Where to travel in March

March, as they say, comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. While that old meteorological proverb isn’t always accurate, it does get at the month’s transitional nature—just on the cusp between the chilly winter and nature’s burst back to life. As many travelers head out of town on spring breaks, they have their pick of two very different experiences: embracing the last gasps of snow on the ski slopes, or heading for literally greener pastures, in the form of tropical beaches or gardens in full bloom. Here, 10 March adventures for every type of traveler.

Average temp: 68ºF high, 42ºF low

Cherry blossom season in D.C. may get most of the attention come spring, but California’s Central Valley has its own photogenic display when its almond, peach, and apricot trees erupt into delicate white and pink flowers. (The blossoms often peak from late February through mid-March, and the University of California has a lineup of the best driving routes.) Surrounded by this botanical display is underrated Merced, an agricultural hub that’s proving to be the little city that could, with a revitalized downtown that includes the Merced Multicultural Arts Center and Mainzer, an Art Deco cinema that hosts live music, drag shows, and trivia nights.

The coolest spot in town is the renovated El Capitan Hotel, which was built to serve travelers on their way to Yosemite in the '20s, about a 90-minute drive away on CA-140 E. The best way to experience Merced’s robust farming community is to enjoy the valley’s spoils at spots like the Merced Fruit Barn, which is also home to barnyard animals and exotic birds, and Vista Ranch, a vineyard and farmstand with an outdoor pizza oven.

Average temp: 82ºF high, 59ºF low

One of the best times to visit this wine region, which is known for its bold Malbecs, is in March, during the Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia. The massive harvest festival includes the crowning of a queen, a gaucho-filled parade, and a show in the Teatro Griego Frank Romero Day, a Greek-style amphitheater. To get in the spirit, you’ll want to book a stay at the new Susana Balbo Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites, which was opened in 2022 by one of the region’s pioneering female winemakers and her daughter.

In November 2023, Michelin announced its first Argentine guide, and it awarded four restaurants in Mendoza with one star: Azafrán Restó, where chef Sebastián Weigandt offers a contemporary take on classic dishes like Tomaticán stew (typically made with beef, tomatoes, corn, and onions); Brindillas Restaurant, which is revered for its modernist tasting menus; Casa Vigil, located on the vineyard of Alejando Vigil (a.k.a. “the Messi of Wine”); and Zonda Cocina de Paisaje, which shares land at Lagarde winery with organic fruit and vegetable gardens and olive groves that provide ingredients for simple, elegant meals.

Average temp: 82ºF high, 59ºF low

The Yucatán Peninsula’s boho beach enclave welcomed a shiny new international airport in December 2023, and March kicks off a slew of new direct flights from U.S. airports like Atlanta, Houston, and Chicago making it easier than ever to get to the beach. If you’re among that first wave of American tourists, you may be battling crowds, but there’s a reason March falls during the high season: Temperatures are moderate, humidity is low, and rain tends to stay away.

Returning guests will be impressed by the town’s newest resorts, like the sophisticated Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya and Secrets Tulum Resort & Beach Club, an adults-only all-inclusive with cenote-inspired architecture. Spring’s pleasant weather is a fantastic excuse to spend all your time off the beach, too, exploring wonders like the cliffside Tulum Archaeological Site, the magical Gran Cenote (a natural limestone sinkhole you can swim in), and Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s home to such tropical wildlife as crocodiles, spider monkeys, manatees, and even elusive jaguars.

Average temp: 88ºF high, 72ºF low

Dominica feels very different from its neighbors in the Caribbean, thanks to its rugged landscape of volcanic peaks, virgin rainforests, and black-sand beaches. The surrounding waters are one of the few places in the world where you can see sperm whales year round, and the island nation recently announced it would be establishing the planet’s first marine reserve dedicated to protecting these school-bus-sized creatures. While on the island, you can go on a whale-watching tour with Waitukubuli Adventure Tour Co., a family-owned outfitter that also offers experiences like snorkeling over bubbling underwater geothermal springs, hiking to the tallest waterfall in the Eastern Caribbean, or visiting with the Indigenous Kalinago community.

March also kicks off the start of sea turtle season, when you can spot leatherbacks, hawksbills, and green turtles coming ashore at night to lay their eggs in the sand. At Rosalie Bay Eco Resort & Spa, you can often see turtles right outside your front door, and while here, you can go on educational turtle walks, aid in conservation efforts, and join in scheduled assisted hatchling releases.

Average temp: 57ºF high, 36ºF low

Celebrate Women’s History Month with a visit to the Eastern Shore of Maryland, the stomping grounds of one of America’s fiercest heroines, Harriet Tubman, who was not only an abolitionist and Underground Railroad “conductor” but also an activist for women’s suffrage and even a Union Army spy. (No wonder she gets called “the Moses of her people.”) With its crab shacks and wildlife-filled marshes, this area marks the start of the 125-mile Tubman Byway, which winds for 98 miles up through Delaware and into Philadelphia and includes 40-plus points of interest. The showstopper is the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park, which opened in 2017 and includes exhibits about the people she rescued from enslavement and bronze statues depicting both quiet and heroic moments from her life.

