OFFICIAL "SAVOR SAN ANTONIO" SWEEPSTAKES RULES

Of course you've heard of Machu Picchu and Angkor Wat, but have you heard about an Incan city that seems truly lost to today's travelers, or the complex of 52 pre-Angkorian temples so deep in the Cambodian jungle that it takes a local to guide you there? These destinations are jaw-dropping, but they don’t pull in the massive western crowds for a reason: Some of them are remote. That's where we come in with suggested tour operators to make the experience easier and well worth it. Medieval churches made out of volcanic red rock: Lalibela, EthiopiaUnless you're from Ethiopia, chances are you don't know about these 11 medieval churches in the small mountain village of Lalibela. The destination is first and foremost a place of worship, which explains why the Ethiopians haven't done more to market it to tourists. You don't have to be devout, however, to marvel at the churches' unusual design. Legend has it that a visit to Jerusalem after its fall to a Muslim general in the 13th century inspired King Lalibela to rebuild the holy city in Ethiopia. He commissioned workers to dig these churches out of the area's red volcanic rock. One remarkable group of four—the House of Emmanuel, House of Mercurios, House of Gabriel, and House of Abba Libanos—was created from the same massive piece and connected by underground passageways. Light filters into the cruciform structures through cross-shaped windows. Another church, the Beta Medhane Alem (House of the Saviour of the World), rests some 35 feet below the surface of the desert. Find your way: Red Jackal Tours offers a five-day Addis Ababa to Lalibela tour; 011-251/11-155-9915, from $699 per person. Alternatively, any hotel can arrange a guide—we recommend Tukul Village Hotel, 011-251/33-336-0564, doubles from $40. Guide Terekbe Mersha can be reached at 011-251/911-034-463 or tflalibela@yahoo.com. Cambodia's oldest temple complex (hint: it's not Angkor Wat): Kampong Thom Province, CambodiaBuilt during the 7th century, the 52 standing temples of Sambor Prei Kuk are part of the remains of the former capital of Chenla, an ancient kingdom that once ruled much of present-day Cambodia. Spread across three square miles of jungle in Cambodia's Kampong Thom province, the complex predates even the oldest temples of Angkor by some 600 years. Amazingly, it's also far beneath the radar of most travelers—a meager 5,000 annual international visitors make it out to this destination, compared to the million-plus tourists who visit Angkor Wat (that may have something to do with the fact that getting to Sambor Prei Kuk entails a three-hour drive from either Siem Reap or Phnom Penh along the bumpy, stray-dog-ridden National Route No. 6). If you do want to visit, the new Isanborei community tourism project provides local English-speaking guides who will take you around the temples on a tuk tuk. If you’re looking for a truly authentic experience, opt for one of their homestays—you can live with a family, learn how to cook traditional dishes, and even help harvest rice. Find your way: Isanborei Community Tourism offers tours from Kampong Thom, Siem Reap or Phnom Penh, ranging from day excursions by tuk tuk or bike to homestays. 011-855/97-957-3520, from $26 for a day tour from Kampong Thom per person to $162, including an overnight home stay per person. World's oldest freestanding monuments: Malta and GozoThe stone temples on these small Mediterranean islands wedged between Sicily and Tunisia don't get much attention these days; you won't see them in a big-screen thriller or from a mega cruise ship. But as far back as 5000 B.C., millennia before work began on the Great Pyramid of Giza, they were drawing hordes of worshippers. Hagar Qim, the grandest temple complex, commands attention from its hilltop location on Malta’s southern coast. It was constructed from enormous limestone slabs raised to form doorways with lintels (similar to those at Stonehenge) and semicircle formations; one slab stands a commanding 20 feet high and, weighing nearly 20 tons, is believed to be among the largest of any temple. Hagar Qim’s best statues—three “fat lady” figurines and a slimmer Venus of Malta—were excavated in the mid-20th century and are now housed in the National Museum of Archaeology in the Maltese capital city of Valletta. But if you look closely while at Hagar Qim, you’ll find carvings of spirals, animals, and goddesses—all the more impressive given the builders' limited tools: flints and obsidian blades. Find your way: Take bus 38 or 138 from Valletta, Malta, to Hagar Qim and ferries between the islands of Malta and Gozo. Open 9 a.m.