All opinions are mine and mine alone.
The 5 Best Easter Holiday Destinations
The Easter holiday falls between Autumn and Spring depending on where you are on the globe. However, this should not stop you from enjoying it in a warm sunny environment.
In this line up, we share some of the incredible destinations ideal for your Easter holiday. What’s even more, is that these places are amazing as family getaways!
Australia
For over two decades, Sydney’s Family day and annual Easter Parade has been the highlight of the Easter holiday circuit in Australia. The parade is a melting pot of all cultures and denominations on this hallmark holiday In the Christian calendar.
The celebration features activities for the kids such as face painting and kids’ rides.
For the adults, the day live bands accompanied by live DJ mixes will make your day. On the streets, flamboyant men and women on stilts drift along and are a spectacle to watch.
Alternatively, you can take part in the Bendigo Easter festival in Melbourne. It features a torchlit parade moving through the town, which culminates in fireworks displays at the Lake Weeroona waterfront in the evening.
All through the fanfare, you get to enjoy a display of the world’s longest dragon float display – the Sun Loong dragon as it snakes its way down the streets. Great food and live music are also a staple feature of the festivities
For a richer experience for the kids, the country’s Gold Coast has a host of theme parks and water parks to keep the little ones busy.
Japan
Of all the things that Japan is famed for in Easter, the Cherry Blossoms festival (or Sakura Matsuri as it’s locally known) tops the list. These beautiful flowers are always in full bloom during the Easter season and can be viewed at the Shinjuku Gyoen garden, the Chidorigafuchi or the Meguro River.
Whether you view them on land or on water, the cherry blossom petals create spectacular views.
The Cherry Blossom festival is closely followed by the Azalea Festival held in Bunkyo at the Nezu shrine. It runs from mid-April to early May. So, if you are on an extended Easter break, it is definitely worth a try. The Azaleas make stunning vistas as they are cultured in traditional Japanese gardens and are the perfect tranquil settings for a picture-perfect holiday.
You can also catch a baseball game in Japan’s capital, Tokyo. The Easter season coincides with the Japanese professional baseball season. The Tokyo Dome and the Meiji Jingu stadium are the best spots to catch the live action of one of the most popular sports in Japan.
If you are a horse racing fan, during the Easter time there is the Oka Sho, the Japanese 1000 Guineas event in Takarazuka. It is close to Kyoto and Osaka and one of the biggest events of a sport that is quite popular in Japan. It is not as popular as the Kentucky Derby among betting enthusiasts, but Japanese people fancy horse racing as much as Americans.
South Africa
Cape St. Francis is a warm destination ideal for swimming and an overall laid-back Easter weekend. Of the entire South African coastline, the Cape enjoys the longest hours of sunshine so naturally, swimming is one of the most popular activities to engage in while here.
The extensive beach also boasts of sheltered tidal pools for children to swim and play in. You can also tour the historic lighthouse that graces the place. For hiking enthusiasts, the nature trails on either side of the lighthouse offer great spots for trail walks. Other activities available on the eastern coast include boat trips on the Kromme River and birdwatching on the hiking trails.
Another Easter haunt worth trying is Port Alfred, which is one of the country’s year-round sunshine locales. The port is dotted with man-made canals which facilitate the outdoors lifestyle. Its easy access to game reserves give you the option of game watching and game drives.
While planning your South African Easter tour, you might also consider staying at the lesser known Kasounga Beach. The beach abuts Port Alfred and offers exclusive beach houses for hire. Imagine spending your Easter with family on vacation on an idyllic quiet virgin beach!
Kenya
Whether mountains and forests are your scene or coasts and beaches are more up your alley, Kenya has all these in store for you. You can enjoy an Easter vacation at the Kenya coast in places like Lamu, Diani, Malindi or Watamu.
One of the most popular locations is the award-winning Diani, which has been declared Africa’s leading beach destination for six years now. Diani’s pristine white shores are made up of white silica sand, which does not retain heat, making them ideal for beach walks any time of the day. A lot of family activities avail at these beach attractions, such as swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving and for the more adventurous among us, skydiving.
Family visits can be made all the rage by visiting Lamu, Malindi and Watamu as well, whose heritage sites have rich stories to tell. From the Gede ruins to the Lamu museum. Nature lovers can also get to enjoy hiking in Arabuko Sokoke forest and the Haller Park among other attractions.
Apart from the coastal circuit, game drives in the upcountry are always a good bet. The award–winning Maasai Mara is an easy way to see the Big Five up close.
Spain
Spain is a perfect destination for spiritual tourists over Easter. This is because various religious processions make their way through most Spanish cities during this period.
The biggest procession, however, happens in Seville, where hordes of revelers turn up for very flamboyant and ornate processions. The processions are topped with flamenco dancing.
For an even more intense experience, you can try the La Rioja village, whose procession features self-flagellation. It is an activity where some members of the procession constantly whip themselves as a way to reminisce on Christ’s suffering shortly prior to his crucifixion.
In the end, whether you wish for a relaxing and secular family time or a deeply religious and spiritual experience, Easter time is the perfect opportunity to explore what the world has to offer.
Speak Your Mind