April 21 - May 5

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Kentucky Derby, Cinco de Mayo, Springfest, The Palace of Versailles, Petra, Beijing, Palau, Victoria Falls, Halong Bay, Ziplining, Whale Watching.

Author

Logan Gross
February 09, 2024

The Travel Window Newsletter is step one in planning your next trip.

This edition is focused on the April 21 - May 5 travel window. There’s a lot going on around the world. Scroll down if you’re in the mood for discovery. Here’s a list of the roster for this edition: New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Kentucky Derby, Cinco de Mayo, Springfest, The Palace of Versailles, Petra, Beijing, Palau, Victoria Falls, Halong Bay, Ziplining, Whale Watching.

I’m taking all of your feedback into consideration and changing some things up. For example, this will be the last newsletter that is for two weeks. Moving forward this will be a weekly email with a more manageable 5-8 destinations. Please reply to this email with any thoughts you have for me to improve this even further!

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Worldwide Events April 21 - May 5

Jazz & Heritage Festival - New Orleans, USA

Apr 26 to May 05

Headlined by the Rolling Stones, Chris Stapleton, Anderson .Paak, Neil Young, the Foo Fighters, Hozier and so many more big names. Run by a non-profit focused on promoting New Orleans. All food vendors are small, locally owned businesses. This festival has been running for over 50 years.

Kentucky Derby - Louisville, USA

May 04 to May 04

This year is the 150th renewal of the world famous horse racing event. While you're there you should check out a local horse farm or a bourbon distillery (editor's choice) to make the most of your time. This event is only for those with an expensive taste in ticket prices.

Cinco de Mayo - Mexico

May 05 to May 05

This Mexican holiday is really only celebrated in Puebla, the location of the victorious battle. There is a big reenactment of the battle, and then mariachi music, dancing, and colorful costumes.

Springfest - Germany

Apr 19 to May 05

Oktoberfest's half birthday, Springfest, is exactly what you'd expect. A smaller, yet still popular, celebration with lots of beer drinking, music, dancing, feasting, and more drinking. This festival is quite popular among Europeans as a spring break trip.

Popular Destinations

The Palace of Versailles - Versailles, France

Apr 01 to Oct 31

15 million visitors each year wander the premises of this tremendous display of royal wealth and opulence. The museum of French history sits inside the palace, inside the gardens, 19 miles outside the city of Paris. April to October is the most popular time to visit due to the weather.

Petra - Jordan

Mar 01 to May 31

Accessed by taking a stroll through the middle of a towering canyon, you will find an unmistakable archaeological marvel that is Petra. You will be wowed by the engineering feats of ~300 BC. Go some time from March-May to avoid the strong sun rays.

Beijing - China

Apr 01 to May 31

The capital city of China holds one of the worlds most vibrant examples of human progression, with modern city aspects interlaced with millennium-old artifacts & sites. Beijing is full of color and a comfortable climate in April and May.

Off-the-beaten-path

Palau - Palau

Nov 01 to Apr 30

Palau is a Micronesia island in the Pacific perfect for water activities like snorkeling, diving, boating, and island relaxation. Wet season starts in May making this is the tail end of the peak tourist season, so you should avoid the crowds & crazy prices.

Victoria Falls - Zambia and Zimbabwe

Feb 01 to May 31

The worlds largest waterfall, twice the height of Niagara falls. No wonder it's one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

Halong Bay - Vietnam

Mar 01 to May 31

Thousands of vertical limestone islands look like they fell out of the sky into the beautiful bright blue waters. Take a boat ride, take a swim, go snorkeling or just enjoy the view. Also great for scuba, rock climbing & hiking. April and May avoid the heat, the fog, the smoke, and leave you with the best chance of having a perfect trip.

Activity Junkies

Ziplining - Arenal, Costa Rica

Dec 01 to Apr 30

Zipline through a rainforest canopy in a Costa Rican national park surrounding a volcano. In the dry season you get the most clear views. While you're in the park, visit the nearby waterfalls, maybe even rappel down them if you've got the desire.

Miscellaneous Adventures

Whale Watching - Baja California, Mexico

Dec 01 to Apr 30

Go out into the lagoons in small fishing boats, and up close encounters with the gentle giants are extremely common. Many times they give the chance to pet the whales... you read that right. Pet the whales.

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My name is Logan Gross and I am an experienced traveler/backpacker and lover of new experiences, especially when they involve a plane flight. I hope to inspire some of your future trips with this newsletter. This newsletter is a side project for now but it is growing, so stay plugged in for more.

Happy Travels,

Logan Gross