Screw the cleaning. Makeย springย the time to take a trip, and blow out the cobwebs in a much more fulfilling way. Even better, shoulder seasons like spring usually offer an affordable way to combine low-season hotel rates and fewer crowds with high-season weather, a canny workaround for any value-seeking traveler.
Weโve pulled together some of the places to visit in March, including an alternative to cherry blossom-spotting (hint: come hungry) to theย Caribbeanโs toniest superyacht race and a pyromaniacโs delight of a festival in Europe.
Here are the 10 best places to visit in March.
1. Modesto, California
March is great for:ย swapping cherry blossoms for a farmland stand-in.
Californiaโs agricultural heartlands are often eclipsed by their snazzierย coastal counterparts, but pause to consider a trip to the Central Valley, home to some of Americaโs finest farmlandโand in particular, almond groves.
The trees are planted across 1.5 million acres of land here, and a riot of pink and white flowers carpet the horizon from mid-February to mid-March. Modesto, a city with 120,000 acres of those groves, has cannily devised what itโs dubbed theย Almond Blossom Cruise, a self-guided driving tour with two routes (and plenty of detours) that allow you to explore the area and see as many blossoms as you can; the western circuit is an hour or so, while the east will require up to three hours.
Stops include farm standsโpick up some tangy signature cheddar atย Fiscaliniโas well as restaurants and farms. Standouts include Rodin Farms and Roberts Ferry Nut Company, as both have groves that run right down to the parking lot line.
Where to stay
- Book now:ย DoubleTree by Hilton
The 260-room hotel downtown is an affordable base, right off Highway 99 and within walking distance of many local landmarksโdonโt miss the superbly restored McHenry Mansion, a Victorian-Italianate masterpiece dating back to the 1880s.
How to get to Modesto
Southwestโs your best bet, as it uses the nearest airport, Sacramento, as one of its national hubs, connecting the Californian capital with countless cities across the country from Palm Springs and St. Louis to Portland, OR. From there, itโs a 90-minute drive or so.
2. Chicago, Illinois
March is great for:ย the ultimate Paddyโs party.
Is there anywhere else to celebrateย St. Patrickโs Dayย other thanย Chicago? After all, the Windy City goes beyond a massive parade (though thereโs one of those, too.) No, the city, quite literally, transforms, as the main river here is dyed bright green on the Saturday before March 17 (this year, thatโs March 15). Itโs a fleeting change, as the ferocious water flows mean the color ebbs away within one to two days, so youโll need to be here that weekend to see the maximum impactโtake a cruise on the water for an up-close glimpse.
As for celebrations, thereโs an endless assortment, whether theย Irish American Heritage Centerย on the north side or theย Shamrockโn The Blockย party in downtownโs West Loop, with a heated beer tent and lots of Irish dancing.
Where to stay
- Book now:ย 21C Museum Hotel
This funky boutique chainletโnow part of the Accor umbrellaโis aptly named: Each of its sites acts as much as a gallery as a crash pad, a nod to the passions of its art-collecting philanthropist founders Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson. The four-year-old Chicago site is no exception, with work from local artists like Colleen Plumb ranged around the property, including its 10,000-square-foot onsite gallery.
How to get to Chicago
ORD is a hub for not one but two airlines, United and American, with ample service across the country. But donโt dismiss the smaller, nippier Midway (MDW), which Southwest services to the likes of Houston, Sarasota, and Charleston, South Carolina.
3. St. Barths
March is great for:ย seeing an alternative side to this party-powered island.
Sure, come toย St. Barthsย to sashay โround the pool. But there are other reasons to visit this slice of France, just a short flight off the coast of St. Maartenโlike theย Bucket Regattaย this month, which takes place from March 21-24.
This race is a four-day, invitation-only race thatโs a point of pride for super-yachts worldwide. This year, there will be no yacht hop party, but instead a dockside bash at the Capitainerie on Saturday night for the ultimate mingler. If youโre not schmoozing or racing, though, itโs still a spectacular chance to see some of the worldโs finest yachts performing at their peak, all on some of the bluest waters of the West Indies.
Where to stay
- Book now:ย Le Barthรฉlemy Hotel & Spa
The eight-year-old, 44-room property has a fitting sits on the eastern reaches of Grand Cul de Sac beach and with understated, ultra-luxe dรฉcor from French designer Sybille de Margerie.
