Hot Spots for Spring

Spring will be here this month and it’s time to get thinking about your spring break. Even if you’re not in college you can still treat yourself to a little vacation this spring. Big cities, beach towns and less know places can all be fun get-a-ways when the weather starts to heat up. Here are my three picks for the best destinations in the USA this spring that you may not have thought of.

Atlanta, GA
Head south to kick off your spring season with a visit to Hotlanta. Atlanta is full of culture, history, attractions, great food and fun nightlife. For the best views of the city take a ride on the SkyView observation wheel located near Centennial Olympics Park. After taking in the best views of the city you will be near my other favorite things to do. All of these are in walking distance of each other. The Georgia Aquarium will delight the kid in all of us, with many awesome under the sea creatures to see up close. (TIP: buy tickets online at GeorgiaAquarium.com prior to arrival, they will be cheaper.) CNN headquarters offers tours of their studios and newsrooms. Pay the few extra dollars for the VIP tour, it’s worth it, and includes a photo package. The World of Coca-Cola gives visitors an insider look into this iconic ATL brand. Sample flavors of Coca-Cola from around the world and take home a souvenir bottle. You will be hungry after all this touring and The Varsity is an ATL staple that will fill you up. Try their chili cheese dog and fries along with, of course, a Coke. (You’ve already walked all over the city so don’t be afraid of the few extra calories, you’ll burn it off walking.) Enjoy your night by taking in a drag show at Burkhart’s Nightclub, where you can find RuPaul’s drag race girls putting on a show.  Or get a little naughty at Swinging Richards, an all-nude strip club where you can get a lap dance for more fun.

New York City, NY
Spring is an amazing time to visit the Big Apple. Take a stroll through Central Park, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge or enjoy a walk down Broadway. NY is full of amazing views and there are 3 places to get the best views of the city. Top of the Rock gives you a vantage point of Central Park and the best place to get a photo with the Empire State Building in the background. Empire State is the most central view of the cities skyscrapers with two observation decks, the first on the 86th floor and an additional on the 102nd floor. Or you can choose to See Forever (as the tag line says) at the new One World Trade Center observation tower, this view with leave you breathless. While in NYC you have to try some NY pizza and Bella Vita at 211 W 43rd Street near Times Square is one of the best. Try their Cesar salad, as an appetizer and your tummy will be happy.  After dinner, adventure out for a night on the town. While in NYC a must do is stop at the historic Stonewall Inn for a drink and see where the gay rights movement started. From there explore other hot spot like Posh, Therapy, Flaming Saddles, Boxers NYC and the naught Fairytail Lounge where you can see male strippers and get a private lap dance. (Tip: if getting a lap dance be up front about the price and stick firm, the dancers will try to swindle you.) After a night of dancing cure your hang over with brunch at Apple Jack Diner. They are a classic diner with everything you can want to eat. (Visit: AppleJackDiner.com for more information about the history of the diner and for their menu).

Emerald Isle, NC
Want a beach vacation without all the crazy drunk people and over packed beaches? Then head to the south Outer Banks and plan a trip to Emerald Isle, NC. You can rent a beach house with spectacular views of the ocean and sunrises/sunsets. You will need a rental car for this destination, as the nearest airport is about 40 minutes drive. The island offers beaches, fishing, sunset cruises and bike trails. The island is close to many other little beach towns, which are great for day trips while there. Morehead City, a short drive offers the freshest seafood at Sanitary Market Restaurant. Try the hush puppies as well. If you never had them, they are a fried golden treat of corn meal and onion; you’re mouth will thank you.  Swansboro is also a small town nearby with cute antique stores, water activities and tasty food. The Salt Water grill offers daily caught fresh fish for you to enjoy and delicious wine to pair perfectly. This is definitely a trip to sit back enjoy the beach, a glass of wine and the sunset (or sunrise if you’re up that early.)

Weather you head toward the big city or the beach town you can’t go wrong with one of these three spring destinations. Remember to always think outside the box when traveling and never be afraid to try new things.  Happy Traveling!

#GEDmag Readers: We’d love to see where you are headed on your travels. Tag #AbOUTtheGlobe @GEDMagazine and @NakedBoyNews in your posts so we can go along with you.