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March and April in Colorado are, you know, fine. They can be wintry or springlike (though this season has seen lots more of the latter). Hiking conditions are bound to be variable (watch out for mud), while the skiing is OK if you’re willing to dodge dirt patches and Texans like pinballs. The kids have a week off school, which means you’re fielding work emails while keeping the minions entertained. (One more episode won’t hurt them, you tell yourself for the fifth time.) On second thought, maybe it’s best to get outta Dodge.
Unsure where to go? We can help. Read on to find eight destinations for bikers, nature lovers, families, and couples—all a nonstop flight away from Denver International Airport.
Jump ahead:
- Best for bikers: Bentonville, Arkansas
- Best for would-be world-travelers: Las Vegas, Nevada
- Best for animal lovers: Monterey, California
- Best for bougie globe-trotters: Guanacaste, Costa Rica
- Best for sports enthusiasts: Phoenix (and Scottsdale), Arizona
- Best for sun seekers: A Caribbean cruise
- Best for learners: Providence, Rhode Island
- Best for everyone: Amelia Island, Florida
Bentonville, Arkansas
Direct flight to Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA)
- Best for: The traveler ready for fun on two wheels
- Because: If you’re like us, you’ve called this ski season a wash.
Instead, hop a plane to…Arkansas? You read that right. With more than 80 miles of purpose-built progressive singletrack weaving through the city and direct access to another 550 miles of the Ozarks’ award-winning trail systems, Bentonville has deservedly earned the right to host the Big Sugar mountain and gravel bike series, serve as headquarters for mega cycling brand Rapha, and call itself the Mountain Biking Capital of the World. Secure your two-wheeled steed at Phat Tire Bike Shop Rentals or Scott Adventure Lab, and then get after it.
Start at Slaughter Pen, a 30-mile trail system with bridges, art installations, and a skills park that caters to all levels of cyclists. Rip a couple laps from the stone-and-iron “Castle,” which serves as a launchpad to multiple downhill trails, then make your way to Masterpiece, where you can literally ride a work of art. Singletrack seekers should also pedal toward Coler MTB Preserve, which sits on 300 acres of hollows, bluffs, and choose-your-own adventure bikeways. Gravity-defiers: Be sure to hit the massive jumps on the new double-black-diamond trail, Cleared for Takeoff. Ready for a recovery? Peel off that chamois for an afternoon exploring the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, a free haven for creative endeavors founded by Alice Walton of the Walmart dynasty.
Where to stay: Find accommodations fit for a king (of the mountain) at the Compton, a just-opened independent hotel perched on the town’s historic square. Named after conservationist Neil Compton, who was integral in preservation efforts of the nearby Buffalo River, the 142-key property offers a dedicated in-house cycling concierge, secure bike storage, and post-ride wipe-down service. Your premium room—or perhaps a suite, if you spring for it—will feature natural finishes, Ozarks-inspired artwork, and cushy king and queen beds.
What to eat: Perk up for your morning ride with a pour-over from one of the US Barista Championship silver medalists at Onyx Coffee Lab. Once you’re off the trail (and famished) head to the Buttered Biscuit, where the biscuit basket is served with three different pats of butter (try saying that three times fast). If you’re visiting on the weekend, add an order of their pigs in a biscuit with handcrafted spicy mustard—if they haven’t already sold out. When the sun sets, you could plan your night around a Mezcal flight and Yucatán-style marinated pork in the cochinita pibil street tacos at Yeyo’s, the brick-and-mortar dream of a migrant farm worker turned cornerstone of Bentonville’s culinary scene. Then again, the hyperseasonal menu at farm-to-table restaurant Conifer will have you pining for more with palate-pleasers like fried halloumi paired with cherry hot honey, truffled pork sausage, and black cod covered in brown butter. For dessert: Trash Ice Cream, where you’ll choose from vanilla, chocolate, or a dairy-free delight as your “base” before opting for your choice of add-ins (everything from brownies to Ritz Crackers) and then topping the whole dairy dump with strawberries, marshmallow cream, or hot fudge.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Direct flight to Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
- Best for: The traveler who wants to see the world in a weekend
- Because: Where else can you go from Venice to Oz—with easy layovers in Paris, Greece, Seattle, and New York City—in a single vacation?
