Best Mountains for Spring!
The best way to shake off the winter blues is to take a spring vacation in the fresh air and sunshine. America is filled with beautiful mountain ranges from the Appalachians on the East Coast to the Sierra Nevada range in California. There’s a mountain getaway within a few hours drive of most major cities so it’s always easy to plan a relaxing vacation. We’ll outline four spectacular mountain vacation destinations below, whether you love outdoor pursuits or you simply want to relax and enjoy the beautiful views.
New Yorkers escape their hectic lifestyle every spring for a laid back vacation in the Adirondack Mountains. The Adirondacks are located just a few hours north of New York City, making it an ideal spot for a weekend getaway. The Adirondacks are particularly renowned for water sports whether it’s an afternoon of peaceful paddle boarding or a thrilling ride in a white water raft. The Adirondacks also have many activities for land lovers like winery tours and Shakespeare in the park.
The Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina are one of the wonders of the natural world. The many trails in The Great Smoky Mountains National Park located just outside of Gatlinburg, Tenn., are filled with breathtaking waterfalls, stunning gorges and clear mountain streams. History buffs can visit Cade’s Cove, a 19th century mountain village that is preserved within the national park. The region also has many great restaurants and premier tourist attractions like the Dollywood Family Amusement Park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., and the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C.
The Rocky Mountains are famous all over the world thanks to the music of John Denver and there’s still no better way to experience the wonders of the American West than at Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. There are many hiking and cycling trails in the park, but you can also enjoy watching native wildlife like bighorn sheep and elk or take a scenic drive along the park’s highways, which feature peaceful aspen groves and tranquil rivers. Rocky Mountain National Park is also ideal for camping whether you want to spend a night under the stars or you’re interested in a back country excursion.
The breathtaking peaks of the Sierra Nevadas in California inspired naturalist and writer John Muir and there’s still no better way to honor Muir’s pioneering spirit than to visit Yosemite National Park, which is a few hours east of San Francisco. Experienced outdoorsmen won’t want to miss the Half Dome Hike, an all-day excursion to the top of Half Dome Rock, which offers stunning vistas of the Yosemite Valley. Yosemite also offers many family friendly hikes to places like Lower Yosemite Falls and Mirror Lake. Not to be missed is the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias that features ancient trees, many of which are more than 200 feet tall. Don’t miss the Grizzly Giant, which is the oldest tree in the grove or you can take a selfie under the California Tunnel Tree.
