You don’t need to be a nature expert to appreciate the seas of colorful flowers that mark the end of winter each year. Some of the world’s biggest and best spring flower blooms are in travel-worthy spots like national parks and famous cities. Here’s where to head for a breathtaking dose of color in spring.
Where to See Spring Flower Blooms
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Shibazakura Bloom: Mount Fuji, Japan
Every April and May, pink-hued flowers blanket the meadows at the base of Mount Fuji. The Shibazakura Festival marks the occasion, drawing crowds who stroll through the electric-pink fields and snack at the many local food stalls that set up to offer Japanese buns, ramen, soups, and more. During the peak spring flower bloom this is one of the most photogenic places in the world, and it has plenty of local cuisine to keep your stomach full.
Shibazakura Bloom: Mount Fuji, Japan
Every April and May, pink-hued flowers blanket the meadows at the base of Mount Fuji. The Shibazakura Festival marks the occasion, drawing crowds who stroll through the electric-pink fields and snack at the many local food stalls that set up to offer Japanese buns, ramen, soups, and more. During the peak spring flower bloom this is one of the most photogenic places in the world, and it has plenty of local cuisine to keep your stomach full.
Southern California Wildflower Super Blooms
Southern California's parks are home to many different types of spring flower blooms, and they come to life earlier than most thanks to the region's warm climate. Death Valley National Park and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park are popular for yellow and purple desert flowers that peek through the cracked desert floor as early as March. The Antelope Valley's California Poppy Reserve becomes a sea of yellow, orange, and red poppies around April—and can look like a scene straight out of the Wizard of Oz. Bonus: The small orange variation of poppy happens to be the state flower of California.
The Flower Bulb Region: Holland
If rainbow palettes of tulips don't come to mind when you think of the Netherlands, it’s time to venture beyond Amsterdam. Spring is a great time to head into the countryside to discover windmill-dotted fields of bright tulips, which often bloom as late as May. The Flower Bulb Region is home to vast tulip farms as well as public gardens like the Keukenhof—one of the largest botanical gardens in the world, and home to seven million flowers.
Wildflower Trails of Western Australia
Take your pick of Western Australia's incredible array of wildflower trails in September—the southern hemisphere's spring. Guided or self-driven spring flower bloom tours are available in wildflower-blanketed Perth, along the Coral Coast, and as far north as Pilbara. Options include the Esperance Wildflower Trail, wild orchids south of Perth, and rainbow desert blooms in Broome to the north.
Valley of Flowers National Park: Uttarakhand, India
India's Valley of Flowers is both a National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage site thanks to its six miles of alpine flowers and rare protected wildlife. Nestled between the Himalayas and the sacred Ganges River in Uttarakhand, the valley has 1,000 different species of flowers, including daisies, poppies, rhododendrons, lavender, and more. Hike along its waterways and through pastures blanketed in spring flower blooms—just keep an eye out for Himalayan black bears.
Monet’s House and Gardens: Giverny, France
Claude Monet's mesmerizing flowers don't only exist in paintings. Get a good look at the lavender and lily pad-filled settings that inspired his works in Giverny, France, where you can visit the Impressionist artist's house and gardens. The grounds are separated into two main gardens: one around the house that includes an orchard and bulb flowers like daffodils, and the other an enchanting Japanese water garden across the street.
Texas Hill Country
Combine wildflowers and wineries in Texas Hill Country, west of bustling Houston. Spring flower blooms come early to the Lone Star State, so you can get a jump start on summer by heading to Fredericksburg or Brenham to see the region's famed bluebonnets—which the nearby Bluebonnet Wine Trail is named for. Stop at wineries and spot classic Texan ranches along the way for the ultimate road trip.
Kew Gardens: London, England
Spring flower blooms don't have to require a trek from the city, especially if you're in London. The U.K. capital has an abundance of gardens that come to life every spring, and Kew Royal Botanic Gardens is London's largest UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its 300 acres house 27,000 colorful plants, and are thick with tulips, poppies, peonies, and cherry blossoms each spring. The gardens even offer educational horticulture and photography courses so you can identify species or just get the perfect shot.
Tidal Basin: Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.'s Tidal Basin is famously popular in spring for the thousands of cherry trees gifted to the park by the mayor of Tokyo, Japan, over a century ago. The pink and white buds explode into peak bloom all at once in a matter of just a few days, typically in March or April.
More from SmarterTravel:
- Why Are Flowers Blooming in the Driest Desert on Earth?
- 10 Great American Day Hikes
- 27 Amazing Natural Wonders in Asia
Associate Editor Shannon McMahon writes about all things travel. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