In Las Vegas, visitors can be serenaded by a gondolier along the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian Resort, sip Dom Pérignon at the top of the Eiffel Tower Restaurant, and eat a Caesar salad in Caesars Palace. Then, ride the ups (on the 550-foot High Roller Observation Wheel) and downs (with the 203-foot plummet on the Big Apple Coaster) of fate. No question, the gaming tables and after-hours shows are evidence Sin City comes by its nickname honestly, but post-pandemic efforts to ante up on entertainment give visitors practically endless ways to be awed and immersed without succumbing to their vice of choice. At Sphere, for example, you can be rocked by Eagles, Phish, or a tornado during one of the daily showings of The Wizard of Oz on its 360-degree, 16K-resolution internal LED screen. Or, venture past the Emerald City into an ever-changing, aquatic wonderland filled with high divers and aerialists in the ethereal otherworld of Cirque du Soleil’s “O.” The last stop on your world tour is dealer’s choice: Either petting a sting ray in the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino or ogling the first pair of Air Jordans in the Hall of Excellence inside Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
Where to stay: Home to more hotel rooms per capita than anywhere else in the U.S., Las Vegas has a room, suite, or penthouse perfect for your friend group and your funding level. If your dice have been hot, splurge on the Bellagio Hotel & Casino’s Chairman’s Suite, a 4,075-square-foot, sleeps-six palace with a panoramic view of the Lake Como–inspired fountain. Our choice: The stylish, entertainment hub of the MGM Grand, with rates starting at $94 per night. From here, you’ll have easy access to Cirque du Soleil’s epic aerial show KÀ and David Copperfield’s legendary illusions (both theaters are housed inside), along with 23 restaurants and a 6.5-acre pool complex. Your room, perhaps one of the well-appointed, 446-square-foot double-queens, will be an oasis—assuming you actually spend any time there.
What to eat: We know it’s tempting, but don’t fill up on the melt-in-your-mouth treats at the four-level, 28,000-square-foot M&M store. Instead, save your appetite for Morimoto, the long-standing but recently renovated food-scene fixture from Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto. Get started with the toro tartare, which comes gorgeously plated with sturgeon caviar, toppers like wasabi and nori paste, and a pink plumeria garnish. Another essential order: the land and ocean roll combo that includes F1 wagyu and sweet shrimp that emerge with a puff of smoke from an acacia wood box. For breakfast, or more realistically brunch, sip bottomless rose with your girlfriends in the garden at Primrose, housed in the Park MGM. Or, if you’re still metabolizing mezcal from the night before, their collection of pressed juices (we loved the pineapple-forward citrus blend) tastes far better than Pedialyte. One more hard-to-beat restaurant recommendation: Brasserie B Parisian Steakhouse by Bobby Flay.
Monterey, California
Direct flight to Monterey Regional Airport (MRY)
- Best for: The traveler who loves nature
- Because: You won’t find gray whales, sea otters, or bloodybelly comb jellies in the Centennial State.
Begin your trip by jumping directly into the deep end–or at least boating over its surface. An excursion with Princess Monterey Whale Watching delivers a 99 percent success rate of spotting humpbacks, orcas, Risso’s dolphins, or any of the other swimming species that call the 12,743-foot depths of Monterey Bay home. Once you’ve met some of the locals from a distance, get up-close and personal with the harbor seals, great whites (herons, that is), and an anemone or two during a guided kayak tour of Elkhorn Slough with Monterey Bay Kayaks (kiddos and beginners welcome). For waterfalls and redwoods, hop on Highway 1 and head south toward Big Sur, where a dramatic coastline offers numerous Insta-worthy overlooks.
No trip to Monterey would be complete without a visit to the city’s acclaimed aquarium, where more than 80,000 creatures swim, wriggle, and writhe. At the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which served as the inspiration for the Marine Life Institute in Finding Dory, you can see crystal jellyfish put on light shows, watch a giant Pacific octopus vanish into its surroundings, and, if you time it right, grimace as the leopard sharks gobble bits of squid.
