Top 10 easy spring weekend getaways

6. New Orleans
Down by the Bayou come spring, the avenues of New Orleans are full of rhythm. Always colorful, chaotic, and soulful, there’s no better way to discover the city where jazz was born than by attending its crowning fête, Jazz Fest (April 25–27 & May 1–4), a seven-day cultural event where musical acts from across the globe perform on multiple local stages and Louisiana cuisine and crafts are showcased at the Fair Grounds Race Course. Home to the richest musical heritage in America, New Orleans is a city on the rise once again and Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, Jimmy Buffet, Elvis Costello, and Santana are just a handful of the big names on hand to prove it.

How: Fly direct to New Orleans (MSY) from New York (Continental, JetBlue, Delta, American; about 3.5 hours), Chicago (American, United; 2.5 hours), Miami (American; about 2 hours), Denver (United; 2.5 hours), and Los Angeles (Delta, United; 3.5 hours).

7. Playa del Carmen
Situated on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, just 42 miles south of Cancun, Playa del Carmen is a long way away from the hard-partying ways of its northerly neighbor. That’s not to say that there’s no fun to be had here, but white-sand beaches, eco-parks, and nearby Mayan ruins are what this place is all about. Spring is an ideal time to enjoy it all, with tropical breezes and temperatures hovering around 80°F. Mayan monuments at Chichén Itzá are close enough for a day trip — and what better way to welcome spring than at the site’s Spring Equinox festival, when the shadows cast by the sun resemble a serpent slithering its way down the main pyramid’s ancient steps.

Slide show   Big Easy Returns New Orleans has reclaimed its vibrancy after Hurricane Katrina and will delight and woo you with its mojo. more photos

How: Take a direct flight to Cancun (CUN) from Atlanta (Aeromexico, Delta; about 3 hours), Miami (American, Mexicana; about 1.5 hours), New York (American, Continental, JetBlue, Mexicana; about 4 hours), Los Angeles (Alaska, American, Delta, Mexicana, United; about 5 hours), and several more; then drive or take public ground transportation to Playa del Carmen.

8. Santa Catalina Island
Though its heyday as a stomping ground for movie stars passed with Hollywood’s golden age, Catalina Island, 22 miles off the coast of Long Beach, California, is still an idyllic seaside escape with a year-round Mediterranean climate (and nary a freeway in sight). Avalon, the only real city on this 75-square-mile isle, is a postcard-perfect place where the mode of transport is by golf cart rather than car. Check out the Art Deco mermaid murals adorning the grand 1920s circular dance hall known as the Casino — then sprout your own fins and scuba dive in the crystal-clear Pacific. Inland, you'll discover indigenous foxes, bald eagles, and the modern-day offspring of a bison herd brought to the island for a silent-screen-era movie shoot.

Slide show   Marvelous Mexico Vacationers flock to Mexican destinations for fun, sun & sand – but each city differs and offers something for everyone. more photos

How: Fly direct to Los Angeles (LAX) from Denver (Alaska, Frontier, United; 2.5 hours), Phoenix (United, US Airways; 1.5 hours), Seattle (Alaska, American, Northwest, United; about 3 hours), and many other cities; or fly to the Long Beach Airport (LGB) from several cities and take the Catalina Express ferryboat (about 1 hour), which departs regularly from San Pedro (near LAX) and Long Beach.

9. Santa Fe
Harmonious Santa Fe, New Mexico, truly lives up to its moniker, “the City Different,” thanks to its combination of surreal desert landscapes, sprawling adobe architecture, and third-largest art market in the United States. Though summer typically draws the largest crowds, spring is the ideal time to visit this city in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains as crowds are fewer, prices are lower, and yucca flowers are in full bloom. Sample the best of native cuisine; shop for eclectic pottery, jewelry, sculptures and paintings; or take a leisurely stroll down popular Canyon Road.

Slide show   Santa Fe: High Culture Blue skies, adobe facades, and art greet visitors to Santa Fe. more photos

How: Fly direct to Albuquerque (ABQ) from Dallas/ Fort Worth (American; under two hours), Phoenix (US Airways; about 1 hour), Los Angeles (United; about 2 hours); then catch a shuttle, cab, or limo (about an hour ride) to Santa Fe.

10. Whistler
If your idea of a great spring getaway involves snow instead of sand, head to Whistler, British Columbia, where one of the longest ski seasons in North America keeps skiers shussing as late as early June on over 7,000 acres of ski terrain, 12 alpine bowls on three glaciers, and more than 200 marked trails. As an added bonus, the beautiful village has enough shops, nightlife, restaurants, and events to keep even non-skiers happy. Get there fast, though, before the crowds do — Whistler's due to host the 2010 winter Olympics.

How: Fly direct to Vancouver (YVR) from Seattle (Air Canada, Alaska, Northwest, United; 50 minutes), Los Angeles (Air Canada, Alaska, American, Northwest, United; about 3 hours), San Francisco (Air Canada, Alaska, American, Northwest, United; a little over 2 hours), and others. Whistler is roughly a 2-hour drive from Vancouver along Highway 99, also called the Sea-to-Sky Highway. Bus and taxi services are available to make the trip.

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