Universal Studios – A Sweet Paradise

Las Vegas

Not yet too hot, Vegas is a good spot to go, with the afternoons typically being in the 70s, and sometimes getting up to the 80s by the end of April. The streets are less crowded, giving the opportunity to better explore the Neon Museum, take a ride on the gondola at the Venetian, the High Roller, and the Fremont Street Experience. Right outside the city, you can hike through the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

Nashville, Tennessee

When I fly to Nashville for a long weekend trip in the beginning of April, the weather was about as good as it could get! The average being 70 degrees at that time and closer to 75 at the end of the month makes it perfect for strolling along Broadway and hitting all the country bars! Being a Luke Bryan fan, his bar, Luke’s 32 Bridge, was one of my favorites. I also really liked Ole Red, owned by Blake Shelton, because of the city and sunset views on the rooftop. The Grand Ole Opry, the Johnny Cash Museum, and Country Music Hall of Fame are good for when you need break from drinking!

Atlanta, Georgia

The average daily high temperature in Atlanta in April is 71 degrees, which is nice if you want to attend the Georgia Renaissance Festival, Monster Jam, the Atlanta Grilled Cheese Festival, the Atlanta Film Festival, Illumine, or the Inman Park Festival and Tour of Homes! For rainy days, good options could be Imagine Picasso: The Immersive Experience, DIGATL: Atlanta’s First Digital Art Gallery, or the Trap Music Museum.

Orlando, Florida

During the month of April, Orlando weather is warm, yet not too hot, and the crowds aren’t too bad. If visiting Disney World, you will get to enjoy the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, or the Universal Mardi Gras International Flavors of Carnival at Universal Studios. At the Promenade Plaza Stage, local and regional bands will be performing Tuesday through Sunday. And, Megacon is occuring from the end of March to the beginning of April!

Grand Canyon, Arizona

Grand Canyon South Rim — Photo by G. Lamar

Being in the 60s, April is one of the better times to take a hike at the Grand Canyon. Though you may want to skip the first week, due to the spring break crowds. Most days during this month have a low chance of rain and clear skies. Bright Angel Trailhead to Indian Garden Campground and Rim Trail to Trail of Time are popular hikes in the South Rim. Meanwhile, North Kaibab Trail to Roaring Springs and Widforss Trailhead are recommended hikes for the North Rim.

Which of these places is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks for the read,

-xo, Nicole (:

Personal experience

Over 6 years ago, I took a trip to the City of Angels, or more widely known as, Los Angeles, California. My AirBnB was in a prime location of West Hollywood, just steps to the Walk of Fame. Within the week that I was there, some of the major attractions that I hit were the Griffith Observatory, with a view of the infamous “Hollywood” sign to my left, the Santa Monica Pier, Koreatown, and the Grove. And yes, of course, I had to try In N’ Out Burger. Besides West Hollywood, I took transportation to and from North Hollywood and Anaheim. In Anaheim, I attended the annual Vidcon event, as I was in two YouTube Collab groups at the time. While at the event, I met popular YouTube stars including Christian Collins, Maggie Lindemann, Arden Rose, Lauren Giraldo, and Zachary Piona. I had an overall great vacation in Los Angeles and am looking forward to eventually going back again.

About L.A.

Located in Southern California, Los Angeles has the most amazing weather, especially when I visited in July. During that time, it was, on average, 75 degrees Fahrenheit and sunny, every day. The coldest month there is January, and even then, the weather only drops down to roughly 55 degrees Fahrenheit. However, if you want to avoid larger crowds, you may want to try to go between March and May or between September and November. For specifically going to the beaches, July or August would be recommended.

L.A. is the biggest city in the state, consisting of over 500 square miles. There are a total of 88 smaller cities just within that metropolitan area.

Favorite Tourist Attractions

Runyon Canyon – This is where you may have a chance to spot a celebrity on a hike. Justin Bieber, Channing Tatum, and Natalie Portman have been seen here before.
Griffith Park – Being 5x larger than Central Park in New York City, it contains a planetarium/observatory, golf courses, zoo, train rides, tennis courts, trails, and the Bronson Caves, where the Batman series took place. This park, and Lake Hollywood Park, are likely the greatest places to observe the Hollywood sign.
Universal Studios – Found in the San Fernando Valley region is this 425 acre theme park and film studio. There are tours with attractions there, based on movies, including Jaws and the Fast and Furious franchise. If you are a Harry Potter fan, you need to check out the “Wizarding World of Harry Potter” area within the park. Get tickets here.
Disneyland – Based off of Disney-themed movies, it is nearly impossible to not have fun spending the day at the Disneyland park in Anaheim.
Santa Monica – This coastal city, beach, and pier, home to the end of Route 66, overlooks the Pacific Ocean.
Sunset Boulevard – This iconic strip is 22 miles long. You will probably want to explore the stretch between North Crescent Heights Blvd and Doheny Drive, where the stores and nightlife are. Along the boulevard are tourist stops, like the Roxy Theater, where Bob Marley recorded live albums, and The Comedy Store, where Jerry Seinfeld has performed.
Rodeo Drive – This Beverly Hills road is known for its designer boutiques, Armani, Cartier, and Coco Chanel, to name a few. Britney Spears, P. Diddy, Paris Hilton, and Jack Black are some of many public figures who shop here.
Warner Bros. Studio – Here, you can purchase tickets to take a tour of the studio where the hit TV shows Friends and The Big Bang Theory were shot.
Beaches – Huntington, Venice, Laguna, and Malibu are among the highest-rated beaches on the Southern California coastline.
Hollywood Blvd – Along this lively street, you can find the Walk of Fame, with approximately 2500 Hollywood star’s names on it. Plus, the Kodak Theater is where the Academy Awards are held annually. And let’s not forget about the TCL Chinese Theater, the location at which the Stars Wars franchise premiered back in 1977.
Capital Records – Intended to look like a stack of vinyl records set on a turntable, this building is the studio in which Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole have recorded songs.
Guided Tour – Ride in a vehicle and take pictures of celebrity homes in Hollywood Hills and Beverly Hills.