–5 p.m., last admission 4:30 p.m., daily in winter; hours extend to 7 p.m., last admission 6:30 p.m., daily in summer, about $13, 011-356/214-24231. A gravity-defying palace: Lucknow, IndiaFew people have heard of Lucknow, capital of the eastern region of Uttar Pradesh in India, and even fewer know of the maze-like palace complex—a blend of European and Arabic architecture—that is located there. It was the brainchild of 18th-century ruler Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula, who put nearly 22,000 city residents to work during a severe famine (struggling noblemen were rumored to have come in at night to avoid being identified among the crew). Bara Imambara's magnificent central arched hall—which stretches 50 meters long (roughly half the length of a soccer field) and about three stories high—is held up, amazingly, without any pillars, girders or beams. Instead, the hall was constructed solely with interlocking brickwork. Another one of its mysteries is the Bhulbhulaiya, a dense labyrinth of more than 1,000 narrow stairway passages meant to thwart any possible intruders—some stairways lead to abrupt drops, others have dead ends. It’s possible to roam around the secret maze, preferably with an approved guide, and to explore the adjacent mosque and manicured gardens. Find your way: Hussainabad Trust Road, $7; extra $3.30 for the main hall, extra $1.50 for a labyrinth guide, open daily, dawn to dusk. It's a two-hour flight from Mumbai to Lucknow at about $75 each way. The truly lost Incan city: Choquequirao, PeruThese 15th-century ruins, which consist of a central plaza and dozens of slope terraces built some 6,000 feet above the glacier-fed Apurímac River, received fewer than 7,000 visitors in 2006. That’s just a little more than 1 percent of those that made the trek to its far more famous sister site, Machu Picchu, whose nickname “The Lost City of the Incas” seems misleading given its typical tourist crowds. But at its height, Choquequirao was no less significant: It was roughly the same size as Machu Picchu and believed to be the last main religious center of the Incan Empire before its fall. From the tiny town of Cachora (about 100 miles away from Cuzco), getting to Choquequirao is an arduous 20-mile trek. You’ll pass arid country full of cacti and agave before the vegetation turns lush. Take a breather to spot the occasional condor, and exhale with the jagged, snow-capped Vilcabamba Range in the distance. Find your way: SAS Travel Peru offers a five-day Choquequirao trek; 011-51/84-249-194, from $390 per person with a four person minimum. An unexpected royal city: Isfahan, IranWhen Shah Abbas chose to relocate the capital of the Persian Empire to Isfahan around 1600, he was determined to make a big impression. So surely he'd be disappointed to know that centuries later his masterpiece remains hidden in plain sight—at least for Americans, who are largely restricted from and cautioned against visiting Iran. The Shah's massive building centered on grand Naqsh-e Jahan Square, which he surrounded with four monumental structures: the gleaming, mosaic-tiled Royal Mosque to the south, the Portico of Qaysariyyeh to the north, the Mosque of Sheykh Lotfollah to the east, and the magnificent entrance to Ali Qapu palace and the royal gardens to the west. Ali Qapu's grand covered balcony was where the shah and his guests would watch polo matches, horse races—even public executions. Inside, spiral staircases connect each floor, and the walls are adorned with intricate bird-patterned murals. Even more impressive is its sixth floor Music Room, covered with ornately decorated stucco niches and cutouts in the shapes of pots and vessels that once reverberated the sounds of the ensembles who performed there. Find your way: As an American, if you don’t know anyone in Iran who can sponsor your visit, then you have to go through a tour group and stick with it; Cyrus Travel arranges visas to Iran and offers customized tours throughout the country, 800/332-9787, from $300 per person per day. An open-air museum of elaborate wooden churches: Karelia, RussiaIt requires a flight or overnight train ride from Moscow or St. Petersburg and then a ferry ride to reach Kizhi Island, part of the 1,650-island chain on northern Russia’s remote Lake Onega. Your reward is becoming one of the choice