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10Best: March Travel Picks
Spring Skiing at Mammoth
The ski season at California's Mammoth Mountain often lasts well into June, so March skiing shouldn't pose a problem. An annual average of 400 inches of snow and 300 days of sunshine means blue bird conditions are likely. Non-skiers and snowboarders can partake in a whole host of other winter activities, including tubing, snowmobiling, snowcat tours and scenic gondola rides.
Farewell to Winter in Portland, Ore.
While March still sees cold temperatures in and a fair amount of rain in Portland, tourist crowds are scant and you're likely to find good deals on accommodation. Plus, Portland is teeming with ways to warm up and escape the drizzle (coffee, anyone?). March is Portland Dining Month, with top eateries around town offering three course set menus for $29, and the Portland Timbers soccer team will be kicking off their season with games at downtown's Providence Park.
Holders Season in Barbados
With a year-round tropical climate, Barbados knows no winter, and that's why the island is such a popular destination for North American snowbirds during March. While smack dab in the middle of peak season, this month is still a great time to visit, thanks in part to Holders Season, one of the biggest cultural festivals in the Caribbean.
Attorney Up in Albuquerque
With the new Breaking Bad spinoff Better Call Saul well into its first season (and already renewed for a second), visitors to sunny Albuquerque can retrace the steps of everybody's favorite attorney as episodes are airing or revisit iconic locations from the original series. Albuquerque Restaurant Week takes place mid-month, with great deals on multi-course meals at some of the city's best restaurants.
Chicago Dyed Green
While it's still chilly in Chicago in March, the city's many museums offer plenty of activity and entertainment in heated comfort. Hotel rates remain low for most of the month, and traveling Irish (or Irish at heart) can see the Chicago River died green for the annual Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 14.
Amsterdam in Bloom
Amsterdam begins to defrost in March, and the longer days and warmer temperatures make spring an excellent time to visit. On particularly chilly days, Amsterdam's cozy cafes and excellent museums offer a warm respite. March visitors might get lucky and experience an early tulip bloom; Keukenhof, the world's largest flower garden, opens in the third week in March.
Photo courtesy of Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions
Spring Fiesta in New Orleans
Visitors to New Orleans in March get to see a historic side of the city rarely open to the public. During the annual Spring Fiesta in the second half of the month, French Quarter homes, courtyards and azalea-filled gardens open for tours, and with highs in the low 70s, the weather is just about ideal for spending time outdoors nibbling on beignets with coffee at Cafe du Monde.
An Eventful Month in Boston
Boston enjoys a packed events calendar in March, starting with Boston Restaurant Week during the first half of the month and the Boston Massacre reenactment at the Old State House on March 7. The city then hosts the nation's second biggest St. Patrick's Day Parade in the nation (after New York) on March 15 in South Boston.
Pre-Spring Break in Orlando
Visitors to Orlando in March will not only beat most of the spring break crowds, they'll also enjoy pleasant temperatures in the 60s and 70s. Orlando Bike Week takes place early in the month for those looking for a dose of leather and chrome, as does the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival with its colorful character topiaries at Walt Disney World Resort.
Grape Harvest in Mendoza
March means autumn in Argentina, and that means grape harvest season in the Mendoza wine country. Hop on a bike or on the Bus Vitivinícola to sip your way through some of the area's numerous wineries when they're at their most active. The 2015 Grape Harvest Festival takes place in Mendoza City during the first 10 days of the month.
Photo courtesy of Ivonne Wierink
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