59 Inspired March Bucket List Adventures That Celebrate the Start of Spring
ByCat Xu
March always feels like the season stretching its arms after a long sleep. The air smells different, the light lasts a little longer, and there’s finally enough warmth to make you want to be outside again.
A March bucket list is about celebrating that early spark of spring by getting outside, trying something new, and finding energy in the change of seasons. These adventures are a mix of simple joys and challenges that make the start of spring feel intentional, fresh, and full of possibility.
Spring’s Opening Acts
In March, things start sprouting, the air smells like something new, and people suddenly have the energy to do weird stuff like deep clean their car. These early-season ideas are the small but satisfying ways to feel like you’re part of the restart.
- Visit a local flower farm as tulips begin emerging, and take photos when the colors start popping.
- Plant early spring herbs in pots on your balcony or windowsill.
- Explore a nature reserve that’s just opening for the season before the crowds return.
- Switch your home décor to pastels or fresh greens, to match the shift in season.
- Fly a kite in a park, because wind and open space feel extra fun in early spring.
- Visit an orchard that’s just waking up.
- Clean out your closet and keep only what makes you feel fresh.
Nature & Wildflower Chases
Depending on where you live, March has incredible wildflowers. It’s when people start sharing tips about which hillside is “going off” with blooms. These are low-effort ways to make yourself feel outdoorsy and slightly enchanted by nature again.
- Drive through countryside roads looking for blooming dogwoods.
- Go on a wildflower hike, where you might see early blooms just beginning.
- Visit a hillside covered in daffodils, and bring a picnic blanket for the view.
- Explore a botanic garden’s spring preview.
- Take a photograph each week of the same tree, and watch how it changes through March.
- Visit a wildlife sanctuary during migration, when birds are returning.
Mini Trips & Local Escapes
Spring’s beginning is the best time to travel short distances. Things are cheaper, places are quieter, and your standards are low because even a sunny patio feels like a getaway.
- Plan a day trip to a nearby town you’ve neglected, and wander without a schedule.
- Take a train ride somewhere new.
- Book a one‑night stay in a cabin.
- Go to a seaside town before the crowds hit, and walk the beach in March air.
- Visit an early spring festival locally, just to watch the locals start the season.
- Explore a historic village before tour groups arrive.
- Visit a state park in shoulder season, when roads or trails reopen.
- Find a quiet nature lodge and spend one night stargazing, bundled up under blankets.
Events, Culture & Local Participation
Even if you’re not a big “joiner,” March is a fun month to check out things other people are doing. There’s still enough winter in the air to keep it cozy, but enough sunshine to lure you out.
- Attend a green‑themed event for St. Patrick’s Day, and enjoy the local version of fun.
- Go to an open‑mic night or independent show.
- Visit a museum on first free weekend of March.
- See a spring‑themed performance, like a dance recital or outdoor concert preview.
- Turn a lecture or book talk into a social event, and meet someone new.
- Attend a local sports game while the weather’s still cool.
- Go to an art walk in a nearby city, where galleries open doors for spring previews.
- Participate in a charity walk or run, and connect with people outside your daily circle.
- Visit a pop‑up market or craft fair.
Travel Adventures Worth Booking in March
March signals the start of something fresh in many parts of the world. The winter crowds thin out and destinations that felt “off‑season” suddenly feel like smart‑season. If you’re ready to move beyond your hometown and into something bigger this month, here are destinations worth the plane ticket.
- Visit Kyoto, Japan to see early cherry blossoms and enjoy temples with fewer tourists.
- Travel to Portugal’s Algarve or Douro Valley to avoid the summer rush.
- Attend Holi in India and get drenched in color during the Festival of Springs.
- Celebrate St Patrick’s Day in Dublin (or among Irish communities worldwide).
- Visit Tulum, Mexico for early spring warmth, cenotes, and fewer tourists than peak summer months.
- Experience Nowruz (Persian New Year) around March 20 in Iran, Central Asia or diasporic communities
- Go hiking in Patagonia or Chilean Lake District to see big landscapes without big tour groups.
- Travel to Iceland for the tail end of northern‑lights season.
- Attend SXSW in Austin, Texas early March to fuse film, music, technology and culture into a major global event.
Spring Flavors & Food Adventures
Everyone talks about fall flavors, but spring food is underrated. I always cook more in spring because it feels like a celebration of having options again.
- Go to a farmers market on opening weekend, and taste the first spring produce.
- Cook dinner featuring more than three items from local growers, fresh and seasonal.
- Try foraging for edible greens (with permission) and use them in a salad.
- Bake lemon loaves for friends, because citrus in March feels like a treat.
- Try a new coffee shop terrace, and sip a cold brew while it’s still crisp outside.
- Make a charcuterie board with first spring produce.
- Have a “green smoothie” morning every Monday, for the four weeks of March.
- Cook a menu inspired by spring vegetables you wouldn’t normally buy, like kohlrabi or endive.
- Go to an indoor wine tasting, but only samples from regions just coming into the season.
Creative Moments for the Month
March is the weird zone where you start to feel like doing stuff again but don’t want to fully commit. That makes it a perfect time to dabble.
- Sketch or paint the first blooming flower you spot, even if it’s just a crocus.
- Create a “Spring Vision Board” with cut‑outs, colors and quotes you like.
- Try a new medium—watercolor, collage, pottery—for one weekend, just for fun.
- Take up a new language phrase a week, and aim for four phrases by month’s end.
- Build a “March gratitude jar”, drop a note each day when something good happens.
- Plan and photograph one “before and after” corner of your house, making it feel fresh.
Home & Life Refresh
Spring doesn’t have to mean full-throttle cleaning. But it’s a great time to shake things up and do the bare minimum to make life feel lighter.
- Switch out heavy bedding for lighter layers, and feel the transition at night.
- Plant a small indoor herb garden, so fresh basil or mint isn’t months away.
- Plan your summer trip now, and grab early booking deals.
- Clean or replace your outdoor lights, because you’ll want them again before you know it.
- Donate items you haven’t used in six months, to make space for new stuff.
Catherine, a seasoned travel writer, has lived in 4 different states and explored 36 states and 28 national parks. After spending two years embracing van life, she's now dedicated to sharing her vast knowledge of day trips across America. Catherine's other works has been referenced in major publications like MSN, Self, and TripSavvy.
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