Where to stay: Want to start each morning with a beachside stroll and watch the waves roll out every night? Then the Monterey Beach Hotel, part of Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio, is the lodging you’re looking for. With expansive views into Monterey Bay from the casually luxe lobby (and your room, if you pay for ocean-view accommodations), the hotel boasts 192 thoughtfully appointed rooms with D.S. & Durga’s Big Sur After Rain bath products, sea-inspired decor, and a pair of Nocs binoculars perfect for porpoise-watching. Guests also get free access to the hotel’s fleet of e-bikes and a $25 credit to the wine wall per night.
What to eat: You came to Monterey for the seaside town’s access to aquatic life. So, in addition to spotting dolphins, smelling the briny air, hearing the grumpy gulls, and petting a bat ray in one of the aquarium’s touch pools, be sure to taste your way through the area’s edible marine delights as well. Abalonetti Bar & Grill, located steps from your whale-watching cruise on Old Fisherman’s Wharf, offers its calamari fried, buffalo-style, on a bun, or in numerous other forms. For award-winning lobster bisque, creamy crab carbonara, or buttery wild halibut, head to Flaherty’s Seafood Grill & Oyster Bar, found five miles outside of Monterey in the quaint artist’s hub Carmel-By-the-Sea. When you’re sufficiently sick of seafood (if that’s even possible), try a morning bun from the Power Plant Coffee, hot apple pie from Big Sur River Inn Restaurant, or the artichoke cupcakes available along the Artichoke Trail in nearby Castroville, dubbed “The Artichoke Center of the World.” Nibble an order of sweet potato fries from Woody’s at the Airport, voted “Best Airport Restaurant” in 2023 and 2024 by USA Today, to tide you over on the three-hour flight home.
Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Direct flight to Liberia Guanacaste International Airport (LIR)
- Best for: The luxury-loving traveler
- Because: Sometimes you just have to treat yourself. When you’re ready to swipe that Visa with abandon, do so at the new Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve property just 45 minutes outside of Liberia, Costa Rica.
You’ll hop on your nonstop United flight and, in just a touch over five hours, be transported from the Centennial State’s high desert climate to an upscale jungle oasis found within the protected Peninsula Papagayo’s 1,400 acres of tropical dry forest. Don’t fret: Despite the moniker, the region has a delightfully humid climate (especially compared to Colorado’s aridity) sure to soothe your chapped lips and knuckles. If the moisture in the air doesn’t quite do the trick, simply book a treatment at Nekajui’s 27,000-square-foot spa and wellness center.
When you’re not relishing a Flor de Juanilama massage or soaking in Latin America’s largest hydrotherapy pool, try one of the resort’s more adrenaline-inducing activities. Paddle through the walking palm trees of Palmares or take a two-hour guided aerial experience across zip lines and rope bridges.
Where to stay: Ocean views from a room that’s at minimum 873 square feet? Ocean views from a luxury suite with an outdoor shower and separate living room? Or ocean views from one of the three luxury treetop tents built into the cliffside? Decisions, decisions. Each option comes with an expansive terrace or balcony and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors to ensure full enjoyment of said vistas, along with rich teak wood decor that’s an authentic representation of Guanacastecan architecture. Book one of the “plunge” accommodations, and you’ll have a four-foot-deep patio pool all to yourself.
What to eat: Nine different on-site dining options serve up delicious meals from dawn to dark. Start the day by imbibing Costa Rica’s famed coffee culture via a single-origin pour-over from Café Rincón, named after the Rincón de la Vieja volcano visible from the resort. For lunch, choose from Mediterranean fare served seaside at Niri Beach Club or order a poolside tuna poke bowl at Brisa. With world-renowned chef Diego Muñoz, who’s known for incorporating multicultural influences into traditional Peruvian cuisine, at the helm of Puna, where to eat dinner just might be the easiest decision of the day. If you can, score an early Puna reservation so you can slip away for a nightcap at Ambar, an intimate bar suspended in the treetops with a stellar view of the sunset.
