The 12 Top Destinations for April 2023

Festivals showcasing culinary, artistic, and musical talents abound with the arrival of spring alongside the blooming flowers and warmer temperatures. It's possible to get in one last ski or snowboarding session, see some tropical flora, and then say goodbye to winter. Taking a trip in April is a great way to beat the summer crowds and save money by visiting a destination during the shoulder season. Here are 12 of the top destinations in the US and abroad to visit in April.

Corresponding: The Top 50 Travel Destinations for 2023

Dallas enjoys springtime temperatures in the seventies, with plenty of sunshine and a smattering of April showers. Throughout the month of April, Dallas hosts Arts Month to honor its local creatives, and the Dallas Museum of Art hosts year-long celebrations of its 120th anniversary with themed exhibits. Both the Dallas Arts Fair (April 20-23) and the Dallas International Film Festival (April 28-May 4) will be held in the city. The Latin American Cultural Center will also host Origines/Origins, and the Dallas Black Dance Theater will present Encore! Rising Excellence this spring. Keep the momentum going with a stay at HALL Arts Hotel in the Arts District, complete with Ellie's Restaurant & Lounge and a plethora of visual art throughout the building. You could also stay at The Statler, Dallas, a luxurious Art Deco hotel, or The Adolphus, a Beaux-Arts establishment in the heart of the city's historic district. Travel in comfort on JSX, the hop-on jet service that has expanded to Dallas.

Mill Ridge Farm, located in Lexington, is a great place to visit in April to see stunning horses and gain insight into the breeding process. The Spring Meet at Keeneland, featuring Thoroughbred racing, runs from April 7th through the 28th. Bourbon is another Lexington institution; visitors can tour distilleries and have a drink with the experts at Justins' House of Bourbon, a cozy dive bar. Take a tour of the James E. Pepper Distillery and taste some of their spirits, shop for unique items, and relax with a craft beer or al fresco meal in the Distillery District. The nearby Manchester Hotel, soon to open, will no doubt become the preferred lodging option for visitors to the expanding Distillery District. For the time being, you can rest at the Origin Hotel or the 21c Museum Hotel in the heart of the city.

Located on Florida's Gulf Coast, the city of Tampa is known for its bustling downtown and beautiful Riverwalk along the Hillsborough River. With April's highs reaching the 80s, a trip to the beach is also in the cards. From April 12-15, the first-ever Tampa Bay Wine & Food Festival will be held. Take a walking tour through Tampa's historic Ybor City to see old buildings and hear interesting tales about the city's time as the world's cigar capital. Hotel Haya is a boutique hotel in Ybor City that was built in the 1950s. Hotel options in the downtown area include the J.W. Marriott Water Street and the Tampa EDITION, both of which feature high-end amenities and beautiful river views.  

More than a thousand islands make up this country in the Indian Ocean, and April is one of the best months to visit because of the warm weather and low rainfall. This area is very popular for snorkeling and scuba diving due to the coral reefs, clear waters, and abundance of marine life. You can choose from opulent hotels like One&Only Reethi Rah, where the signature patterns of renowned designer Missoni can be found throughout the resort and at the resort's private Beach Club. JOALI BEING, normally a wellness retreat just for adults, is hosting a "Joy of Being Retreat" for families with children from March 24 to May 10 on its private island. Other options for a tropical getaway include the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, JOALI Maldives, Ritz-Carlton Fari Islands, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, and St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort.

Ski season in the Adirondacks of upstate New York typically ends around the beginning of spring. Lake Placid, one of many small towns in the area, is notable because it hosted the Winter Olympics in both 1932 and 1980. Additional winter activities consist of sledding, ice skating, backcountry skiing, and cross-country skiing. There's also plenty to see and do in nearby cities like Saranac Lake, Speculator, Lake George, and Saratoga Springs. Skiing is possible on Whiteface Mountain's 86 trails and 11 lifts from November through April, across its nearly 300 skiable acres. Eastwind Lake Placid offers cabins and suites, and the elegant Grand Adirondack Hotel under Whiteface Mountain is the perfect base of operations.

