Ten Spring Getaways

Antigua and Barbuda
The arrival of spring means one thing on Antigua and its smaller sister island, Barbuda: Sailing. April marks the beginning of several annual events, including the Classic Yacht Regatta and Antigua Sailing Week one of the top regattas in the world and the biggest in the Caribbean. Antigua is the largest of the British Leeward Islands and its famous numerous, sandy beaches blessed by azure seas are cooled by lovely breezes. Circled by dramatic reefs, there's fabulous diving, swimming and watersports. This unspoilt, naturally charming resort island is a premier vacation destination. Antigua's small sister island, Barbuda lies 25 miles to the north and is an unspoiled natural haven for wild deer and exotic birds. Restaurants and bars can be found in the main tourist areas.

Asheville
Nestled in North Carolina’s Smoky Mountains region, Asheville is showing up on travelers’ radars thanks to its dynamic downtown area, lively cultural offerings, thriving arts scene, New Age nuances, and breathtaking mountain scenery. Downtown ASHEVILLE continues to mirror the peiod of it local author Thomas Wolfe who wrote about the town in Look Homeward Angel. The boarding house that was described in the novel has been preserved as the Thomas Wolfe State Historic Site. The core of downtown is filled with health food stores, cafes, bluegrass clubs and music shops. Asheville is famous for the Biltmore Estate located south of town. It is the largest private mansion in the United States. Built in the late nineteenth century by George Vanderbilt, it is one of the country's most visited house tours along with the White House and Graceland.

Austin
Music lovers would be remiss to overlook a visit to Austin, the “Live Music Capital of the World.” With nearly 200 venues to tap your toe at, the capital of Texas is also the state’s most culturally rich city, with museums aplenty and art galleries galore. It's live music scene have features diverse musicians like Willie Nelson, Asleep at the Wheel and Janis Joplin. The huge sprawling Texas State Capitol building is located in the heart of the city. Due north of downtown is the University of Texas easily recognized by its landmark tower. The campus is home to a number of museums and libraries. The Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library located northeast of the campus is the official presidential library and repository.

Branson
Located in the sleepy Ozark Mountains, the resort of Branson is one of the top road trip destinations in the country. Over seven million people a year come to what has been dubbed the "Ozark Disneyland". It all started less than 40 years ago with several family oriented tourist attractions, one based on the novel, The Shepherd of the Hills and is actually still staged every evening. All of the shows in Branson are geared toward families; you won't find anything remotely off color or avant-garde, although the new Ripley's Believe It or Not is a step in a new direction. The Silver Dollar City amusement park features high-tech roller coasters and water rides.

Charleston
Few cities are more lovely, more genteel, more downright southern than Charleston, South Carolina. The city founded in 1670 and soon became wealthy through plantations raising tobacco, rice and indigo. History places the first shot of the Civil War being fired just off the city's harbor, where people gathered to watch the Confederate seige of Fort Sumter. Charleston has preserved much of its original period architecture and is a very popular destination for those who like antebellum house and garden tours. A trip south from Old City Market to Battery takes in many sites along Church Street including the old magazine, the Gothic French Huguenot Church and the Heyward-Washington House.

Fort Worth
Unlike Dallas, Fort Worth is smaller, more down to earth and definitely more laid back. Although the cowboy lifestyle and culture are alive and well in the Stockyard District, it is also the capital of fine culture with some of the finest museums and performing arts spaces and organization in the country. Downtown's Sundance Square is made up of a dozen block of historic building in the center of the city. The historic stockyard district is located to the north of town, where you can eat an authentic Mexican meal or buy a custom pair of western boots. Several miles to the west is located the cultural district which features the Kimbell Art Museum, the Amon Carter Museum, the Modern Art Museum and the Museum of Science and History.

Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen, simply known as Playa, still projects a cozy combination of casual small town appeal and international individuality. The town has a comfortable shanty type architecture with rustic buildings and thatched roofs and lots of tropical foliage. But is is the relaxed homey feel that gives the resort its allure. As an added plus, the beach is one of the prettiest on the coast with stunning white sand and gloriously clear sea and has the best nightlife on the Riviera Maya. The offshore reef is truly spectacular with dozen of of professional scuba-diving shops available in Playa.

Santa Catalina Island
Catalina Island, 22 miles off the coast of Long Beach, California, is still an idyllic seaside escape with a year-round Mediterranean climate (and not a freeway in sight). Avalon, the only real city on this 75-square-mile isle, is a postcard-perfect place where the mode of transport is by golf cart rather than car. Check out the Art Deco mermaid murals adorning the grand 1920s circular dance hall known as the Casino – then sprout your own fins and scuba dive in the crystal-clear Pacific. Inland, you'll discover indigenous foxes, bald eagles, and the modern-day offspring of a bison herd brought to the island for a silent-screen-era movie shoot.

Santa Fe
The rich history and architecture of Sante Fe has made it one of the most popular tourist destinations. It is famous for the adobe buildings, art galleries and its museums. In addition to the Place of Governors and Museum of Fine Arts, there is the fabulous Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. This is the largest collection of her works, including paintings such as Jimson Weed, Purple Hills II and Ghost Ranch, New Mexico. Across the river is the fourth meseum, the Museum of International Folk Art and the Museum of Indian Art and Culture dedicated to the traditional Native American arts.

Whistler
If your idea of a great spring getaway involves snow instead of sand, head to Whistler, British Columbia, where one of the longest ski seasons in North America keeps skiers shussing as late as early June on over 7,000 acres of ski terrain, 12 alpine bowls on three glaciers, and more than 200 marked trails. As an added bonus, the beautiful village has enough shops, nightlife, restaurants, and events to keep even non-skiers happy. Get there fast, though, before the crowds do – Whistler's due to host the 2010 winter Olympics.