few to explore the one-of-a-kind State Kizhi Museum, made up of nearly 90 wooden structures, including chapels, windmills, and granaries. Its most remarkable portion, set on a narrow strip of land on the island’s southern tip, is Kizhi Pogost, a walled enclosure that houses an octagonal bell tower and two 18th-century wooden churches. Twenty-two cascading bulbous cupolas fashioned from aspen shingles top the 121-foot Church of the Transfiguration of Our Savior. Amazingly enough, this masterpiece was built without a single nail. Legend has it that a sole axe was used to carve the shingles and the interlocking corner joinery that hold the majestic structure up, and after its completion, was tossed into the water so a similar marvel couldn’t be built. Find your way: Transfers are available directly from Airport Peski, October–May, 011-7-814/2747-566; they can be made through Tourholding Karelia, May–October, 011-7-814/2-733-433. Admission to the island, $21.50; guide service, $3.50 per person. Summer, 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; fall, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.; winter, 10 a.m–3 p.m.; spring, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. A Buddha so large it took 90 years to build: Sichuan, ChinaIt took almost the entire 8th century to carve the 233-foot-tall Leshan Giant Buddha out of a mountainside in central China—about 1,400 miles west of Shanghai (and far out of sight and mind for most travelers)—but the result still stands as one of the world's largest Buddhas. Its ears alone are more than 23 feet in length (that’s the height of a two-story building), and even its smallest toe is large enough to sit on comfortably. But it’s not only the Buddha’s giant scale that’s impressive. On its head are 1,021 intricate, twisted hair buns hiding a complex drainage system that helps preserve the statue. The Mount Emei area itself has enormous religious significance; Buddhism was first introduced to China here. Thrill seekers can get up close to witness the Buddha’s sheer size by navigating down a steep, 250-step zigzag path along its side; those looking to take in the statue from a distance (and see additional figures carved into the cliff) can opt for a boat ride—the statue sits at the confluence of where three rivers meet. Find your way: Take bus No. 8 from Beinjiang Lu to the north entrance of Mt. Emei Scenic Area, within which the statue is located, or a ferry from the Port of Leshan to the Scenic Area (local bus routes No. 4, 9, and 12 connect Leshan to the port). Alternatively, a bus makes the 100-mile journey from Chengdu's South Gate Bus Terminal to Leshan and local buses run every 10 minutes between Leshan and Emei. Open May–Sept. 7:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m., open Oct.–Apr. 8 a.m.–6 p.m., $12. A Mayan complex that's still unearthing marvels: El Mirador, Guatemala The little-known Mirador Basin, hidden among 2,000 years of jungle growth in northern Guatemala, is called the Cradle of Maya Civilization—and for good reason. Its five Preclassic Maya cities—El Mirador, Nakbe, Xulnal, Tintal, and Wakna—are each larger and older than the nearby (and far more famous) Tikal by at least 1,000 years. Among their astounding innovations are super-size temples and pyramids, including La Danta, the largest-known pyramid in the world measured by volume, and the remains of the world's first highway system. And there may be more to uncover: Just two years ago, archaeologists discovered a massive limestone frieze that dates back to 200 B.C. But illegal logging and tree clearing to make way for cash crops like corn are threatening the forests (an alarming 70 percent has been destroyed in just a decade). In an effort to preserve the region, an international effort led by the Global Heritage Fund with help from the Guatemalan and U.S. governments is underway to establish an 810,000-acre national park in the region. Find your way: Tikal Connection Tour Operator offers a five-day trek to El Mirador from Flores in the region of Petén, Guatemala. Participants must be in good physical condition, as the trek and tour totals nearly 40 miles; 011-502/42-111-027, from $350 per person. See more popular content: 10 Islands to See Before You Die Secret Hotels of Paris What Your Bank Won't Tell You About Currency Conversion Top 10 Hottest New Travel Gadgets

