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GuidesInspiration
January 2024
GuidesInspiration
January 2024

Standout spring escapes

By Jeff Wilser
January 2024

From brighter days to beating the crowds to blossoming cherry trees, there are plenty of reasons to visit these spots in the new season

January 2024
By Jeff Wilser
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  1. Paris: Night of the museums 

    This is the time when Parisian cafés set up their outdoor terraces, the local markets like Marché Bastille sell their freshest produce, and the cherry blossoms in Parc du Champ de Mars bloom into life. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more idyllic time for a scenic cruise along the Seine. Bonus? In May, for the Nuit des Musées, museums across the city stay open late into the night and offer free entry.  

  2. London: Flowers, runners, and boaters 

    You’re never guaranteed good weather in London—rain is part of its charm—but the spring, at least, brings the blooms of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew and the Chelsea Flower Show (stunning enough to interest even those who don’t care about flowers), and a shift from winter coat to windbreaker. If you arrive in April, grab a pint and feel like a local while cheering on the runners of the London Marathon; or if you visit in March head to the Thames for the Oxford vs. Cambridge Boat Race, which is about as British as it gets. 

  3. New York: Spring awakening 

    New York wakes up in the spring after a long East Coast winter. Central Park thaws, the High Line blooms, and the farmers’ markets sprinkled throughout the city roar back to life. Even veteran N.Y.C. visitors should be tempted afresh by spring exhibitions at the Guggenheim and the Met (such as Weaving Abstraction in Ancient and Modern Art), and this is the ideal time to catch a game. Pro move: The Yankees and Mets are the obvious choice, but you’ll have just as much fun (for less money) at the minor-league Brooklyn Cyclones. 

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  1. Los Angeles: Mildly lovely 

    It’s true there’s never really a bad season to visit Los Angeles, but the mild weather at this time of year is ideal for hiking through Runyon Canyon or Griffith Park—a trip to the Griffith Observatory (and its stunning views of the city) is mandatory. You’ll also find the beaches less crowded but still just about warm enough for sunbathing and surfing, although you’ll want to rent a wetsuit. And if you’re a booklover? Consider the annual L.A. Times Festival of Books (April 20–21, 2024) at the University of Southern California. 

  2. Vegas: Beat the heat 

    Let’s be real: Most of your time in Vegas will be spent indoors, and 80% of your time will be spent in casinos, nightclubs, shows, or celebrity chef-led restaurants (from Gordon Ramsay to Wolfgang Puck). But! That 20% outdoors still matters. And it’s far more pleasant to stroll the Vegas Strip in March (highs in the 70s) than the summer, when temperatures routinely pass 100 degrees. Even if you pay a bit more for a spring flight, you’ll have a more chilled trip—both literally and figuratively.  

  3. Cancun: Clear water, clearer beaches 

    Unless a 24-hour party is your goal, think twice about traveling to Cancun during spring break (March and April). But in spring more generally, you’ll find a blend of low humidity, warm-but-not-hot afternoons (low 80s), and spectacularly clear turquoise water at Playa Delfines and Playa Marlín. If you have the time, it’s worth interrupting your beach-and-chill agenda to explore the Mayan ruins at Chichén Itzá and swim in the nearby natural sinkhole at Cenote Ik Kil—worth doing any time of the year, but divine in spring.  

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  1. Tokyo: The cherry on top

    All the usual reasons to visit Tokyo still hold true—the dizzying and dazzling neon-lined streets, the food (Tokyo holds the record for the most Michelin-starred restaurants in a city), the non-stop energy, the glorious feelings of disorientation. But springtime brings a literal cherry on top: Cherry blossom season, when the city is adorned with pink and white blooms. You’ll find peak hanami (cherry blossom viewing) at Ueno Park, Shinjuku Gyoen, and along the Sumida River.  

  2. Punta Cana: Impeccably warm vibes

    Punta Cana is at its best in spring: June to November’s hurricane season is still off in the distance, the winter crowds have started to thin, it’s warm (80s) but not sizzling (the summer is in the 90s), and you’ll find less competition for towel real-estate on Bávaro and Macao Beach. Golfers will find the Punta Espada course in peak form, adrenaline-junkies can do their thing with windsurfing and kitesurfing, and just about everyone can appreciate the quiet grandeur of whale watching, as the humpback whale migration happens in early spring. 

  3. Barcelona: Longer days, fewer crowds 

    Spring means a quieter vibe in Barcelona (the majority of travelers come in summer), mild weather that’s shaking off the winter chill (expect 50s and 60s), and—perhaps most importantly—longer days and more sunshine (especially post-Daylight Saving Time on March 31), giving you ample time to stroll and explore the Parc de la Ciutadella, outdoor tapas bars (don’t miss the patatas bravas), and the city’s unique mix of metropolis and beach. And by then, FC Barcelona’s (soccer) stadium Camp Nou will be in full, boisterous swing. 

Jeff Wilser

Writer

Jeff Wilser is the author of seven books, a frequent traveler (living in 24 countries in the three years to 2020), and a contributor to The New York Times, GQ, and Fast Company.    

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