Places to Travel in April

Asheville is a small, charming city tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina. The city is known around the country for its vibrant arts scene and interesting examples of historic architecture, such as the Basilica of Saint Lawrence. Perhaps the most famous site in Asheville is the massive 19th century mansion called the Biltmore Estate. Visitors will find plenty to do in the town, with art galleries lining downtown streets, plenty of tasty dining options, and beautiful views all around the area. April brings comfortable temperatures, gorgeous mountain views, including acres of native wildflowers, and plenty to do in the downtown area as businesses ramp up their offerings with the return of the warmer season. Map

Grand Junction is the largest city in Mesa County, CO. It lies at the center of the Colorado Wine Country and offers a wide variety of attractions and activities for visitors to enjoy. The city is also your gateway to Colorado National Monument which offers extensive hiking and biking opportunities in a surreal landscape.

Outdoor activities are numerous and diverse, ranging from peaceful wine tastings and winery tours to adventure activities like SUP, kayaking, skiing and snow tubing. The city offers a wide range of accommodation options including hotels, inns, B&B’s and vacation rentals and there are wonderful restaurants and bars to explore. Map

Houston is a large metropolitan city in Texas famous around the world for its Space Center Houston. Lovers of all things outer space will enjoy a visit to the space center. The downtown is relatively compact for a city of its size and features a theater district, interesting historic architecture, a downtown aquarium, and several museums.

Houston is blessed with wonderful weather virtually throughout year, but it can get quite hot in the summertime. Therefore, visiting in April is just right with warm (but not hot) weather, lower humidity, and a number of festivals to enjoy. The tourist volume isn't as high as fall either, so attractions may not be as crowded. Map

Arches National Park is a veritable wonderland of contrasting colors, unique rock formations, and textures that you can't see anywhere else in the world. There are more than 2,000 natural stone arches found in the park as well as several hundred other interesting rock formations and giant balanced rocks. You will be amazed at every turn and it's virtually impossible to see everything. The park is open all year round, and April begins the busy season as daytime highs are typically comfortable and temperature fluctuations overall aren't likely to be unbearable. It can still get quite cold at night, though, so pack accordingly. Map

Costa del Sol, Spain is a region in Andalusia in southern Spain. In what was once a string of quiet fishing villages along the coast, there now exists a world-famous tourist destination. A number of towns are included in the Costa del Sol, including the city of Malaga, San Pedro de Alcantera, Caseres, Rincon de la Victoria, and several others. The area is popular among golfers, and you will find a number of golf courses and even vacation packages geared completely around golfing resorts.

April is a great time to visit if you have golfing on your mind, or anything really. The summers can be scorching and the winters can be somewhat cold. However, the area is sunny virtually year round, so you'll have a beautiful time no matter when you decide to go. Map

Lisbon, Portugal is the capital city of Portugal and is located on the country's hilly coast. Long overlooked, today the city has a vibrant cultural scene that influences all of Europe and is becoming a quite popular tourist destination. The city is centered around the water and is enchanting to visitors due to its small, winding alleyways, easy-going personality, and white-washed limestone buildings facing the sea. The weather in Lisbon is warm for most of the year and as such the city has the warmest winters in Europe. In April, temperatures will be perfect for exploring the city and you will avoid some of the crowds that flock here in summer, although it may be a bit too cold to swim at nearby beaches. Map

Everglades National Park is a 1.5-million-acre park that preserves southern Florida's wetlands. The Everglades area contains sawgrass marshes, coastal mangroves, and flatwoods habitats and is home a large variety of wildlife. Some rare and endangered species call the preserve home, including the American crocodile, the manatee, and the rarely spotted Florida panther.

Popular activities include walking the Anhinga Trail, climbing the Shark Valley observation tower, and taking boat or kayak tours. The busiest time of year to visit the park is spring, but that is because temperatures are so favorable, especially compared to the rest of the country. A visit in April may mean the park is busy, but the weather should be perfect.

Grand Canyon National Park is home to its namesake, the Grand Canyon, which is famous for its impressive vistas and beautiful layered bands of red-hued rock. Visitors may view the canyon from a number of viewpoints around the rim. Additionally, hiking and donkey tours down to the canyon floor are popular, as is paddling the river through the canyon. If you visit in April, the South Rim will be open, however the North Rim is closed for the winter until the middle of May. Hikers and skiers with backcountry permits may still enter this time of year, but all roads on the North Rim are closed. You will find the daytime temperatures to be nice and cool and the crowds to be thinner than in the summer.

Martha's Vineyard is an island in Massachusetts located in the Atlantic Ocean just south of Cape Code. The island is a long running and well-known summer destination for New Englanders. The landscape is filled with cute harbor towns, old lighthouses, farmland, and sandy beaches. There are no roads from the mainland to Martha's Vineyard, and it's only reachable by air or sea.

The island is most popular between Memorial Day and Labor Day when a steady stream of tourists is coming and going all the time, especially on weekends. However, April can be a great time to visit as many attractions and businesses are already open, the weather is nice, wildflowers are in bloom, and it's easier to find deals on accommodations and goods.

Palm Springs is a city in Southern California's Sonora Desert and is known as a destination for hot springs, classy hotels, golf courses, and luxury spas. The area also has a number of noteworthy examples of midcentury modern architecture.

Those who love to shop will particularly enjoy the shopping district, where vintage boutiques, tasty eateries, and home decor shops all flank Palm Canyon Drive. Adventurous travelers will appreciate the hiking, biking, and horseback riding available in the surrounding area. April falls in the most comfortable time to visit as the temperatures are not yet at the sweltering highs they will reach in the summer time. However, be aware that this is also the time that the hotels and attractions will be the most crowded. Map