How to Enjoy Easter Celebrations Across the United States

Easter is a colorful holiday that inspires plenty of grand celebrations.

For some, Easter is a time of traditional religious observance, while for others it's an opportunity to fully welcome springtime. No matter what Easter means to you, the holiday presents an excellent chance to take a getaway with loved ones. Here are some Easter celebrations across the USA worth building your vacation plans around.

Instructions

1. New York City's Easter Parade is a tradition stretching back to the mid-1800s, featuring a bevy of Easter bonnets, costumes and pets prancing down Fifth Avenue to the delight of onlookers. Kicking off usually at 10 a.m., the parade route proceeds up Fifth Avenue between 49th and 57th Streets.

2. The White House Easter Egg Roll has been around ever since President Rutherford B. Hayes introduced the tradition, welcoming children 10 and under-and some 40,000 visitors-to roll hard boiled eggs and enjoy sports, cooking classes, live music, storytelling and other seasonal activities on the South Lawn. The event is typically held annually on Easter Monday.

3. Colorado's Largest Easter Egg Hunt can be enjoyed by those heading to Copper Mountain Ski Resort, where you won't even need a lift ticket to peruse the 50,000 Easter eggs scattered about, just waiting to be discovered. While the resort's Village egg hunts are perfect for youngsters, The Big Kids' Hunt for ages 13 and up offers a chance to don skis and search the mountain. Special "copper eggs" can be redeemed for prizes, including free lift tickets and season passes.

4. Easter Egg Hunt Celebration at the Miami Seaquarium is a lively Easter celebration that features Easter Bunny appearances, multiple egg hunts and prizes-plus fun rides and activities at "Bunnypalooza." Each day the Easter Bunny makes a grand entrance on a fire truck, along with Miami Seaquarium characters and other special guests. The fun times happen at the Miami Seaquarium's 38-acre tropical paradise, complete with dolphins, killer whales, sea lions, sea turtles, manatees and other spectacular sea life.

5. Vermont's Easter Bunny Express is a breathtaking train ride through Vermont with the Easter Bunny, from White River Junction to Thetford. The route travels along the majestic Connecticut River, offering panoramic views along the way of the White Mountain foothills and a wildlife sanctuary. Aside from carrying the Easter Bunny and delicious candy on board, the train will take a short stop at the Montshire Museum for an Easter egg hunt. Brunch at the Coolidge Hotel is available for an additional fee. Departs White River Junction, Vermont on Easter Sunday.

6. The Easter Surfing Festival at Cocoa Beach, Florida is one of the best surfing events on the state's Eastern coast, attracting some 100,000 people annually. With both longboard and shortboard competitions, as well as skimboarding contests and other exhibitions, the event draws some of the world's top surfers to compete.

7. Easter Baskets for the Animals at Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo treats visitors to the likes of gorillas, elephants, grizzlies and other animals munching their way through their very own Easter baskets. The baskets, which are lined with flowers, berries and other species-friendly treats, help the zookeepers enrich the animals' lives by promoting natural behavior and mental stimulation. Feedings for various animals happen at scheduled intervals throughout a day during Easter weekend.