ARIZONA GROWNKnown for sunny skies and varied landscape, Arizona is a land of plentiful bounty. With thriving farms, you-pick orchards, sheep ranches, luscious vineyards and certified creameries, discover the Grand Canyon State from the ground up. Fields of gloryYuma, in southwestern Arizona, is the winter vegetable capital of the world, producing 90 percent of the nation’s leafy vegetables. Sit in a field of greens while eating them at a local farm, where chefs serve meals prepared from the morning’s harvest. Explore a date or peanut farm, then stop to smell the roses at a public garden. Sip and savorTaste award-winning vino at local vineyards in Willcox, the heart of Arizona’s wine country. Bite into crisp fruits and ripe veggies at you-pick orchards, soak in sunshine while hiking, golfing and bird watching or even take a tour of a working sheep ranch. Saddle up Situated on the northern border of the Sonoran Desert, uncover Wickenburg’s Old West lore. Take a step back in time at a cattle ranch: purchase organic meats, pick apples, view the wildlife or just be inspired by the Western hospitality on one of the many local dude ranches. Cream of the crop Resting on the base of the Mogollan Rim, Strawberry’s sightseeing is as inspiring as its outdoor adventure. Observe javelina, boat on scenic lakes or hit the slopes for backcountry skiing. Work up an appetite, then head to a local creamery for velvety goat cheese and rich homemade fudge. This map was created by Maria Rabinky. To see more of Maria's work, click here.  

One of Japan's oldest and most-cherished customs, the hanami, or cherry blossom viewing party, has become a worldwide celebration that stretches from Vancouver to D.C. to Korea. Based on the Chinese custom of viewing blossoming plum trees, this botanical harbinger of spring has been celebrated since the early 700s, when revelers toasted the new season with sake, haiku writing, and music. Nowadays, in places as far-reaching as Copenhagen and Vancouver, visitors can expect an exciting mix of these traditions with more modern activities like parades, pageants, and fireworks displays. Hanami is all about timing: The blooming cycle of the sakura, or cherry tree, is short-lived, usually just one to two weeks from the first buds opening (kaika) to full bloom (mankai). But the beauty lingers a while longer, as blizzards of fluttering petals fill the air and blanket the ground. Note that Mother Nature plays a big role in the timing of Japanese and South Korean festivals, and dates for many have not been announced as of press time. Often these dates will be announced within a week of the start date; however, look at the 2010 cherry blossom festival dates when planning, which will give an approximate start date for this year's festival. [UPDATE: Following in the wake of the earthquake and the tsunami in Japan, we encourage travelers to check with the U.S. State Department for travel warnings and safety information before planning any travel to the country.] Himeji Castle Cherry Blossom Viewing Festival Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, JapanThe brilliant white-plaster exterior of the hilltop castle—said to resemble a heron in flight—serves as the backdrop to more than 1,000 sakura. The feudal castle complex of 80-plus buildings dates to the early 1300s  and is a UNESCO World Heritage site, conveniently located about 60 miles northwest of Osaka (it's best accessed by the Sanyo rail line, one-day passes start at $25). The three-day festival features traditional drum and harp performances, a ceremonial tea service, and specialty food booths, though a casual picnic can be an equally satisfying way to enjoy the blossoms. To avoid crowds, be sure to arrive early (the grounds open at 9 a.m. daily), and move well away down a flowering path to find a secluded spot by one of the pagoda-like towers. Don't Miss: The subtle hues of the illuminated cherry blossoms at night. Though the official festival lasts only three days, the blooms should stick around for about two weeks provided the weather is mild. Avoid the crowds by visiting on a nonfestival evening; the blooms stay lit throughout the two-week blooming period. When to Go: Festival dates have not been set as of press time. In 2010, the castle park was open to the public for night viewing from April 2 through 11, with the festival taking place April 2 through 4. Follow the bloom forecast on Japan Guide for updates.Where to Stay: The family-owned, 50-room Hotel Claire Higasa is a short walk from both the main rail station and the castle grounds. Be sure to request a room on the 7th floor