Visiting Hawaii in the spring lets you get a last glimpse of the humpback whales before they head off for their summer home off the coast of Alaska. Take a whale watching tour from Maui and then spend some time on the beach before the crowds of summer arrive. Head over to the Big Island for the annual Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo. This week-long event celebrates Hawaiian culture and dance, and is held during the Easter break. Time your spring visit to Oahu so that you happen to be in town for Lei Day, the Hawaiian version of the mainland's May Day. Thousands of leis decorate the city and cover the statues of King Kamehameha in downtown Honolulu and of Duke Kahanamoku, the Hawaiian Olympic swimmer, in Waikiki.
Make a trip to one of the major league baseball spring training camps and see baseball played as it was before the advent of today's mega-ballparks. League play may not officially start until April, but players head to their spring training grounds sometime in February. Teams that play in the southwest are part of the Cactus League and currently include the Chicago Cubs, training in Mesa, Arizona, and the San Francisco Giants who train in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Grapefruit League consists of teams that play in the American south, primarily Florida. The New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays are part of the Grapefruit League and both hold spring training in Tampa. After a couple of weeks to get the kinks out, teams within these leagues play each other. As of 2011, games last until the end of March and are played in smaller ballparks that put you closer to the action. It's also easier to get an autograph at spring training than during the regular season.
Yosemite National Park is a magnet for nature lovers. In summer, this burst of affection can make the park feel a bit crowded. But in the spring, there less people competing for prime photo ops. In April and May, the spring runoff showcases the waterfalls in all their glory--the waterfalls have little or no water in late summer and fall. Yosemite Falls is a virtual gusher and Bridal Veil Falls is living up to its gossamer name. As the melt continues, unnamed waterfalls appear along the cliffs framing the valley floor. Chances are you will still run into snow. Chains are suggested, but that just adds to the ambiance. Splurge with a room at The Ahwahnee, a National Historical Landmark and resort hotel, or do a bit of camping on the valley floor.
Head to the Netherlands if you have the time and inclination for a longer spring vacation, and a longing to see acres of colorful tulips. These cup-shaped flowers bloom from April until mid-May. The largest flower garden is the Keukenhof, near the towns of Hillegom and Lisse, and it has been welcoming guests since 1949. Closer to home, visit the Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa, Ontario, held in May. According to the Canadian Tulip Festival's official website, the original bulbs were a gift from the Netherlands, presented by Princess Juliana. Canada hosted the royal family in Ottawa's government house during World War II. The first festival was held in 1953 and since then, Ottawa has named the tulip its official flower. The original 100,000 bulbs have exploded into more than three million, making The Canadian Tulip Festival the largest of its kind in North America.
(ref 4, also see history)
(ref 5)
