Whitewater Rafting
In popular whitewater rafting destinations such as West Virginia’s New River Gorge and the Ocoee River of southeast Tennessee, spring brings the beginning of rafting season as runoff from melting spring snow brings high water and temperatures get warm enough for visitors to venture into the water.
The New River and Gauley River in West Virginia are considered some of the best rafting destinations in the country, and outfitters there begin operating trips in late March and early April. The height of the water can vary widely during that time, so guides plan their routes daily to take advantage of the best conditions.
In Tennessee, near Chattanooga, rafting on the Ocoee River gets underway with dam releases on weekends in mid-March. Groups can take half-day rafting trips on the Middle Ocoee on weekends throughout the spring. Full-day rafting excursions begin in mid-May and continue throughout the summer.
Kentucky Horse Racing
Thoroughbred racing is widely beloved throughout Kentucky, second in popularity only to college basketball perhaps, so after basketball season ends in March, locals are anxious to get out to the racetracks in April to enjoy the beauty of early spring and the pageantry of racing.
In Lexington, the spring meet at Keeneland Race Course gets underway in early April and lasts for three weeks, affording visitors great opportunities to try out their new sundresses and hats. Then, at the end of the month, racing starts at Churchill Downs in Louisville. The famous Kentucky Derby takes place on the first Saturday in May, and the meet continues until July.
Groups can take behind-the-scenes tours of both racetracks and enjoy priority seating and other special amenities during meets.
San Antonio Celebrates
The residents of San Antonio don’t exactly endure difficult winters, with average daytime temperatures in January and February topping out in the mid-60s Fahrenheit. But locals still find reasons to celebrate spring with a pair of events that have become signatures of the city.
Taking place over 10 days in late April, Fiesta San Antonio is a citywide celebration of the area’s Mexican heritage. Highlights include athletic events, concerts, cultural performances and lighted boat parades on the River Walk. Groups will enjoy the colors, flavors and sounds of Latin pride, as well as the beautiful Texas weather.
In May, the city follows up with Culinaria, a weeklong festival around town that showcases the many gastronomical delights created in area restaurants and wineries. Visiting groups can enjoy chef demonstrations and all manner of food at a number of daytime and evening events.
Alaska Cruises
Alaska is one of the most beloved tourist destinations in North America, but due to its northern latitude and extreme weather, much of the state is practically uninhabitable during winter for all but the heartiest of souls. For that reason, the flood of visitors to Alaska is limited to the months between late spring and early fall.
Many trips to Alaska involve cruises, and ships start sailing from port cities such as Seattle and Vancouver in late April. These cruises cover the Inside Passage of Southeast Alaska, the first part of the state to thaw, and often include stops in ports such as Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan, as well as views of gorgeous glacier fields.
Passengers on these early cruises take a bit of a chance on weather, as spring can still be quite cold in Alaska, but they benefit from fewer crowds and favorable cruise pricing.
