As Easter comes around, the weather gets warmer and signals the arrival of spring. April is a wonderful time to take a break because not only is the weather pleasant, but the usual hordes of tourists are missing at some popular destinations.

Many hotels and resorts will offer short weekend breaks for Easter. Some of these are tailored for families with kids. Others are romantic getaways for those who want to take a break from the chores and work pressures of daily life. A surprising choice from among some great Easter break destinations is the wonderfully alive city of New York.

Incredibly, New York has been celebrating Easter with an Easter Bonnet Parade from as far back as 1870! This parade, like everything else in the Big Apple, is quirky and a lot of fun. Unlike a usual parade with floats and bands, it has people from all walks of life walking down 5^th Avenue wearing some of the strangest hats and bonnets you will ever see. The whole atmosphere has a casual and informal feel to it. Fashionistas with elaborately decorated hats with flowers and bling, drag queens with outrageous headgear and political and social activists with unusual bonnet designs denouncing global warming, slavery and other issues are just some of the myriad people who participate in the annual parade. Tourists also join in for a day of fun. 5th Avenue is closed to traffic for the parade which kicks off at 10am and winds down at about 4pm. You can watch the parade from a deli along the route or, better still, stroll down 5^th Avenue along with the participants. The city authorities also organize a Eggstravaganza for kids in Central Park. Besides the egg hunt, there are loads of other activities like face painting and storytelling.

If you have never been to New York, then make the most of your time there and visit the city’s famous landmarks like the iconic Statue of Liberty, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Empire State Building. There are innumerable theatres, art galleries, fine dining restaurants, nightclubs, bars and boutiques to ensure that your stay is exciting. Just walking around in Harlem or Manhattan is an experience in itself.

Europe too has some great places where Easter is celebrated with age old customs and traditions. If you haven’t got time to plan, choose from some super saver last minute cruises for a fantastic Easter break.