Wanderlust World Wanderlust World By April, the weekenders have already planned and executed their ski trips, and the resorts are scrambling to get the last dregs of business before the end of the season. You can take advantage of this by making last-minute reservations at a ski resort with a big snow base that's likely to still have decent conditions, such as a resort in Colorado, Utah, or one of the year-round resorts like Timberline in the Cascades of Oregon. Check out the "Hot Deals" page of the Colorado Ski website or the "Ski Vacations" page on Utah's official state site to find deals that may work for you. (See Resources for links.)
In warm places, resorts are having some of the same concerns that are plaguing the ski resorts: how to bring in more guests as the season winds to a close? This can translate into killer deals on airfare for places like Hawaii, which don't traditionally have the throngs of spring-break tourists that flock to other warm locations like Florida and Mexico. Tickets for Hawaii typically rise in May or June, so book early enough and you should be able to get a decent fare for your April getaway.
Summer is right around the corner, and with it the expectation of a swimsuit body. To get ready, plan a getaway that has you and your sweetie on the move. Pack your bicycles and hit a bike trail for an extended ride. Stop for the night at a bed and breakfast, or rent a rustic cabin along the way. Some state parks have cabins or other accommodations you can rent that won't have you sleeping on the cold ground; in Oregon, for example, you can rent a yurt or cabin in many of the state parks along the coast.
Sipping wine in the quiet pastoral beauty of the vineyard, driving with the top down, sleeping in a bed and breakfast... This is considered the cliché romantic getaway, but it's also quite enjoyable. The wine country of northern California is just starting to come to life at this time of year and is wide open for exploring. While some vineyard tours won't be open yet for the season, many tasting rooms will be, and the crowds won't be quite so obtrusive. To narrow down your search for the vineyards you'd like to tour, use the California Wine Country Trip Planner provided on the Wine Country Getaways website. (See link in Resources.)