Phoenix (and Scottsdale), Arizona
Direct flight to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
- Best for: The traveler who wants to watch (and wager on) games of all kinds
- Because: The nation’s fifth largest city hosts more than the Super Bowl (though it’s done that four times). Phoenix offers nearly every major North American sport in a professional setting between February and May, which means that no matter what shape of ball strikes your fancy, Championship Valley has it.
Rockies loyalists keen to get a look at Kyle Freeland’s fastball will have plenty of opportunities during the Cactus League season, which runs through March 24, while basketball lovers can catch one of the Phoenix Suns’ home games for pro-level dunking. Alas, it’s not the right time of year to catch a Cardinals home game, but football fans can still get their fix with the Arizona Rattlers, the region’s indoor football team. Prefer a more refined athletic pastime? Watch the pros hit balls (not each other) at the LPGA Ford Championship (March 26–29).
Budget-conscious travelers can score cheap tickets (starting at $17) to watch Phoenix Rising FC on the pitch while those who like to put a little skin in the game have sportsbook options aplenty, including the 17,000-square-foot BetMGM Sportsbook at State Farm Stadium.
Where to stay: If you’re looking for luxury (and a little gambling), book a room at Talking Stick Resort, conveniently located right across the street from the Rockies’ spring training stomping grounds at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. If you’d rather have easy access to two golf courses, multiple tennis and pickleball courts, and seven pools, post up at the Arizona Biltmore.
What to eat: Owned by former Suns standout Dan Majerle, Majerle’s Sports Grill has earned a spot on numerous “best sports bars in America” lists. The reasons? A friendly environment and on-point entrées like the Sir Charles chicken sandwich. The Old Town Scottsdale location of Daily Dose, which serves brunch favorites like banana bread French toast and chile verde huevos rancheros, is another home run worth hitting before a Rox game. Then again, at the Vig’s multiple modern taverns, you can join the athlete ranks yourself with an assortment of lawn games. Just looking to raise a glass to your team of choice? Head to Downtown Phoenix’s Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. to find craft beverages like the RBI Lager Lager brewed locally in Arizona.
Read more: Heading to Rockies Spring Training? Here’s Where to Eat in Scottsdale, Arizona
The Caribbean (by Boat)
Direct flight to Orlando International Airport (MCO)
- Best for: The traveler eager to sea the Caribbean
- Because: Cruising is among the hottest trends in vacation travel for good reason.
Not only do these megaships allow vacationers to bop seamlessly from one tropical locale to another, they also turn the hassle of transit time into an opportunity to splash in an infinity pool, luxuriate in a traditional Balinese massage, or watch a Broadway-style show—or at least that’s what to expect with a voyage on the MSC Seashore. Itineraries leaving from Port Canaveral range from three nights in the Bahamas, with a stop at the Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, to 14 nights in the Bahamas, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands. The fun continues when the big ship docks thanks to a variety of excursion options like a seahorse sailing adventure in Nassau or a chance to count stalagmites in the Green Grotto Caves of Ocho Rios. Of course if you just want to lather up in SPF and lounge beachside, that’s certainly an option too.
Where to stay: That depends. If you’re splurging, choose the 1,055-square-foot MSC Yacht Club Owner’s Suite, complete with a balcony and private whirlpool bath. If you’re saving, go with the more humble, 161-square-foot Deluxe Interior room. And if you’re somewhere in between, certainly one of the other 14 options will suit.
What to eat: With 11 dining venues and 19 unique bars, the menu is your oyster. (Find those at luxury seafood spot Ocean Cay). Throughout the trip, be sure to savor Linz Heritage Angus beef al fresco at Butcher’s Cut and watch the mozzarella-making spectacle (and then sample the goods) at Marketplace Buffet and Restaurant. Blue corn nachos and Mezcal at Hola! Tacos & Cantina are must-tries too, along with at least one meal at the swanky Tribeca Restaurant. Wine, champagne, ice cream, and chocolate: The MSC Seashore has bars dedicated to each, but it’s the elegant rooftop Sky Bar that truly soars.
Providence, Rhode Island
Direct flight to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
- Best for: The traveler determined to give their kids an educational experience
- Because: You’re a parent committed to cramming some experiential learning into your kids’ week “off.”
