For residents of northern climes, March is as much a state of mind as a month, the time of year when you think you can't handle one more snowstorm and warm weather is still a distant dream. For the winter-weary, the continental United States offers a diverse range of March getaway choices, all of which have one thing in common: The only ice you'll see will be floating in your drink.
More than 90 million visitors a year flock to the Sunshine State, reliably warm and sunny everywhere in March. Miami, the warmest city in the continental U.S. during that month, enjoys daily average high temperatures over 80 degrees Fahrenheit, lows of a comfortable 65 degrees, with sunshine 74 percent of the time. Key West, the southernmost island in the coral archipelago called the Florida Keys, posts highs of 78 and lows of 68, with 82 percent sunshine all month. In both Miami and the Keys, ocean temperatures average about 75 degrees. Everglades National Park is the warmest in the country, with daily temperature averages exceeding 85 degrees.
The post-Mardi Gras month of March, when the crowds have thinned out and the city has reverted to its usual level of revelry, is a perfect time to drop in on New Orleans. With average highs of 74 degrees, lows of 54 degrees, and sunshine 74 percent of the time, the weather is ideal for walking around and taking in the sights, sounds and flavors of the incomparable city where jazz was born. Louisiana's unique culinary traditions make the Big Easy one of the world's leading destinations for food, and not just in restaurants. People who sign up for classes at the New Orleans School of Cooking chow down on the gumbo, jambalaya and crawfish etouffee they learn how to make. Reserve as far in advance as you can, though, as these classes are much in demand.
Padre Island National Seashore south of Corpus Christi -- where March high temperatures average around 76 degrees and low temps around 56 -- consists of more than 130,000 acres of undeveloped grasslands, dunes and beaches. On North Padre Island, conservation authorities are struggling to save the Kemp’s ridley turtle, the world's most endangered sea turtle, from extinction. Birders also flock to the island to see more than 400 species that either nest or touch down there on migrations. For livelier fun in the sun, South Padre Island, with March highs averaging 74 degrees and lows around 61 degrees, keeps visitors entertained day and night. Many stroll the Laguna Madre Nature Trail's boardwalk through the island's wetlands for a quiet interlude away from the action.
Phoenix, Arizona's capital, gets very hot in summer, but March is a comfortable month to visit, when average highs and lows are 78 and 54 degrees, respectively, with sunshine 84 percent of the time. Surrounded by mountains and the vast Sonoran Desert, Phoenix combines resorts, golf courses and the diverse range of cultural attractions you'd expect in a major city with a landscape of awe-inspiring natural beauty. It's also the closest big city to the Grand Canyon. A 2 1/2-hour drive takes you to Williams, Arizona, where the Grand Canyon Railway leaves at 9:30 a.m. every day for a return excursion to Grand Canyon Depot on the south rim. After arriving, you're allowed almost three hours to explore this natural wonder of the world on your own.
