Spring travel

Japanese crafts market.

Hipster Hotel Le Bleu in trendy Gowanus, where the minimalist decor still manages to pack in everything you’ll need, including oh-so-comfy beds. Rates from $239. hotellebleu.com.

Amtrak runs between the Penn Stations in Baltimore and New York in about 3 hours. From there, take the Line 2 subway directly to the gardens. bbg.org/ visit/event/sakura_matsuri_2017. April 27-30, Las Vegas, Nev.

Despite its name, this is about more than just wine; it’s a downright eating orgy of phenomenal food. Joined together here are some of the world’s top chefs (the likes of Alain Ducasse, Bobby Flay and Wolfgang Puck) competing (or starring) in food and mixology competitions, demonstrations, tastings and dinners. Also included this year are previews and sampling at the new and upcoming dining spots around Vegas. After all, says Virginia Woolf, one cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.

The Cromwell is a Parisianthemed boutique hotel centrally located on The Strip, offering well appointed king rooms. From $99. caesars.com/cromwell.

Individual tickets are required for each event, from $79. vegasuncorked.com. Southwest Air flies nonstop from BWI to Las Vegas, from $136. April 21-23, Dahlonega, Ga. This unabashed celebration of Appalachian music, art and folklore was named for the brazen bear cub that took refuge in a sycamore tree in the center of Dahlonega’s public square. The pickers usually arrive first, settle themselves down in the square and jam all festival long. Throughout the weekend are live performances by regional and nationally renowned bluegrass and old-timey musicians. There’s a live and silent country auction in the Main Stage Tent alongside locally purveyed food and wine. A juried artists marketplace features traditional mountain crafts and artist demonstrations. Other highlights include storytelling, music workshops/demonstrations, an acoustic open mic event, clogging and flatfooting demonstrations, and Master Music classes. The picturesque town itself, buried deep in the mountains, is also worth exploring.

The Mountain Laurel Creek Inn and Spa offers attractive guest rooms with fireplaces and jetted tubs, a swimming pool and spa. From $154. mountainlaurelcreek.com.

bearonthesquare.org. Southwest and Delta fly nonstop from BWI to Atlanta, from $69. Dahlonega is a 65-mile drive from Atlanta. S.C. La. Through April 22, Charleston,

Who doesn’t dream about getting inside and snooping around those exquisite majestic residences in historic Charleston? Afterward, there are history walks, garden tours, lectures, sightseeing through historic neighborhoods, and an antique show.

Grand Bohemian Hotel offers artsy decor, lavish guest rooms and a chic wine tasting room. From $269. grandbohemiancharleston.com.

Southwest Air flies nonstop from BWI to Charleston International, from $129. historiccharleston.org/Events/Annual-Festival-of-Houses-and-Gardens. April 28-May 7, New Orleans,

In a city renowned for its melodic soul, this fest delivers more than its advertised 12 stages of the all-time greats in jazz — and practically every other genre of music. This year’s lineup features Stevie Wonder, George Benson, Wynton Marsalis, Herb Alpert, Tom Petty, Maroon 5, Dave Matthews, Kings of Leon, Usher, Harry Connick Jr. and dozens more. With so many musicians in town, even the impromtu collaborations are mind-blowing. And when you’re in need of a recharge, there’s heaps of jambalaya, gumbo, muffulettas and beignets all over town, just waiting to be washed down with gin fizzes and Sazerac, because you’re in arguably the best eating city in the U.S.

Omni Royal Orleans is a historic French Quarter property with the ambience of a European inn. Jazz Fest rates from $339. omnihotels.com/hotels/new-orleans-royal-orleans.

nojazzfest.com. Fly Southwest Air nonstop from BWI to New Orleans (MSY), from $250. Pa. April 21-29, Philadelphia,

Offering more than 80 events over eight days around the city, there’s enough discovery here to thrill even the most jaded. Along with plenty of kids’ activities, grownups can savor the science of a perfect pint and learn what kindles personal chemistry. Try to visit on Sunday, April 23, when there are 23 events happening around the city ranging from digs for 65-million-year-old fossils to activities in marine biology, audiology, surgical nursing, mural artistry, forensic crime scene investigation and more.

Philadelphia is an easy day trip, but if you choose to stay overnight, try the circa-1769 Thomas Bond House B&B. Located in Independence National Park, luxurious guest rooms are outfitted with period furniture and private baths. From $145. Most activities are free of charge. philasciencefestival.org. Philadelphia is a 115-mile drive from Baltimore, or just one hour away via Amtrak, from $37. May 4-7, Ocean City, Md.

For 26 years, Ocean City has been opening beach season with a weekend of music events (this year includes Josh Turner and Joan Jett), an arts and crafts show featuring 250 artisans (it’s ranked among the top five in the U.S. by Sunshine Artists Magazine), and dozens of vendors of OC’s iconic boardwalk-fare foodstuff.

oceancitymd.gov/oc/departments/ special-events/springfest/. Ocean City is a 147-mile drive from Baltimore.