with a castle view; these rooms are kitted out with a Jacuzzi from which one can soak and take in the beauty of the Himeji Castle. Doubles from $105, hotel-higasa.com. Kitakami Tenshochi Cherry Blossom Festival Kitakami, Iwate Prefecture, JapanThe overwhelming density of cherry trees in this park—more than 10,000 lining a 1.4-mile pathway along the Kitakami River—certainly gives this festival, located in the north of the island Honshu in Japan, top marks. Add in river cruises, winding waterside strolls, and nighttime lantern viewing, and this may well be the most romantic of all cherry blossom celebrations. As the country's annual Children's Day (May 5) draws closer, hundreds of colorful koinobori (carp-shaped cloth flags) are strung across the river. When wind passes through them, the carp appear to be swimming upstream—a symbol of strength and perseverance. Don't Miss: A horse-drawn carriage ride through a tunnel of blooming trees along the riverfront ($5 for adults, $2 for children under 12, and free for children under three).When to Go: The festival period has not been set as of press time. In 2010, the cherry blossom festival ran from April 15 through May 5. The blooms are expected to peak in late April.Where to Stay: Conveniently located near the Kitakami rail station, the Hotel Route-Inn Kitakami-Ekimae is just a 15-minute walk to the riverfront. And this is one hotel where you may not mind getting the final bill, which you'll receive as an intricately folded piece of origami. Doubles from $150, route-inn.co.jp.   Related: 28 Breathtaking Coastline Photos   Matsumae Koen Park Cherry Blossom Festival Matsumae Town, Hokkaido Prefecture, JapanMore than 10,000 cherry trees burst with color in this seaside town surrounding the famed 17th-century Matsumae Castle, with its graceful, three-tiered, curved eaves. It's located on Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido, which means that the cherry blossoms spring to life late in the season, from late April to mid-May. The grounds hold more than 250 varieties of the famed tree, including the so-called "weeping sakura," with branches that droop like a willow. A parade opens the festivities, which also feature local seafood, crafts, and even a karaoke contest.  Don't Miss: A bite of local delicacies from vendors on the castle grounds. Favorites include iwanori seaweed (harvested from the cold, deep water of the Tsugaru Strait and used in miso soup) and bottled Northern sea urchin with wild leeks. When to Go: Festival dates have not been set as of press time. In 2010, the festival ran from April 29 through May 16.Where to Stay: The Hakodate Danshaku Club is a sleek hotel named for an early-twentieth-century baron who brought modern British shipbuilding techniques—and a hearty variety of potato—to the region. Rooms on the south side of the building afford views of Mount Hakodate and the surrounding harbor. Doubles from $120, danshaku-club.com. Copenhagen Sakura Festival Copenhagen, Denmark (sakurafestival.dk)To celebrate the bicentennial of Danish storyteller Hans Christian Andersen in 2005, the Danish Honorary Consul of Hiroshima gave Copenhagen 200 flowering cherry trees, sparking a new city tradition. The two-day cherry blossom festival takes place in Langelinie Park, where the first trees were planted—and appropriately enough, home to the city's famed Little Mermaid statue, based on an Andersen tale. In addition to traditional martial arts demonstrations and tea ceremonies, a number of Japanese crafts, from origami to calligraphy, are taught in free workshops daily. Because the trees are relatively new, the blooms become more brilliant each year as the trees age. Don't Miss: The flea market, or nomi no ichi, near the main stage, which is filled with handicrafts like wooden tops, wire sculptures, manga-style comic books, and specialty candy.When to Go: May 7–8, 2011Where to Stay: Located two blocks from the famed Tivoli Gardens, the cozy Hotel Alexandra is filled with chic retro Danish design originals and homey personal touches, like a warm lobby library. Doubles from $102, epoquehotels.com.   