Travel
APRIL
CHERRY BLOSSOMS , JAPAN
Springtime in Japan has become synonymous with cherry blossoms — those delicate , pink petals adorning spindling branches in beautiful blooms before carpeting the earth in soft pastel . From March to as late as early May , these pretty posies can be seen all over Japan , providing the perfect natural antidote to the country ’ s otherwise futuristic landscape .
Also known as sakura , cherry blossoms can be appreciated at a number of spots . Head to Hirosaki Castle Park in the Tohoku region , for example , to see them as a backdrop to Japan ’ s bygone days as they perfectly frame the gates and turrets of this regal home . Or for trees that can be enjoyed from dawn ’ til dusk , try Tokyo , where Ueno Park ’ s spread of over 1000 sakura are lit up come nightfall .
MAY
TULIP FIELDS , HOLLAND
For Holland , the arrival of spring is marked by the sights and scents of flowers . Throughout the season , various parts of the country morph into a patchwork of petals in vibrant yellow , red and purple , drawing thousands of visitors each year . March sees crocus season begin , followed by the bloom of daffodils and hyacinths , and multihued tulips appear from mid-April until the first week of May .
Though the most famous place to enjoy these perky perennials is Keukenhof , the best way to wake up and smell the tulips is to drive the beautiful route through Noordoostpolder in Flevoland . Boasting over 100 km across 2,500 acres of kaleidoscopic fields , Flevoland is home to one of Holland ’ s longest and most colorful tulip routes , not to mention plenty of traditional Dutch windmills to photograph along the way .
JUNE
WHALE WATCHING IN WESTERN CAPE , SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa has plenty to offer for wildlife lovers , but the annual migration of southern right whales from Antarctica to the warmer waters of the Western Cape is truly magical . Typically swimming closer to shore between June and November , southern right whales are slow movers , a trait which once made them easy prey for whale hunters but now makes them easier to spot for watchers from land and sea .
Humpback whales , too , can be seen during this time , as they head to the coasts of Mozambique and Madagascar to breed and give birth . Those lucky enough to catch a glimpse of both might see these friendly creatures interacting with their southern right brothers and sisters and maybe even a bottlenose dolphin or two .
JULY
BORYEONG MUD FESTIVAL , SOUTH KOREA
Come summer , it ’ s time to get down and dirty at South Korea ’ s Boryeong Mud Festival . Taking place on Daecheon beach around 200 km south of capital city Seoul , the week-long event sees the sludgy stuff taken from nearby mud flats and trucked to the beach , where it forms the so-called ‘ Mud Experience Land .’
Rich in minerals , the festival is something of a beauty treatment to many visitors , who layer their skin in the natural clay and reap the moisturizing benefits . For everyone else , it ’ s a chance to release their inner child , freely splashing in muddy puddles and wrestling in the slime to a backing track of global performers .
AUGUST
LA TOMATINA , SPAIN
Summer , it seems , is the perfect time of year for messy festivals , and over in Europe , Spain is proud to present La Tomatina . This juicy event is essentially the world ’ s biggest food fight , inviting thousands of people to the Valencian town of Bunol to throw more than one hundred metric tons of over-ripe tomatoes at one another . When the red fruit runs dry , it ’ s time to clean up , and many revelers will head to the local river for a quick soak , while others rely on friendly locals to hose them down .
Want to paint the town red ? Be sure to book your tickets early . The festival has grown in popularity so much that official ticketing was introduced in 2013 to limit attendees to just 20,000 .
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