How to get to St Barths
Book a flight to SXM in St Maartenโthere are countless services from the U.S. on everything from Spirit (FLL) to Sun Country (MSP). From there, take the knuckle-biting puddle jumper over to SBH on Tradewinds. At just over 2,100 feet this is one of the shortest runways in the world, so youโll be in a tiny plane piloted by a seasoned captain.
4. Namibia
March is great for:ย a green season celebration.
March 21 is a momentous annual day in the Namibian calendar, as it marks the stateโs independence from South Africa. It won freedom in 1990 after more than two decades of fightingโtoday the occasion is marked by a colorful parade, where citizens march and sing the national anthem,ย Namibia, Land of the Brave,ย which was composed by a Kalahari desert-based musician in the wake of independence.
Unlike much of sub-Saharan Africa, Namibia has much less likelihood of torrential downpours during this time. Its version of the green season remains drier than most, with the landscape here creating the dramatic dunescapes that have become synonymous with the country for safari-seekers.
Where to stay
- Book now:ย Hoanib Valley Camp
The immersive desert experience that is the hallmark of Namibian safari is core to this six-tent camp made entirely from locally sourced materials. Stay here and the game drives focus on desert-adapted lions, elephants, and giraffes.
How to get to Namibia
There are several ways to reach the capital Windhoek (WDH), though none is direct. Consider flying into either Cape Town or Johannesburg and connecting from there, or opt for the Ethiopian Airlines service to Addis Ababa, with connection down to Namibia. Ethiopian connects its capital with Atlanta, Chicago, Newark, JFK, and Dulles.
5. Melbourne, Australia
March is great for:ย foodie pilgrims with a hunger to explore.
Melbourneโs fantastic food scene is mostly thanks to the fact that the surrounding state is such a superb produce sourceโmuch of its raw materials need only travel a few miles to the cityโs restaurants. Thatโs all celebrated with theย Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, which runs from March 15-24 and sees more than 300 different events as part of its official schedule.
Fed Square downtownโs deeded over to bakers and pรขtissiers, complete with a wood-fired oven pop-up, while record-breaking stunts like the Worldโs Longest Brunch and Lunch (tables running almost 2,000 feet through the main gardens here) are intended to be fun ways to sample the cooking of top local chefs like Andrew McConnell. Heโll helm the kitchen for lunch while Indian cuisine will be spotlighted during brunch, including creations from fine dining champ Helly Raichura.
Where to stay
- Book now:ย The Ritz Carlton Melbourne
The 257-room property opened in the spring of 2023 and is housed in Australiaโs tallest buildingโviews from the 80th floor sky lobby are superb out along the Yarra River and over Victoria Harbour.
How to get to Melbourne
MEL is one of the international long haul gateways in Oz, so thereโs ample optionโQantas and United connect it with LAX thirteen times weekly, and there are also direct non-stops from Dallas and San Francisco.
6. The Red Sea, Saudi Arabia
March is great for:ย a pioneering trip to a soon-to-explore spot.
Even though thereโs enormous development planned inย Saudi Arabiaโs Red Seaโ50 hotels should be openย within the next six yearsโthe government aims to protect the reason it appeals, promising that the ground-up infrastructure will emphasizeย renewable energyย and zero waste operations.
The peak period to visit ends in February, but the weather remains appealing this month thanks to the still-clear skiesโideal conditions forย stargazing. Spend a night out in the dunes around a desert campfire, with local guides sharing stories and legends that connect the centuries-old culture here with the modern developmentsย transforming Saudi Arabiaย at time-warping speed.
Where to stay
- Book now:ย Six Senses Southern Dunes
This property includes open-plan villas intended to connect guests with the surrounding sand dunes, plus a signature spa (which, by the way, is two floors and includes a fitness suite with views of the desert.)
How to get to Saudi Arabia
Right now, the best routing to this region is via Riyadh, with direct flights on Saudia from JFK; itโs a two-hour hop from there to RSI, the local airport for the Red Sea. The latterโs primed to welcome international flights at some point in 2024, which will make arrival even easier.
7. Denver, Colorado
March is great for: late-season skiing and bargain dining.
March is typically the snowiest month of the year in theย Mile High City, often logging just under a foot of powder. Climate change has made that less predictable, but thereโs still a chance to see the city under a romantic white blanket; this is a place that can more than function even in the trickiest of winters.
