For many of the world’s most famous mountain destinations, springtime can often be—for a lack of a better word—a dud. Snow is melting so skiing is no longer as exciting an option, but thawing mountains naturally leave a muddy trail in its wake, making activities like hiking more challenging, too. That’s why this two-ish-month springtime period is called: mud season. But not all mountain locales are made the same. Take the largest ski resort in North America: Whistler, British Columbia. In a lot of ways, unless you’re just begging for as much snow as possible to accommodate non-stop skiing, spring is a great time to be in this hilly hamlet tucked away in western Canada’s Coast Mountain range.
Warm weather and longer days seem to bring out the best of Whistler, where you can ski until mid-May (on softer snow, by the way) and ride on a mountain bike as soon as that ice starts melting. Congestion brought on by peak winter-travel season will have eased by then, as well, making it a lot easier to not only enjoy mountain pursuits but local life in the region, too. Many of Whistler’s best restaurants, for example, are nearly impossible to get into without booking well in advance during ski season, but that’s not the case at all in the spring. And overall, the much more relaxed atmosphere is enjoyed by all. And, unlike mountain resorts in other parts of the world, things don’t close in Whistler in the spring. So visiting from April to June won’t mean walking around a ghost town. In fact, springtime sees more locals out and about as Whistler’s resident black bears come out of hibernation.
Blackcomb Helicopters offers a heli-sightseeing tour that perfectly displays spring's contrasts: snow-capped peaks with lush foliage just beneath.
What makes Whistler such an exciting springtime destination is that it doesn’t shut down just because there is no longer as much snow. Depending on when you go, you might get to enjoy every type of mountain activity there is, including skiing. Whistler usually enjoys one of the longest ski seasons in North America, regardless of what winter precipitation looked like. Every spring, Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort stops lift operations on one mountain in mid-April, but weather-permitting, the other mountain will remain open until late May. For 2024, Whistler mountain will be available for skiing until May 20. (Blackcomb closed to start upgrading the Jersey Cream Express lift into a high-speed six-pack chair.)
If you enjoy sunny skiing and want to get a few runs in during your visit, you’ll want to go early in the morning to take advantage of groomed corduroys—most of which will turn into slush by noon. For enthusiasts who enjoy mountain thrills of all sorts, the final weekend you can
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Manhattan will turn even more magical this evening as a twice-per-summer solar spectacular brings a dazzling glow to the concrete jungle. It’s Manhattanhenge — theBig Apple’s take onStonehenge — a string of evenings when the sun sets in perfect alignment with the island’s street grid. The striking display draws thousands of spectators each summer.
The Albion hotel, which can lay claim to some of the best sea views on the island, has been welcoming guests to Freshwater Bay since Victorian times. It is about to reopen under new ownership after a multimillion-pound refurbishment. The new-look Albion will have 40 rooms, 36 of them sea-facing, including two suites, seven dog-friendly rooms and two accessible rooms. Some have roll-top baths and balconies or terraces. The Rock is its new 100-seater restaurant, which sources more than 90% of ingredients from the island, including garlic, tomatoes, fish, lobster and meat. A free shuttle bus drops off and picks up guests from local bars and restaurants. The hotel is about a 10-minute drive from Yarmouth ferry port.Opens in June, taking bookings for 19 June, doubles from £99 B&B (two‑night minimum), albionhotel.co.uk
For millennia, Salerno, Italy has been overshadowed by the nearby Amalfi Coast and big sister Naples—home to world-famous pizza, sea views, and art. Because the two cities enjoy the same tempered climate and rich traditions, Salerno is often affectionately referred to as “little Naples.” The main difference is that, despite recently becoming a tourist attraction once again, Salerno is blessed with less traffic.
Where the land of Fire and Ice meets the land of Warhol and Whiskey, the Southeastern city of Pennsylvania is even more accessible to UK & Ireland travellers. From today until 27 October 2024, the new seasonal Icelandair service will offer 4x weekly flights from Iceland to Pittsburgh.
At the southwest corner of Ishikawa, a verdant prefecture hugging the Sea of Japan, traditional craftsmanship thrives alongside contemporary art and architecture in the small towns that make up Kaga City.
It would be an understatement to say that there’s a lot more to do in Dublin than drink your weight in pints at Temple Bar — the city is rich with deep-rooted history and offers an incredible English literary scene that easily rivals any other big English-speaking city. The pint at the end of the day is really just a bonus.