I’m not sure when spring decided to become the busiest time of the year. These months leading up to summer seem to be jam-packed –– an exhausting juggle between work and school by day and evenings and weekends spent bouncing between kids’ practices, games and competitions.
During this busy season of life, we could all use a vacation –– maybe now more than ever. Wouldn’t it be nice if that getaway offered a nonstop, affordable flight from Austin, tons of things to do and see in the city, and even more to explore just beyond the glittering skyline?
If you’re craving an escape this spring, here are five domestic destinations I’ve recently traveled to that check every box and are perfect for exploring on a long weekend escape or a brief midweek getaway. A few short hours in the air will land you in one of these vibrant cities just a short drive from red rock canyons, alpine forests, rolling vineyards, snowcapped mountains and windswept beaches.
Boston, Massachusetts
We’d never been to Boston until last year, but when we had a brief four-day window in the calendar, we decided to dip our toes into a part of the country that’s steeped in New England charm, rich history, cooler weather, and plenty of fresh seafood. You can get from Austin to Boston on a nonstop flight in under four hours, and this spring, you can snag roundtrip fares for under $200.
We spent two days exploring Boston — strolling along the Freedom Trail, wandering through historical buildings, touring beautiful college campuses with our high schoolers, enjoying a fancy high tea one afternoon, and eating our weight in fresh seafood. But as much as we enjoyed Boston, our family’s favorite part of the trip were the two days we spent in Cape Cod, just over an hour away from the city’s bustle.
We made our home base in Sandwich, a quintessential Cape town where we rented a postcard-perfect cottage with cedar shake siding, a pitched gabled roof, and flower beds spilling over with colorful hydrangeas. We spent windswept mornings and afternoons exploring beaches, like Cape Cod National Seashore, where we watched playful gray seals swim right along the shoreline, pausing periodically to engage in intense staring contests with us as they bobbed atop the waves.
Take a cruise with Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises for some of Cape Cod’s best whale watching. Photo by Mauri Elbel
The highlight of our entire trip was the day we spent at sea with Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises where we saw dozens of humpback, minke and fin whales breaching in the sapphire waters surrounding the boat as expert naturalists narrated information about each whale. Afterward, we trotted over to Mattakeese Wharf Waterfront Seafood Restaurant where we feasted on fresh oysters on the half shell, littleneck clams, and steamed crab and lobster. (Note: check 2026 spring season opening dates.)
On the way back to Boston, we stopped for lunch, shopping and history in nearby Plymouth. With another day, you could easily fit in an Instagram-worthy day trip to Martha’s Vineyard.
Phoenix, Arizona
A roughly two-hour direct flight from Austin delivers you to Phoenix, Arizona, and this spring, you can snag roundtrip fares hovering just over $100 roundtrip. Spend some time dabbling in the posh resorts, famed golf courses, and thriving dining and shopping scenes found in Phoenix and neighboring Scottsdale. But then spin your wheels away from the city toward Sedona, where majestic red rock formations reach into piercing blue skies and hundreds of miles of hiking trails lay the path for a new adventure every day.
RELATED: Red Rock hikes, star-studded nights and endless adventures in Sedona, Arizona
A scenic two-hour drive separates Phoenix and Sedona, home to fewer than 10,000 full-time residents but more than 3 million annual visitors. Boasting more than 200 trails covering over 400 miles of stunning red rock terrain, Sedona is a destination where you’ll need to pack your hiking shoes and sense of adventure.
Every day spent here featured at least one breathtaking hike, such as the Devil’s Bridge Trail, a moderately challenging 4-mile out-and-back trail with the largest natural sandstone arch located in the Sedona area of Coconino National Forest.
Travelers come from around the world to stargaze in Sedona, and Sedona Stargazing Tours offers tours nightly. Credit Sedona Stargazing Tours LLC.
At night, stars take center stage. Sedona is widely considered one of the best places in the world for stargazing — and once you look up, it’s easy to see why. We loved the celestial experience with Sedona Stargazing Tours where we experienced the wonders of the universe up close on powerful, professional telescopes while expert tour guides share their vast knowledge and passion for astronomy. From seeing planets like Jupiter and Saturn up close to viewing The Milky Way, star clusters, the moon, shooting stars and more, it was an unforgettable experience our whole family loved.
