It’s hard to believe we’re already in the third month of the year, especially since it feels nothing close to spring here on the East Coast. The turning pages of the calendar give me hope one day all of the snow will melt, though! Regardless of your weather, March allows for several fun travel opportunities if you know where to look. You’ve probably heard of the little holiday in the middle of the month — St. Patrick’s Day. If you live in a section of the country where St. Patrick’s Day isn’t widely celebrated, it can be fun to travel to a destination such as New York or Chicago where you’ll be sure to find enough celebrations to keep you occupied for the entire week leading up to the holiday. Some hotels offer St. Patrick’s Day specials with festive inclusions, such as St. Patrick’s Day teas and traditional Irish buffets. The National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C., also begins in March, and you can find a wide variety of events happening regardless of your time of visit, budget and whether or not you have children in tow. A list of events is up on the festival’s official website. Many of the events are outdoors to take full advantage of the beautiful scenery, so be sure to check the weather forecast for the days you plan to visit. Whether you’re a diehard college basketball fan or just a fan in the month of March, March Madness will be starting up soon, so get your brackets ready. The event begins March 17, and games will be taking place all over the country, from Seattle to Syracuse, with the championship game held in Indianapolis. Thousands of fans follow their teams around the country, and it’s a great excuse for a fun-filled weekend getaway. March offers lots of reasons to get out of town and have a great time. Make plans to experience a place or event that’s March-exclusive, even if it’s only for the day! — Holly Godbey, marketing & sales assistant