Elsewhere, you can pay your respects at a sign that marks the site of her birth or drop by the Bucktown General Store, now a reservations-required museum, where in 1835 the shopkeeper threw an iron weight at a teenage Tubman’s head that left her with seizures and headaches for the rest of her life. To see her at her most triumphant, be sure to stop by the Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center for a photo of the instantly iconic “Take My Hand” mural by Dorchester County artist Michael Rosato.

Average temp: 80ºF high, 61ºF low

March marks the premiere of the new Apple TV+ series Palm Royale, about an underdog played by Kristen Wiig who tries to break into high society in 1969 Palm Beach. (The rest of the ensemble cast includes Ricky Martin, Laura Dern, Allison Janney, and Carol Burnett.) It’s not hard to get in that glamorous mid-century spirit yourself at places like The Colony Hotel, a pink palace that first debuted in 1947, and Worth Avenue, a palm-lined shopping district with Mediterranean Revival buildings designed by legendary architect Addison Mizner.

You could almost imagine the show’s ladies who lunch wandering through the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum, which occupies the Gilded Age estate of the founder of Standard Oil, and then taking afternoon tea in the Railcar 91 Tea Room. And when you’re done, save time to explore the gardens at The Society of the Four Arts, which were established in the 1930s and are still filled with lush tropical foliage.

For something completely different, late February and most of March also mean Major League Baseball Spring Training in this region; as part of the Grapefruit League, the Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros train at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach.

Average temp: 70ºF high, 50ºF low

Savannah is one of the best spots in the country to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, and 2024 marks the 200th anniversary of the holiday’s public observance in Georgia’s oldest city. The most colorful part of the festivities is the Greening of the Fountain in Forsyth Park, which transforms the 19th-century landmark and its four spouting triton figures with the use of buckets of emerald-hued dye. The city also hosts a parade that winds through the many historic squares that make this urban landscape unique. Tip: You can watch the parade from your balcony or the front porch of the Foley House Inn, which occupies one of the corners of Chippewa Square.

Savannah Tours and Tales also hosts a 90-minute, Irish-themed walking tour, with stops at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and Colonial Park Cemetery. During your visit to these parts, you’ll of course want to stop by one of the many Celtic-tinged watering holes, including O’Connell’s Irish Pub, which is decked out with Irish sports memorabilia year round, and McDonough’s Restaurant & Lounge, a favorite karaoke spot for locals. May we suggest some U2?

Average temp: 37ºF high, 19ºF low

Located on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, the ski town of Niseko sits in the shadow of volcanic Mount Yotei, which often gets called the “Mount Fuji of the North” because of its uncanny resemblance to the iconic peak. The surrounding area is among the snowiest places on Earth, seeing an average of 45 feet—yes, feet—of powder a year, and while much of that falls in January and February, March is an ideal time to take advantage of smaller crowds on the slopes and in the village at the four resorts: Grand Hirafu, which is thrumming with energy and most developed; Niseko Village, which is a bit more intimate and perfect for more advanced skiers; Annupuri, which is old-school and less touristy; and Hanazono, which also offers non-skiing adventure activities, like snowmobiling and guided snowshoe tours.

Come March, the likelihood of clearer bluebird days increases, though you can also experience the mountain after dark, when the slopes are illuminated for night skiing. And, of course, there’s just as much to enjoy off the mountain, including a slew of traditional onsens (hot springs) like Goshiki and Yukichichibu.

Average temp: 49ºF high, 33ºF low

The Bavarian capital will forever be synonymous with Oktoberfest, but it’s not the only beer festival to hit Munich’s cultural calendar each year. Come March, the city celebrates Starkbierzeit, or “strong beer season,” which traces its roots to the 16th century, when Paulaner monks began brewing heartier beers—nicknamed “liquid bread”—to get them through the Lenten fasting season. Running from March 1 to 24 this year, the festival will be held at Paulaner Nockherberg, where you can schedule a brewery tour, book a three-course dinner with master brewer Uli Schindler, or simply relax with a five-sample or ten-sample beer tasting.

Elsewhere around town, you can try Starkbierzeit at classic beer halls like Löwenbräukeller and Augustiner-Keller and continue your ale-themed vacation with a stay at Jugend- and Familienhotel Augustin: Located just across from the Oktoberfest grounds, it’s a sleek hotel with stylish bunk rooms and Augustiner Bräu bottles artfully integrated into its decor.

Average temp: 63ºF high, 50ºF low

If you’re the kind of person who can’t get enough of the fall (you know who you are!), relive the magic by heading south of the equator, where March marks autumn’s start. Tasmania has historically been nicknamed the Apple Isle, and the Huon Valley, located about a half hour’s drive south of Hobart, is an agricultural hotspot known for growing some of the crispest, sweetest apples around, which are harvested here between February and May. You can enjoy the valley’s treasures at U-pick orchards or cideries like Willie Smith’s Apple Shed Huon Valley, Frank’s Cider House and Cafe, and Pagan Cider.

While here, plan a meal at The Kiln, a new restaurant in Ranelagh housed in an old wooden barn that was once used to dry hops; its wide-ranging menu includes dishes like Nepalese spiced soybean salad and confit wallaby, and the owners recently unveiled a new B&B, the Clifton Homestead next door. Beyond apples, the valley is also home to a high concentration of platypus, and while these duck-billed critters have a reputation for being elusive, you can often spot them in the town of Geeveston at the riverside Platypus Walk.