With spring approaching, many destinations prepare for spectacular floral displays. Visit one of these cities this spring to enjoy some of nature’s most stunning blooms and seasonal events.
© City of Langford
Greater Victoria, British Columbia
From February through May, Greater Victoria is known for abundant spring florals, especially cherry blossoms. Streets such as View Street become corridors of pink and white as cherry trees erupt into bloom. The region also celebrates with community-focused events like the Greater Victoria Flower Count, typically held in March, where residents tally blossoms across neighborhoods to celebrate the season and crown the area’s most bloom-filled community.
Shizuoka, Japan
On the southern tip of the Izu Peninsula, mid-February to mid-March brings fields of rapeseed—known locally as Nanohana—that paint the landscape in vivid yellow. The contrast of bright rapeseed against coastal views creates a striking spring panorama. Nearby Atami, famous for its hot springs, hosts spring blossom festivals through mid-March, where plum and cherry blossoms bloom in shades of fuchsia, white and pale yellow for visitors to enjoy.
© Seokyoung Lee, Explore Shizuoka
Texas Hill Country, Texas
Spring turns the Texas Hill Country into one of the nation’s most impressive wildflower displays. Roads between Marble Falls, Burnet, Lampasas and San Saba become lined with a diverse mix of wildflowers, including bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, winecups, pink evening primroses, daisies, prairie verbena and goldeneye phlox. Scenic drives and local trails offer opportunities to see these blooms up close and to photograph sweeping color across pasture and roadside.
Madeira, Portugal
The Madeira Flower Festival, held each May, celebrates the island’s spring season with floral parades, stage performances and vibrant installations across Funchal. Since its start in 1979, the festival has featured folk music, concerts and elaborately decorated floats and costumes made from thousands of flowers. The procession and street displays offer a lively, cultural way to experience the island’s flora and traditions.
Los Angeles County, California
The Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve in Lancaster showcases fields of California poppies that carpet the landscape in brilliant orange, typically peaking from March into April. Nearby events, such as the California Poppy Festival held in late April, bring food, live entertainment and family-friendly activities to celebrate the season and highlight the iconic poppy blooms.
Whether you seek city parks filled with cherry blossoms, coastal fields painted yellow, hill country roads bursting with wildflowers, or island parades of floral art, these destinations offer memorable spring blooms and seasonal events worth planning a trip around.