The rise in gas prices doesn't seem to be holding American's back as
they gear up to hit the road for Spring Break. In fact, searches on
Yahoo! for "spring break" are up 149 percent this week as people look for the
best places and deals. Today, Yahoo!
Travel released ten great spots to shake off the winter doldrums
and get away this spring.
Yahoo! Travel considered a variety of destinations that would appeal to
many kinds of travelers ” college students, families with school-age
children -- even those looking for volunteer opportunities.
Scottsdale, AZ - Sun and baseball
Get a head start
on the MLB season where Cactus League games are scheduled through
April 4. Scottsdale is also known for its luxury hotels, high-end
shopping, 100-plus art galleries and world-class golf courses. A
spring bonus: many wildflowers and cactus will be in bloom.
Washington, DC - Americana
In addition to its
historical significance and spectacular museums, you'll be there in
time for the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which this year marks
the 100th anniversary of the gift of 3,000 trees to the
United States from Japan. And if your timing is right, there's the
annual White House Easter Egg Roll, scheduled for April 9.
Yosemite National Park - A natural high
Spring is
one of the best times to visit Yosemite, if you want to avoid the
crowds. And there's plenty to see,whether or not there's snow on the
ground. Waterfalls will roar, the lakes will mirror the crystal clear
sky andHalf Dome will rule overits subalpinedomain.
Lanai Island, HI -Tranquility
Get a passport to the
past on a Hawaiian island that has so few tourists you can stake claim
to your own deserted stretch of beach. Lanai, once a Dole pineapple
plantation, now offers visitors a handful of great hotels and a
low-key, lost-in-time ambiance. There is also snorkeling, hiking,
horseback riding, yoga and golf.
Charleston, SC - Golf and gardens
Charming
Charleston”just voted the nation's friendliest city by Travel &
Leisure magazine”has something for everyone. Explore an antebellum
mansion, go beachcombing along90 miles of scenic coastline or test
your golf skills at the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort,
which will host the 2012 PGA Championship in August.
Charlestonwelcomes four million annual visitors and one of the best
times to visit is in the spring, when flowersare in bloom and summer
heat hasn'tdescended.
Amelia Island, FL - Low key
Located off the state's
northeastern coast, wins the award for its peaceful, relaxed ambiance.
With pristine waters, long sandy beaches and abundant native wildlife,
Amelia Island offers plenty of things to do. It's one of the few
places in America where you can ride horseback on the beach. Catch a
wave, kayak, or comb the white beaches for shark's teeth and shells.
Telluride, CO - Spring Skiing
Once a
rough-and-ready mining town, has a Wild West flavor that blends well
with its luxury hotels, high-end shops and gourmet restaurants. With
nearly 100 feet of snow since Jan. 1, Telluride has managed to plow
through winter with plenty of powder, unlike many other US ski
resorts. Add to that the mountain village's spectacular scenery and
you have a great spring getaway destination.
Natchez Trace Parkway - Road tripping
A legendary
444-mile Deep South drive through 10,000 years of American history,
the Parkway, a unit of the National Park Service, runs from Natchez in
southern Mississippi through Alabama and Tennessee to a point just
south of Nashville. Today's visitors can drive, bike or hike
the scenic parkway, which preserves the original route.
San Diego - For the kids
With the world-class San
Diego Zoo, Sea World, Legoland, and sandy beaches San Diego is as
kid-friendly as they come and the mild climates make it easy to get
outside and play.
Newark, NJ - Alternative
It might lack the sunny,
chi-chi appeal of some popular spring fling locales, but it offers a
chance to pay it forward by doing volunteer work for United Way.
Newark is one of the sites chosen for United Way's 2012 Alternative
Spring program. Throughout March,volunteers from across the country
will converge on the city to work hand-in-hand with local educators
tutoring students.