Related: How to Take Better Sunset Photos International Cherry Blossom Festival Macon, Ga. (cherryblossom.com)This Georgia city of roughly 93,000 bills its festival as "the pinkest party on Earth." And though this celebration may be one of the most unabashedly Westernized of the group, it can also lay claim to being one of the biggest, with over 300,000 Yoshino cherry trees spread throughout the city. It all began in 1952 after Macon realtor William A. Fickling Sr. made a fateful trip to the nation's capital. Enraptured by the pretty pink bloom, he began handing out cuttings from his backyard cherry tree to local friends and neighbors. Soon, the city was awash in pink every spring. Nowadays, the 10-day cherry blossom festival includes a beauty pageant, a huge street party, a fireworks show, and a "balloon glow"—a nighttime display of illuminated hot-air balloons. Don't Miss: The Bed Race—as in, yes, bed frames and mattress on wheels—happens on Cherry Street, in which teams of locals race decorated beds through historic downtown (March 19, 1 p.m.). When to Go: March 18–27, 2011.Where to Stay: Built in 1842 by a former mayor, the colonnaded Greek Revival 1842 Inn offers a wide front porch and 19 guest rooms with four-poster beds—a romantic and historic starting point from which to enjoy the blossoms (doubles from $189 during the festival, including breakfast, 1842inn.com). The Macon Marriott City Center trades in antebellum charm for a convenient location, a colorful lounge for après-festival cocktails—and a lower price tag.  Doubles from $130, marriott.com. National Cherry Blossom Festival Washington, D.C. (nationalcherryblossomfestival.org) Ninety-nine years ago, the mayor of Tokyo gave 3,000 sakura to the American people as a gift. That simple gesture of friendship has grown into one of the world's largest celebrations of Japanese culture. The 16-day cherry blossom festival kicks off with the Blossom Kite Festival, which includes handmade kite displays and exciting stunt flying competitions, and ends with a lavish parade down Constitution Avenue, featuring huge helium balloons and elaborate floats. Paddleboat rides in the Tidal Basin are ideal for families as well as canoodling couples looking to up the romance factor. Don't miss: Free nightly lantern walks (8 p.m.–10 p.m.), during which park rangers tell stories about the festival's history. Meet at the Tidal Basin, either at the entrance of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial or the Thomas Jefferson Memorial welcome tent. You may even pick up some planting tips along the way.When to Go: March 26–April 10, 2011. National Park Service horticulturalists keep a close eye on the blooms and expect them to peak around April 4.Where to Stay: Perched right on Capitol Hill, the fashionable and eco-friendly Hotel George is a short, 15-minute walk from the festival and perfectly situated for exploring any of the monuments, galleries, and attractions along the National Mall. George Washington may never have slept at this namesake boutique property, but he'll watch over you as you do—each of the 139 rooms features a Pop Art portrait of our first president. Doubles from $139, hotelgeorge.com.   Related: Browse our favorite hotels in Washington D.C.   Sakura Matsuri BrooklynOn the eastern border of Brooklyn's sprawling 585-acre Prospect Park, the 101-year-old Brooklyn Botanic Garden plays home to more than 60 performances and exhibits during this weekend festival. Set among the ponds and wooden bridges of the peaceful Japanese Garden, activities range from the traditional (ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging) to the contemporary (manga—Japanese comics—exhibits). In this particularly family-friendly cherry blossom festival, children are offered the chance to fold origami and create floral arrangements out of recycled objects. Plein-air painters spread throughout the blossoms, often finding buyers among fellow visitors. Don't miss: The Hanagasa Kai Parade (April 30, 1 p.m.), or flower hat dance, put on by the Japanese Folk Dance Institute of New York. Two versions—a children's dance and an adult dance—feature colorful kimonos, flower-bedecked hats, and vibrant paper parasols.When to Go: April 30–May 1, 2011. Where to Stay: Hot on the heels of Aloft's expansion into Harlem last December, Aloft Brooklyn opens its doors this April 21 in the up-and-coming Downtown Brooklyn neighborhood. Streamlined and urban, the boutique property offers luxurious touches such as Bliss Spa products, oversize showerheads, and a trendy lobby bar. Doubles from $149, aloftbrooklyn.com. Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival San Francisco (nccbf.org)San Francisco's Japantown is one of only three remaining Japanese enclaves in the U.S. And while one would expect fewer trees in such an urban setting, cherry trees are definitely present along the pedestrian mall that makes up the prettiest part of the neighborhood. For two weekends, the festival includes classical and folk dancing, performances on the koto (a Japanese stringed instrument), and thunderous taiko drumming. Dozens of vendors crowd the streets, peddling favorites like takoyaki (octopus balls) and imagawayaki (sweet azuki bean paste cakes). Don't Miss: The grand parade (April 17, 1 p.m.), which begins at San Francisco's city hall and travels 15 blocks to Japantown to close the festival in spectacular fashion. The Cherry Blossom Queen and her court wear elaborate silk kimonos, as drummers keep the beat in what can only be described as a rhythmic ballet.When to Go: April 9–10 and 16–17, 2011.Where to Stay: The Hotel Kabuki offers traditional ryokan-style lodging right in the heart of Japantown. Rooms feature sleek bedding and Japanese touches, like Asian teakettles and rice-paper screens. The grounds include a koi pond and Japanese garden. Doubles from $119, jdvhotels.com.   Related: 6 Items You Need for the Perfect Picnic   Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival Vancouver, B.C. (vcbf.ca)Vancouver only began celebrating the bloom in 2005, making it one of the youngest of all cherry blossom festivals. But the monthlong festivities are already sprawling, with dozens of events spread over more than 50 city parks. You can take your pick of picturesque picnic spots—from 1,000-acre coastal Stanley Park to the lovingly planted public gardens of Queen Elizabeth Park to Kitsilano Beach Park, with its blooming trees, weeping willows, and views of English Bay. Check the festival website for a map that details which type of tree appears in each park. The Cherry Jam, a downtown lunchtime concert, brings the rhythms of traditional taiko drumming to office workers looking to celebrate spring. Don't Miss: The Haiku Invitational, in which budding poets submit their best 5-7-5 odes to the sakura (anyone can participate online). Poems are posted on the festival website through the spring, and winners will be announced in the fall—there's no cash prize, but the victors will have his or her poems read by celebrities, featured in the 2012 festival, and some pieces may even appear on TransLink SkyTrains and buses throughout Vancouver.When to Go: March 26–April 22, 2011.Where to Stay: A former motel that's undergone an artful rebirth, the Listel Hotel offers multiple styles of accommodations: For instance, each room on the Gallery floors features the works of a unique contemporary artist, including Robert Indiana, while rooms on the Museum floors pay homage to Canada's rugged Northwest coast, with carved cedar headboards, hand-forged ironworks, and original art from the Tlingit and Kwakwaka'wakw nations. doubles from $145, thelistelhotel.com. Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival Jinhae, South KoreaSouth Korea's largest cherry blossom festival honors naval hero Admiral Yi Sun-shin, who famously held back the Japanese invasion of the peninsula more than 400 years ago. And what an honor it is: More than 220,000 cherry trees burst with white blooms—not pink—giving the seaside town an ethereal ambience during the peak blossom period. While the trees are scattered throughout the city, our favorite spots include Anmin Road, which includes a 3.5-mile tunnel of trees, making it a perfect promenade for a springtime walk, and Jehwangsan Park, where one can ascend the 365 steps of the Ilnyeon Gyedan (or One Year Stairway) to experience the incredible vista of thousands of cherry blossoms against the backdrop of sea and pine-studded mountains. Don't Miss: A walk over the Yeojwacheon Bridge, almost hidden from view because of the overhanging trees. If you're lucky enough to get a windy day, you'll be treated to a snowfall of petals.When to Go: Festival dates have not been set as of press time. Previous blooms have occurred in late March to early April, though a particularly snowy winter may delay this year's celebrations. Where to Stay: There is little in the way of accommodations in Jinhae, but nearby Changwon, about 30 minutes from Jinhae by shuttle train (about $2 each way), offers accessible hotels. The Pullman Ambassador Changwon City7, which opened in 2008, is outfitted with public steam baths, Jacuzzis, and spa services. Doubles from $139, accorhotels.com.   See more popular content: 10 Islands to See Before You Die Top 10 Beaches From the Movies The World's Newest Natural Wonders Secret Hotels of Paris