was once used as a station from which to direct artillery fervor for military exercises on the beaches of Waikiki . The panoramic view of the holidaymaker beaches in the distance will make for a not bad selfie .

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Matt Meltzer is a staff writer at Thrillist who ’s glad you could n’t follow him on Instagram ( @meltrez1 ) during all those keg political party he decidedly never went to at the Arboretum .

Boston Public Garden