Portland, Oregon
Austinites will feel right at home in Portland, and throughout the spring months, you can find nonstop, four-hour flights from Austin to Portland for around $150.
From the unofficial sister cities’ shared slogan –– “Keep Austin Weird” and “Keep Portland Weird” –– to their mutual love for the outdoors, live music, bikes, breweries, coffee, dogs, and burgeoning foodie culture brimming with everything from chef-driven restaurants to a prolific food truck scene, the similarities between Austin and Portland are palpable.
Mauri Elbel’s family goes whitewater rafting on the Clackamas River, which flows some 83 miles from its headwaters in the Mt. Hood National Forest to its confluence with the Willamette River.
Play for a day –– or two –– in Portland’s urban core, then head out of the city to explore some of the Pacific Northwest’s most breathtaking natural landscapes. Just a short and scenic drive away lies the gateway to Mt. Hood Territory, home to more than 1,200 miles of hiking trails within Mount Hood National Forest. On one family trip, we filled our days hiking through forested trails beneath snow-capped peaks and braving adventures spanning whitewater rafting to zip lining.
On a different Portland trip without the kids, my husband and I bookended our trip in the city, but spent the days in between exploring Willamette Valley, about a half hour away. For a romantic couples stay, book a room at The Allison Inn & Spa, a luxurious basecamp for exploring the surrounding vineyards.
New Orleans, Louisiana
Spring is one of the best times of the year to visit New Orleans, which you can get to with a direct, 1-hour and 40-minute flight from Austin. January through May tend to offer a cooler reprieve to the notoriously hot and humid summer temps, and you can find roundtrip fares throughout the spring months starting around $150.
While Mardi Gras may have come and gone, the food, music and culture never stop in The Big Easy. We started most of our days with beignets, and we definitely devoured some of the best charbroiled oysters, fried shrimp po’ boys and spicy jambalaya of our lives in New Orleans, where everyone is always planning their next meal, even while they are eating their current one.
Preservation Hall is a historic music venue in the French Quarter working to protect, preserve and perpetuate the spirit of traditional New Orleans jazz. Photo by Mauri Elbel
A must for music lovers is taking in an acoustic New Orleans jazz concert at Preservation Hall where traditional jazz fills the intimate wood-wrapped space every evening over 360 nights per year. Our kids also loved the jazz tour we took through the French Quarter, which provided a crash course into the birthplace of jazz and familiarized them with jazz pioneers and legends, spanning Louis Armstrong to Fats Domino. If you’ve got animal lovers in your crew, don’t miss a trip to the Audubon Zoo, or better yet, venture out of the city for a swamp tour where you can glide past cypress knees poking out of the glasslike waters and gators sunbathing in their natural habitat.
RELATED: Visiting New Orleans? 10 family-friendly must-do’s with the kids
Our family split our stay between New Orleans’ bustling and sleepier sides, staying in the heart of the French Quarter at The Westin New Orleans for part of the week before soaking in the slower-paced, quieter neighborhood experience just a brief ferry ride across the Mississippi in Algiers Point. Just a stone’s throw from the action, or a five-minute free ferry ride from the French Quarter, we rented a beautifully restored shotgun home in Algiers Point, where our kids could venture off on their own to get an ice cream or play at the park and we’d walk to one of the quaint neighborhood restaurants for dinner each evening.
Denver, Colorado
During springtime, you can’t go wrong with a trip to Denver –– a direct, two-hour flight from Austin. In fact, we’re heading back later this month, and a quick flight search turns up $100 roundtrip direct fares this spring.
For as many spring breaks as I can remember, we’ve bookended our ski trips in Denver, which always offers the perfect excuse to stretch our stay and play in the Mile High City (yes, at 5,280 feet, Denver is exactly one mile above sea level).
Denver International Airport is located just 90 miles east of Winter Park Resort, and writer Mauri Elbel enjoys the convenience of staying and playing in Denver before or after heading to the mountains to ski. Credit: Winter Park Resort
Boasting over 300 days of annual sunshine, one of the country’s most walkable downtowns, sprawling parks, a colorful Wild West past, distinctive neighborhoods and thriving arts, culinary and craft beer scenes, Colorado’s cosmopolitan capital is deserving of its own trip. But if you love the mountains like we do, it’s also an ideal jumping off point to dozens of ski resorts, spanning Winter Park Resort and Keystone to Copper Mountain and Breckenridge.
