Traveling in the spring not only means fewer crowds and pleasant weather, but it also brings some exceptionally breathtaking scenery, including lush meadows and powerfully flowing waterfalls to brilliant blooming flowers. These incredibly stunning springtime destinations might inspire you to plan your next trip.

Lisse, Netherlands
Lisse is located in the Netherlands’ bulb-growing region, home to the world-famous Keukenhof Park, known as the “Garden of Europe”. Often found on lists of the best gardens on the planet, from mid-April through the first week of May, visitors can see millions of hand-planted tulips, hyacinths and other spring annuals bursting with brilliant blooms. There are nine miles of walking paths that wind through the landscape, blanked in a kaleidoscopic rainbow of colours. For a close-up look and amazing photos, you can take a ride aboard one of the park’s whisper boats, an electric-powered boat with a virtually silent motor that glides along the shallow canals, providing field-level views that you can only get from the water. Bicycle tours of the beautiful fields are offered too.

Cornwall, England
Spring is the best time to visit Cornwall, in the extreme southwest region of the United Kingdom, with the area’s gardens in full bloom. It’s the only place in the United Kingdom to see flowering magnolia trees this time of year, signaling the true arrival of spring. You’ll find plenty of ways to burn off all the fabulous seasonal food available too, including wandering among the blooming flowers on the moors or even taking a dip in the sea. If a spring storm happens to come in, the crashing waves make for a mesmerisingly dramatic scene.

Skagit Valley, Washington
Travellers from all corners of the globe come to Skagit Valley to view the nearly endless tulip fields transforming the landscape into one of the most incredibly vivid sights of colour you’ll ever lay eyes on. One of the world’s best spring vacation destinations, the area’s tulip festival is held during the entire month of April, with much of it designed as a driving tour through the hundreds of different coloured tulips. Visitors can also enjoy boat tours, art shows featuring local, regional and international artists, as well as forms of entertainment.

Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is one of North Carolina’s most beautiful destinations and is an affordable getaway in spring. You can explore its charming downtown area to see its collection of electric shops, cultural museums, and historical attractions. Visit top-rated breweries or take a scenic drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Add the iconic Biltmore Estate to your itinerary to see its opulent interior, or enjoy a tranquil day strolling through the blooming flowers at The North Carolina Arboretum.

Loire Valley, France
When spring arrives, the stunning Loire Valley is filled with sleepy villages that are de-thawing from winter’s chill, while vineyard buds are beginning to burst and wildflowers pop up along the banks of the river. The area is famous for its dozens of historic chateaus, including Chambord and Amboise Castle, as well as the magnificent Chartres Cathedral, along with diverse and abundant wildlife. Riverboat tours are also available to make the most out of the beautiful weather.

Hitachi Seaside Park, Hitachinaka, Japan
Hitachi Seaside Park, located in Hitachinaka, less than two hours from Tokyo near Ibaraki Prefecture on Japan’s east coast, is an endless flower paradise, beautiful year-round but especially magnificent in the spring when baby blue flowers, known as nemophilas, bloom across the landscape. During April and May, there are more than 4.5 million of these delicate flowers, resembling what some feel may be true heaven on earth. From Miharashi No Oka hill, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean too.

Columbia River Gorge, Pacific Northwest, USA
This canyon stretches for over 80 miles along the Columbia River, providing some of the most dramatic views all year round, but with the change of seasons in March comes thousands of vibrant yellow Oregon sunflowers, also known as arrowleaf balsamroot. Sunny slopes and open Ponderosa forests explode with colour. Set in unspoiled surroundings, they create an especially breathtaking landscape. Hood River Valley, toward the eastern end of the gorge, is the epicenter for spring blooms, including beautiful pink and white fruit tree blossoms, and an ideal place to welcome in the season. The region marks the arrival of spring with its annual Blossom Time, a three-week-long celebration featuring special events throughout the area.

Castelluccio, Umbria, Italy
This tiny village is the highest settlement in the Apennine Mountains of central Italy. Known mostly as the source of the world’s finest lentils available from local farmers, nature lovers are drawn to this town with a population of about only 150 for its mostly undiscovered, dramatic beauty. It may be at its best in springtime when the fields are filled with thousands of colourful, blooming flowers, including red poppies and yellow rapeseed. There are also a number of well-maintained trails that offer everything from easy walks suitable for just about everyone to challenging treks for the experienced hiker.

Washington, D.C.
The nation’s capital is well-known as one of the best spring destinations, with the season bringing an explosion of colour when the hundreds of cherry trees sprout blushing blooms. The pretty pink flowers frame the area’s famous national monuments from late March through early April, which happens to correspond with the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival. The pleasant weather makes it a perfect time to see the sights, from the National Mall to the Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol itself, while a number of local companies host all types of cherry blossom tours to help visitors make the most of their flower-peeping experience.

Hill Country, Texas
The Texas Hill Country is known for its beautiful scenery with limestone and granite rocks, but it’s arguably at its best in the spring, when the weather is not too hot and often just right for spending time around its glistening lakes, giant oak trees and spring-fed creeks. This time of year, it’s also known for its brilliant wildflowers, especially bluebonnets that line the highways with blooms that stretch for miles. In this 25-county region in the central and southern part of the state, including the city of Austin, the famed bluebonnets generally start blooming in mid-March, continuing into April. However, there are all types of other flower varieties that appear later in the season. In Burnet, otherwise known as the “Bluebonnet Capital”, the Bluebonnet Festival takes place during the second weekend of April each year, celebrating the blooming of the wildflowers.