This post was updated on April 21, 2023

Spring has a way of invigorating us, emerging from the bleak, cold winter to spread its sunshine and warmth upon us. For this reason, it’s an especially popular time to travel. Pleasant temperatures and daylight once again last past early evening. Nature too, recognizes this primal shift. Flowers force their way upward, and bare boughs coating themselves with greenery to soak up the rays.

So this spring, why not make like the trees, and leave? (Cue the groans). To give you a taste of spring, we’ve handpicked some of the planets best public gardens and wildflower destinations to view in springtime. So, put away your trowel for a few minutes, and let’s go gardening!

Villa D’Este Gardens — Rome

These magnificent Renaissance style gardens in Rome have it all! In the  Villa D’Este Gardens, you’ll find pristine lawns, mosaic detailed grottos, and imposing sculptures. And you’ll see amazing water features that truly steal the show. Dancing water flumes delight at the Neptune Fountain. Gargoyles gurgle along the length of the famed One Hundred Fountain display. The Water Organ, powered only by water and air, is not only a technical marvel, but a sight and sound to behold.

Next, visit the Palace that perches atop the property. Then, gaze down over the terraced masterpiece and the valley beyond. Hunt for Pegasus in the Oval Fountain display. Or, watch the owl terrorize the bronze birds on the water-driven Owl Fountain. These gardens can be serene, but also powerful. The roar from the Neptune fountains complex can actually be deafening, with water peaking at almost 80 feet above you!

National Cherry Blossom Festival — Washington, D.C.

Head down to our nation’s capital for some spring fun — with a capital ‘C’ for cherry! In March or April, head on down to Washington, D.C. to celebrate spring at the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Each year, more than a million blossom-hunting visitors descend upon D.C. intent on seeing peak blooms. The Yoshino Cherry trees, a gift from the Mayor of Tokyo, date back to 1912 and surround the Tidal Basin. When over 70% of the buds are deemed to be open, the National Park Service declares peak bloom!

Keukenhof Gardens — Lisse, Netherlands

Nothing says spring like tulips! With over 800 different varieties of tulip on display in an amazingly crafted 79 acres of land, the Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse, Netherlands is a spring treat. This park you have to see to believe — and it’s not just tulips!

The Garden of Europe, as it’s often called, has mesmerized dignitaries and regular citizens for centuries. Located southwest of Amsterdam in the small picturesque town of Lisse, the gardens are open to the public from mid-March to mid-May. Displays reach their colorful peak in April.

Atlanta Botanical Gardens

Be one with nature in truly exotic style when you visit the Atlanta Botanical Gardens display, Orchid Daze. This wonderful Atlanta facility bursts into life with spring’s arrival. Thousands of fascinating and unusual flowers bloom to life within the largest orchid center in the United States. With so many imaginative and creative displays, the gardens promise a unique work of art each spring. There are so many gardens for you to explore, you may be surprised at what else you find!

You may also enjoy: 8 Best Places to See Cherry Blossoms in the USA

Eyrignac Manor Gardens — Dordogne, France

Nestled in the southwest of France, the bountiful Dordogne area lies between the Loire Valley and the Pyrenees mountain range. When you visit, you’ll find a seemingly endless supply of castles and scenery. The Eyrignac Manor Gardens is famed for its topiary — the art of clipping shrubs or trees into ornamental shapes. Topiary displays are perfect for those who like a little bit of order in their gardens.

Meticulously trimmed bushes in shapes ranging from spirals, arabesques, box cones, and more line this breathtaking property. You’ll want to dash to your shed and sharpen those rusty old shears when you get home! The French Garden combines shapes with brightly colored sand and seasonal spring blooms for the ultimate ornate look. The Kitchen Garden and the Flower Garden follow a somewhat less regimented style. Bunches of veggies and roses will vie for your attention.

Picacho Peak State Park — Pinal County, Arizona

As you might expect from a southwestern state, Arizona wildflowers bloom within a desert palette in various shades of yellow, red, orange, and bronze. The most vivid wildflowers are probably the sprawling perennials that dot everything from highways to rugged red canyons. When you visit, you’ll find brittlebush, desert globemallows, and Mexican gold poppies there. Additionally, you’ll see annuals like African daises that don’t tolerate the summer heat very well. But, they’re beautiful while they last. Between April and June, head to Picacho Peak State Park to see the most beautiful wildflowers and scenic hikes.

Chele La Nature Trek — Paro, Bhutan

If you’re traveling to Bhutan, you won’t want to miss the annual arrival of blue poppies, the country’s national flower. Blue poppies are just as bright and cute as they sound. So, plan your trip for June or July to see them carpeting the peaks and valleys of the Himalayas. Also, you’ll experience a rainbow of other wildflowers along tourist destinations like the Chele La Nature Trek. Look for red rhododendrons, yellow buttercups, white orchids, and purple violets. They’re all spring and summer species, but be warned that their staying power often depends on the elevation in the mountains.

Old Wood — Norfolk, England

Fun fact: Despite their name, bluebells aren’t always blue. They can deepen to shades of deep violet or fade to shades of pale lavender. This can result in a wonderful gradient of color when bluebells blossom in the fields and woodlands of the United Kingdom. You can find them pretty much everywhere, including England, Wales, and Northern Island. So don’t worry about missing out if you’re going across the pond.

Since these wildflowers are hallmarks of warmer weather, they’re strongly associated with springtime. And, many travel destinations start putting out “bluebell watches” in April and May. The U.K.’s National Trust even makes an annual list of the best places to view them. Among the best parks is Old Wood, where you’ll see sculptures galore. Plus, you’ll only around 15 minutes away from the seaside town of Sheringham.

Killarney National Park — Ireland

Ireland’s rhododendrons are so beautiful that you might be surprised to learn that they’re considered an invasive species. They weren’t introduced to the country until the 18th century. But, these frisky flowers proved so prolific that they quickly drove out other plant life. It’s an issue that persists to this day.

Well, anyway, they sure are lovely. When you stroll through the hills of somewhere like Killarney National Park, you’ll likely see pink and purple rhododendrons and nothing else. The good news is that it’s a gorgeous sight that you can enjoy from mid-May to mid-June. The bad news is that the Irish really want to get rid of it. They’ve even suggested calling in the army to destroy the thick and “jungle-like” fields of rhododendrons. Don’t delay your wildflower tour or you might be too late to see them!

Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve — Sacramento, California

Antelope Valley is home to bright yellow-orange poppies that look like fire across the Mojave Desert. In fact, there’s an entire Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, a protected area where the poppies are encouraged to flourish. It can be a tricky to catch them since conditions have to be just right for poppies to bloom. And even then, they’ll only stick around for a couple of weeks between late March and mid-April. If you’re fortunate enough to catch them, however, it’ll be a sight that you won’t soon forget. There’s a reason why poppies are California’s official flower.

Have you ever been to any of these wildflower destinations? Tell us about it in the comments below!