Since you’re flying into Boston, history class is up first with visits to the Paul Revere House and Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum. But then, leave the buzz of Beantown behind and either hop a train or drive an hour out to Providence. Tour the ivy-covered grounds of Brown University, and then get red-y for a biology tutorial at the Roger Williams Park Zoo, where you’ll find a red panda, red wolf, red-footed tortoise, and red-crowned crane. Finally, art class involves a stroll through Rhode Island School of Design’s (RISD) art museum, which houses contemporary ceramics, ancient Grecian busts, and plenty of paintings, metalworking, and decorative jewelry among the more than 100,000 works in its galleries.
Where to stay: If all you need is a reasonable rate, comfy bed, central location, and free breakfast, book a stay at the Hampton Inn & Suites Providence Downtown. Or, class it up a notch with a stay at Neptune, a boutique hotel that boasts the city’s only private-room karaoke lounge—so you can squeeze in a quick music lesson.
What to eat: What isn’t to eat at Track 15, a just-opened food hall in an 1898 train station featuring flavors like the mole enchiladas from family-run Dolores and shrimp-centered casarecce from the two Rhode Island natives behind Giusto PVD. Parents, don’t miss Rhode Island’s official state beverage, coffee milk, a blend of coffee syrup or extract and (you guessed it) milk. Find it at Dave’s Coffee.
Amelia Island, Florida
Direct flight to Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)
- Best for: Those who want to experience a little bit of everything during their getaway
- Because: Florida is the spring break spot, but that doesn’t have to mean morning mimosas followed by day-drinking followed by bar-hopping. Amelia Island offers a culture-rich respite away from Florida’s hoards of not-so-sober college students.
Like any island vacation, a trip to this coastal gem offers plenty of opportunities to sip a fruity cocktail (do so at Sandbar), lounge on pristine stretches of sand (in this case, fine natural quartz that resembles grains of sugar), and bemoan the time wasted in Margaritaville.
However, given Amelia Island is the only place in the United States to have flown eight different flags of dominion, you’re bound to soak up some history along with the sun. Start your trip back in time at the Amelia Island Museum of History. Here, you’ll meet the Timucua people, descendants of Paleo-Indians who inhabited the island 4,000 years ago, as well as the French, Spanish, English, American, and still other nations that had a reigning presence on this 18-square-mile expanse. Fancy a more spirited dive into history? Join the museum’s 2.5-hour Pub Crawl that includes three to four stops at Fernandina’s historical pubs.
Civil War aficionados should be sure to tour Fort Clinch State Park, which was controlled by both Confederate and Union soldiers during different years of the Civil War. (Visit on the first weekend of the month to see a soldier garrison fire one of the powerful pieces of artillery.) American Beach, formerly a safe haven and beach destination for African Americans during Jim Crow–era Florida, is another historical touchpoint. Experience what founder A.L. Lewis (Florida’s first Black millionaire) called a place for “rest and relaxation without humiliation,” and then pay a visit to the A. L. Lewis Museum to dive deeper.
Where to stay: You can’t go wrong with the Four Diamond–rated Omni Amelia Island Resort & Spa, which boasts the largest pool deck in northeast Florida and a Pete Dye–designed championship golf course. To stick with the throwback theme, however, book a few nights at the Amelia Island Williams House, an award-winning bed-and-breakfast built in 1856 that historians believe served as a safe house on the Underground Railroad.
Where to eat: You could take the direct route from Jacksonville International Airport and arrive at Amelia Island within 30 minutes. Instead, opt for a more scenic drive (it’s just 30 minutes longer) along State Road A1A, which was lovingly renamed A1A Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway after Bubba’s passing in 2023. On this route, you’ll cruise right to the doorstep of Palms Fish Camp Restaurant, part of the Mayport Shrimp Trail (so you should definitely order the locally caught prawns). Once on the island, there are more than 100 restaurant options to choose from. For linen tablecloths and multiple courses, make a reservation at AAA Five Diamond restaurant Salt, located in the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island. Try the paella Valencia at España Restaurant & Tapas for a taste of the island’s Spanish heritage.