During the Cherry Blossom Festival, held in Japan from April 1–23, more than 40 thousand cherry trees are decorated with white and pink blossoms to signal the arrival of spring. Visitor to Vancouver can take advantage of free guided walks that show off the city's neighborhoods, its colorful blossoms, and other trees lining the city's streets. VanDusen Botanical Garden is where you should go to see more spring blooms. In April, Vancouver's whale watching season peaks, and visitors can see humpbacks, gray whales, and killer whales from the water. Ski season continues into May in Whistler, less than 80 miles away, and for a unique experience, Uncharted Society offers a fully guided ice-fishing and Ski-Doo adventure (April is an ideal time for this outdoor adventure, with plenty of thick powder for Ski-Doo fun and fish just waking up for spring)

The city of Chiang Mai, about 400 miles north of Bangkok, was founded in the late 13th century, and its Old City is surrounded by ancient walls that contain historical temples, shops, and more. Warorot Market, where the city's famed handiwork can be purchased, is a must-see for anyone visiting the city. Doi Suthep-Pui and Inthanon National Parks in Thailand are home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. The annual Songkran Festival, celebrated in Thailand on the weekend of April 13-15, takes place in April because of the month's typically dry, hot, and humid conditions. As part of a ritual meant to usher in a fresh start and abundant blessings for the coming year, celebrants spray each other with water during the New Year's Water Festival, also known as the "Water Splashing Festival." The new InterContinental Chiang Mai Mae Ping, located in the historic district, highlights the work of local craftspeople. In the nearby foothills sits the brand-new five-star Aleenta Chiang Mai, which features suites, pool villas, and a four-bedroom residence with its own private pool.

It is about a four-hour drive from Salt Lake City to beautiful Moab, with plenty of opportunities to stop and take in the scenery at places like Canyonlands National Park, Thanksgiving Point, and the dinosaur exhibits at Moab Giants. In April, temperatures reach nearly 70 degrees, making for ideal hiking conditions amidst beautiful wildflowers and vistas. Moab is a quaint town with plenty to see and do, including eateries, shops, watering holes, and even a museum. From March 30-October 30, 2018, newcomer Under Canvas brand ULUM offers a posh take on the camping classic with its first season. 23 Upscale dining, wellness programming, stargazing, evening s'mores by terraced firepits, and more are all available at these safari-themed tents that have all the comforts of a five-star hotel.

April in New Orleans brings pleasant temperatures in the 70s and a slew of exciting festivals, such as the world-famous New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, which runs from April 28 to May 7 and features 14 stages, food vendors, and top-name performers. The French Quarter Festival runs from April 13 to 16, but music can be heard daily from Bourbon Street to Frenchmen Street, in jazz clubs and on street corners, thanks to the abundance of local musicians. Indulge in regional favorites like po'boys and beignets in the intermission. Visit the historic French Quarter and stay at the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans or the riverfront One11. The Residence at The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans is a two-bedroom penthouse suite with a dining room, kitchen, outdoor terrace, and access to the hotel's exclusive Club Level for the ultimate in luxury accommodations.

April is a wonderful time to visit Italy because of the longer days and warmer temperatures that come with spring. On Easter Sunday (April 9), locals celebrate with family by going to church, having brunch together, and trading chocolate Easter eggs (though some businesses may be closed due to the public holiday). Ride a vaporetto (a water bus) down the Grand Canal to Lido Island's beach or Murano, Italy. The five-star Sina Centurion Palace overlooks the Grand Canal and is located in the Dorsoduro neighborhood, just steps from the Rialto Bridge. The four-star Sina Palazzo Sant'Angelo is also conveniently located in this area. You can also stay at another five-star establishment, the St. Regis Venice. The Grand Hotel Tremezzo on Lake Como reopens for the season on March 26, with brand new suites and even a pair of penthouses, so if you have some extra time, it would be worth it to take a detour there.

Punta Cana, on the Dominican Republic's east coast, has pleasant, dry weather in April, making it a great destination for a wide variety of beach activities like snorkeling, surfing, fishing, parasailing, and lounging. Falcon's Resort by Meliá is the newest addition to Punta Cana's extensive roster of all-inclusive resorts. Katmandu Park, based on the original Falcon's Beyond franchise The Hidden Realms of Katmandu, will debut on March 15 as part of the $350 million entertainment complex. Falcon's Central Punta Cana, a shopping, dining, and entertainment hub, will be built in the near future.

In April, Los Cabos offers perfect weather, whale watching, gorgeous resorts, and fabulous dining. Pop-up dinners at the resort's cliffside restaurant Agua pay homage to Mexican culture through the Culinary Art Series, hosted by acclaimed young chefs from Mexico. Chef Jess Escalera of Restaurant La Postrera in Guadalajara will be the March guest, and Chef Luis Palmeros of Restaurant El Cuarto Blanco in Veracruz will be the April guest as the series continues through 2023. The Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal offers guests the opportunity to sample the flavors of Mexico without leaving the resort with TRAVESA at Su Cocina, a nine-course menu featuring tacos that showcase the diversity of Mexican cuisine. Peacock Alley's Agave Study delves into the history of agave liquors with samples of tequila and mezcal from the Mexican states of Jalisco and Oaxaca.