You can also choose to stay inside forย Denver Restaurant Week, running from March 1-10, with prix fixe meals at many of the top spots here for between $25 and $55 per person. And donโt dismiss the chance to celebrateย St. Patrickโs Dayย here, either: thereโs a parade thatโs among one of the largest in the country, with around 10,000 marchers and 200,000 spectatorsโthis year, itโs being held on Sunday, March 16.
Where to stay
- Book now:ย Hyatt Centric Downtown Denver
The three-year old, 264-room outpost of the funky, mid-market Centric brand has an outdoor rooftop with fireplaces for al fresco cocktails as well as a 1,000-square-foot Presidential Suite that occupies the entire 15th floor.
How to get to Denver
Denver is one of Unitedโs prime hubs, so check your options with UA. The airline services dozens of cities countrywide from here, including Wichita, Kansas, and Little Rock, Arkansas.
8. Mendoza, Argentina
March is great for:ย a southern hemisphere harvest festival.
More than 1,500 wineries are spread over the three growing areas of theย Mendozaย region: Maipu Valley, Lujรกn de Cuyo, and Uco Valley. Youโll be able to sample and experience all of them in a single place during La Fiesta Nacional de Vendimia, a festival dating back to the 17th century that marks the beginning of the harvest season.
In early March, alongside parties, dance displays, and special dinners in local restaurants, the city hosts La Bendiciรณn de los Frutos, an event where a priest publicly blesses the harvest, as well as Via de la Reinas, a parade where a beauty queen from each of the 17 districts in the region rides around town on a specially designed float. This year, the festivities conclude on March 3, so barrel down at the start of the month to catch its climax.
Where to stay
- Book now:ย The Vines Resort & Spa
Stay at this property in the heart of the Valle de Uco, set on 1,500 acres of private vineyards estates, with 21 villas ranged around the propertyโthe largest of them tops out at 2,700 square feetโand each of the modernist structures has an outdoor deck thatโs a prime spot to sit and contemplate the Andes mountains.
How to get to Mendoza
Try the LATAM routing via Lima, Peru, from JFK, or Sรฃo Paulo in Brazil, which is connected to multiple U.S. gateways on legacy carriers Delta, United, and American.
9. Edmonton, Canada
March is great for:ย homegrown delights from the hop-growing hub of Canada.
More than 16,000 square miles of the Canadianย province of Albertaย are prairies, and one key crop grown in this vast landscape is barley. From March 8-9, the product of prairie-grown barley is celebrated via the localย Craft Beer festival. Thereโs a thriving craft beer scene here mostly thanks to the change in law back in 2013, which removed a cap on small producers; as a result, there are now more than 100 operating in the province.
This two-day fest celebrates their output, with tastings as well as seminars and cooking demos. Half-day passes start at $15 while a VIP+ weekend-long entry is around $188 per person.
Where to stay in Edmonton
- Book now:ย Fairmont Hotel Macdonald
The 198-room Fairmont Hotel Macdonald is a classic chรขteau-inspired hotel in the heart of the city right on the river dating back to 1915.
How to get to Edmonton
More than 10 U.S. gateways are directly connected with YEG here, including Honolulu, Hawaiโi, Nashville, Tennessee, and Phoenix, Arizona; theyโre served by a raft of airlines, including WestJet and Flair.
10. Valencia, Spain
March is great for:ย satire and starchitecture.
For one thing, Valenciaโs food scene is impressiveโthis is theย birthplace of paella, after all. The cityscape is jaw dropping, too: It has beenย world-leading in sustainability, earning the title of European Green Capital for 2024 from the European Commission.
If you needed another incentive to consider a trip, then, this monthโs Las Fallas Festival should be the clincher. Itโs the most important in the cityโs calendar, and runs from March 1-19. During this time, the city is festooned with papier-mรขchรฉ figures, known as ninots, both traditional or satirical. All but two of themโsaved by public vote on March 15โwill be burned at the festivalโs conclusion, the event known as La Crema.
Where to stay
- Book now:ย Hospes Palau de la Mar Hotel
A one-time noblemanโs mansion right in the heart of the city is now a 66-room luxury hotel, set amid a large garden which was once home to his horses. The minimalist rooms combine whitewashed walls with rich chocolate wood fixtures.
How to get to Valencia
There are no direct, non-stop flights from the USA, so choose either to connect in Madrid, which is serviced by Iberia, American, and Air Europe to JFK, LAX, and DFW. Or go with Iberiaโs partner British Airways, which has a wider network stateside. Itโs a 2.5 hour flight from LHR to VLC.
Credit: https://www.afar.com/magazine
