6 Fun Spring Day Trips Around the U.S.

When in New York City …

Visit one of the Big Apple's most overlooked islands

In a city brimming with attractions, many of them pricey, one of the most exceptional is just a $3 ferry ride away: Governors Island, a 172-acre former military base that's 800 yards off southern Manhattan. For New Yorkers, it has become a sanctuary in the middle of New York Harbor, with 7 miles of car-free bike paths, green lawns perfect for picnicking and even a grove full of hammocks. To visit the island, hop on the ferry leaving from the Battery Maritime Building, at the tip of lower Manhattan (the ferry leaves every 40 minutes, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.; there's also a ferry from Red Hook in Brooklyn). Rent a bike when you arrive, and ride to the far end of the island, exploring as you go. Make sure to stop at the Hills, a high point, with sweeping views of the island and the surrounding harbor. —Ryan Krogh

When in Washington, D.C. …

Discover the underworld

In the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains — two hours west of Washington, near Virginia's Shenandoah National Park — sits Luray Caverns, a spectacular cave system well worth the trek from our nation's capital. It's known for its stunning, multihued limestone formations and the vast Cathedral Room, where an automated organ produces concert-pitch notes via rubber-tipped plungers tapping stalactites — an otherworldly experience. Other highlights on the 1.25-mile self-guided walk (all paved) through more than a dozen chambers include Dream Lake, which at first appears to be a pool filled with upward-reaching stalagmites but is actually a reflection of the stalactite-covered ceiling, and the impressive Giant's Hall — 164 feet below the surface — which boasts a pillar-type formation that soars to 47 feet. It's chilly, so bring a light jacket, and wear comfortable walking shoes. Auto buffs should leave time to visit the vintage-car museum next door, included with caverns admission. —Kitty Bean Yancey

When in Atlanta …

Take a Porsche for a spin

Visitors to Atlanta can head to the city's Porsche Experience Center, a high-octane playground located next to the airport that offers the ride of a lifetime for anyone who's ever fantasized about putting a $150,000 racing machine through its paces. Drivers have their pick of the German carmaker's inventory, from a 911 to the 750-horsepower Taycan Turbo S. Whatever your choice, don't expect a leisurely drive. Participants get a quick briefing before buckling up. The speeding vehicle responds instantly to every turn of the wheel or touch of the accelerator, gripping the pavement. A professional driver in a separate car leads the way around the track, offering instruction via radio. There's no speed limit on the twisty, 1.6-mile circuit, which is full of surprises. All you need are a reservation and a valid driver's license. —L.B.

When in Orlando …

Swim with gentle giants

Some 95 miles west of Walt Disney World (and 70 miles north of Tampa), one of the country's most moving wildlife interactions awaits. When the cold weather hits, Florida manatees — docile marine mammals that can weigh up to 1,200 pounds — swim inland to the warm waters surrounding the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, at Kings Bay and Three Sisters Springs. The moment a manatee brushes gently against you or surfaces alongside you, you know you'll never forget the experience. (You're not allowed to reach out to the animals, but it's OK if they initiate contact.) Bird's Underwater and the Plantation on Crystal River take guests from their marinas to the action. After the short trip, you slide into the water with the manatees, wearing a snorkel mask and a wet suit to keep you warm and buoyant. Intrepid paddlers can rent kayaks or venture into the bay with the animals on their own. If you prefer staying dry, Three Sisters Springs has a boardwalk that circles the waters, offering clear views of the manatees below.

Note: Be sure to check with the above outfits before you visit to make sure the animals are there; later in spring, when the weather warms up, the manatees leave the area. —Terry Ward

When in Austin …

Visit an old-time Texas dance hall

Located on a bluff above the Guadalupe River, less than an hour's drive from Austin, tin-roofed, white-clapboard Gruene Hall first served a German community of cotton farmers in the late 1800s. Now the saloon calls itself Texas’ oldest continually operating dance hall, and if you've ever tapped your toes to Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson or Loretta Lynn — who've all performed here — you'll want to stop by this Texas treasure in New Braunfels, on the edge of Texas Hill Country. Step onto the worn wooden dance floor to hear fiddles playing and singers harmonizing; it's like being in the midst of a knee-slapping barn dance that hasn't let up for more than a century. You'll be torn: Watch the band and the couples two-stepping around the floor, or join them? And if you ever want a break from the music or the crowd, the adjacent outdoor beer garden is just as welcoming. —L.B.

When in Santa Fe …

Savor a New Mexican specialty

Forty minutes north of Santa Fe, in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, is the Santuario de Chimayó, a Roman Catholic church built in the 1800s — a worthy pilgrimage stop that can be followed by a truly memorable dining experience at the family-run Rancho de Chimayó. Set in a century-old adobe ranch house with a patio, the James Beard award winner is famous for its carne adovada — slow-cooked pork stewed in a sauce of locally grown heirloom-variety Chimayó chiles, which have reddish-orange skins and offer a delicious, sweetly picante kick. Order the Combinación Picante, so you can sample the carne adovada along with a tamale, a cheese enchilada, and beans and posole. Then comes a sopaipilla: steaming, puffed fry bread served with honey. Sitting in the courtyard, with the sunset lighting the hillside in pink, there may be no sweeter way to end a day. —R.K.