20 Things To Look Forward To This Spring In New England

Baseball

Pitchers and Catchers have already reported for the Boston Red Sox, and opening day is just 6 weeks away. The Sox first game is vs. the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday, April 6, at 3:05 pm. The Fenway home opener is vs. the Washington Nationals on Monday, April 13, at 3:05 pm. 

March Madness

Get your brackets ready NCAA March Madness is right around the corner. 

Kicking off with selection Sunday on March 15, the NCAA Tournament is not only the best time of year in college basketball, but the best time of year in all of sports. 

Plus, with the potential to have multiple local teams in the tournament it will make for an exciting time in New England. 

Golf

For most New Englander golfers, the approach of winter means putting your golf clubs into storage and turning on the television to watch PGA tournaments. While the Masters will be aired from April 9-12, the upcoming approach of warmer weather will allow for the snow to melt, ground to unfreeze, and golfers to return to the courses.

Boating

One ritual of the spring that many New Englanders are looking forward to is getting the boat back in the water. After the brutal winter we've had, boaters are chomping at the bit to get back on the water and enjoy our awesome waterfronts and bays.

NHL Playoffs

For many New Englanders the approach of spring means the upcoming NHL playoffs as 16 teams battle it out to win the best trophy in all of sports, Lord Stanley's Cup. 

The Boston Bruins are in a playoff spot but will look to build momentum for another cup run as the season winds down. 

There is nothing as intense as the NHL playoffs. 

Spring Break!

Spring Break! As March approaches many New England high school and college students look forward to their upcoming spring break trips. While not everyone gets to travel, this time of year is famous and more likely infamous for the amount of traveling and partying that is involved for many New England students.

photo credit restreguas/Flickr

Fishing Season

Get your rods and reels ready because with the approach of warmer weather comes the return of fishing seasons. While some New England states allow for fishing year round, many New England states have opening days for trout fishing that begin in early April. Although there is still a plentiful amount of snow on the ground, fishing season is right around the corner.

photo credit: Grand River Conservation Authority/Flickr

Gardening

Believe it or not, the sprouting of buds on trees and the emergence of flowers is coming up in New England’s near future. Although this winter has felt like one of New England’s wors, the melting of the snow will bring joy back for those who love to go into their backyards and begin to dig up the fresh soil to start their annual garden (it's under there somewhere). Even if you are not a gardening enthusiast, the air will lose its harsh cold sting and be replaced by the refreshing scent of floral life. 

Road Trip!

Say goodbye to the black ice, the five foot snow drifts, and (hopefully) the potholes. As the ice melts and we reclaim our streets from the snow, we're looking forward to rolling down our windows and going for a cruise.

photo credit: Derek Lyons/Flickr

Lower Heating Bills

As winter will come to a close New Englanders could look forward to spending less money on heating bills. Although the bitter cold is hitting New England hard, and also therefore hitting their wallets hard, this brutal cold streak will soon come to an end and we'll be able to turn down our thermostats save some cash.

photo credit: Images Money/Flickr

Sun Dresses

Sun dresses. Sun Dresses. Sun Dresses. With the approach of spring, it means that sundresses are almost back! Sundresses are a fun way to show off how hard you've been working to keep the weight off all winter long.

photo credit: vintspiration/Flickr

Travel

The upcoming spring season means travelling for many New Englanders. From March 6-8 the 12th annual Triple AAA Travel Marketplace will take place at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA. The show will feature many traveling options from driving vacations, to feature cruises, to tour packages. Discounts and travel discounts will be offered by many of the vendors. 

Flower And Garden Show

This year's Spring Flower and Garden Show at the Providence Convention Center takes place February 19-22, and has the theme "Garden Adventures." Plan out your garden, check out the amazing displays, and take in a demonstration or two. Plus, there's storytelling, puppet shows, and animal demonstrations for the kids. 

St Patrick's Day

With the large Irish population in New England, it's no wonder we're famous for our St. Patrick's Day celebrations. Parades take place  in Newport on Saturday March 14, South Boston on Sunday, March 15, in Worcester on Sunday, March 8, and in Providence on March 21, so there's plently of opportunity to show off your "wearing of the green" all March long.

photo credit: Gioia De Antoniis/Flickr

Easter Egg Hunts

Spring means Easter, and Easter means Easter egg hunts! In addition to your own Easter Sunday traditions, your family can also participate in the annual Easter Egg Hunt & Brunch at Rosecliff Mansion in Newport on April 4th. Reservations are required and are accepted only via telephone at 401-847-1000 ext. 140, so get your spots now!

photo credit lyle58/Flickr

NBA Playoffs

For Boston Celtics fans, this is a crucial time as spring means the approach of the NBA finals. As of right now the Celtics are two games back from play-off contention and fans will watch and hopefully see their team entire the playoff series.

Boston Calling Music Fest

Boston Calling, the first New England music festival of the season kicks off in downtown Boston on the weekend on May 22-24, and features Beck (maybe Kanye West will show up?), The Pixies, and Tenacious D, plus many, many more.

Bicycling

Once the streets are clear of ice and snow and the temperatures rise, one of the most fun things to do in New England is to jump on a bike and go for a nice long ride. There are plenty of bike paths to explore at your leisure, and many cities like Providence, Boston, and Worcester are beginning to make city streets much more bike friendly.

photo credit: Mt. Hood Territory/Flickr

Living History

Plimoth Plantation opens for another season on March 14. The 17th-Century English Village is a re-creation of the small farming and maritime community built by the Pilgrims along the shore of Plymouth Harbor. In the Village, the year is 1627, just seven years after the arrival of Mayflower. You can interact with the Pilgrims or just observe a day in the life of 1627.

Boston Marathon

The 119th running of the Boston Marathon takes place on Patriots' Day, April 20. Catch the the annual Red Sox early Patriots Day game vs. Baltimore, then head down to Boylston St to cheer on the runnners. It's a Boston and New England tradition.