Spring is a time of renewal. Rise from your long winter's sleep to take advantage of adventures in destinations spanning from New England to California. Special packages and festivals target family fun, springtime flair, wine & food, music, sports and more.
Build a trip around these spring sojourns:
Sonoma International Film Festival, Sonoma County, Calif., April 6-10: Set amidst the unparalleled beauty of the Sonoma Valley wine country, the 14th Annual Sonoma International Film Festival welcomes filmmakers and film lovers to a sun-drenched, luxurious extended weekend, pairing great food, fine wine and more than 64 new independent films from around the world. Film presentations at a variety of venues including the historic Sebastiani Theatre on the Sonoma town plaza will include: world cinema, feature length narratives, documentaries, shorts and a student film program. For more information, call (707) 933-2600 or visit www.sonomafilmfest.org.
Seabreeze Jazz Festival, Panama City Beach, Fla., April 14–17: Panama City Beach’s Pier Park hosts award-winning artists for the annual Seabreeze Jazz Festival, offering three days of continuous jazz, a dinner cruise, a golf tournament and much more. The 2011 lineup consists of Festival Host Nick Colionne as well as Roman Street and The Sax Pack, including Kim Kashiwa, Steve Cole and Kim Waters. Ticket prices vary. For more information, visit www.seabreezejazzfestival.net.
North Charleston Arts Festival, Charleston, S.C., April 29-May 7: This spectacular celebration of the arts draws close to 30,000 visitors each year. The nine-day event spotlights various local, national and international artists with an array of free and ticketed exhibits, street festivals, performances, craft booths and fun for the whole family. For more information, visit www.northcharleston.org.
WaterFire, Providence, Rhode Island, from May through October: An award-winning art installation which kicks off in May and features 100 bonfires that wind through the three rivers of downtown Providence. This exhibit is coupled with the fragrant scent of aromatic wood smoke and is synchronized with dance performances and music from around the world. For more information, visit www.waterfire.org.
Santa Fe Native Treasures Indian Arts Festival, N.M., May 28, 29: This world famous Indian Arts Festival will feature over 180 established and emerging artists from Native American pueblos and tribes. Held on a late May weekend, this festival benefits the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture. For more information, visit www.nativetreasuressantafe.org.
Spring Town Point Virginia Wine Festival, Norfolk, Va.: The 5th Annual Spring Town Point Virginia Wine Festival, May 7, takes place at the city’s downtown waterfront park and will showcase more than 20 Virginia wineries (one of the fastest growing wine regions in the world) in addition to local gourmet fare, live music and special boating packages. General admission tickets start at only $15. For more information, visit www.visitnorfolktoday.com.
The 78th Annual Historic Garden Week, Mt. Gilead, Va.: Virginia will put more than 400 years of historic architecture and blooms on display during this week-long touring event, April 16-23. It is the oldest and largest statewide event of its kind and dubbed "America’s Largest Open House" for good reason. These dates mark the one time of year when nearly 250 of Virginia's grand southern homes open to visitors to showcase beautiful gardens, stunning architecture and a love of history. Everything from Tudor mansions to vintage farmhouses as well as landmarks such as Monticello, Mount Vernon and Colonial Williamsburg will take part in the annual celebration of gardens. For more information, visit www.vagardenweek.org/index.htm.
Clara Bosonetto is a retired travel consultant
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