Plants are shooting up from the ground, trees are budding like mad, and animals have come out from their caves or under their rocks and are feeling a little frisky. Every day gets a little bit longer and warmer, meaning you have even more quality time to do the things you love to do, or start on some long–abandoned projects.

What are you going to do this Spring to turn the page? What new horizons will you conquer; what new stamps will ink your passport? What can you do to be a better you? Here are five top ideas to jump into Spring feet–first.

1 Create a “new you” by volunteering

“Voluntourism” has taken the world by storm in the past decade, and the U.S. is leading the way. Start your journey to a “better you and a better world” with the Friends of Saguaro National Park outside Tucson, where you can clear paths and maintain parkland for our mighty, spiny, succulent brethren. At up to 50 feet tall, they’re the largest cacti in North America. Up in Spud Country, you can help keep up appearances at parks around the state capital through Serve Idaho–last year, these folks even build a new porcupine habitat at the Boise Zoo. Finally, from Denver to Colorado Springs, the Continental Divide Trail Alliance is always on the lookout for those willing to help blaze new trails–or maintain the existing network– for Rocky Mountain hikers.

2 Tiptoe through tulips

There’s hardly anything that says Spring more boldly than a garden in bloom. Let’s face it, they can be stimulating, inspiring, and heck, downright sexy. Why not take a meditative solo stroll–or a romantic ramble for two–through some of America’s amazing botanical treasures?

San Francisco’s Strybing Arboretum has docent–led tours through a tree hugger’s delight set inside lovely Golden Gate Park. Just across the Bay are two treasures: Berkeley’s WPA–era Rose Garden and the 34–acre University of California Botanical Garden. Both have great vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Portland isn’t called the “City of Roses” for nothing, and its International Rose Test Garden, where experts test out new hybrids, is the country’s oldest public garden. You’ll probably see a future medal–winner here! There’s also a Shakespeare Garden and Miniature Rose Garden on site, nestled between the city’s Japanese Garden and Hoyt Arboretum. On the north edge of Portland is the Peninsula Park Rose Garden, with more than 10,000 plantings of pink, red, yellow and white, and Ladd’s Addition Rose Garden, which boasts 3,000 rosy varieties spread over four diamond–shaped plots.

Down below the Mason–Dixon Line, the University of South Florida Botanical Garden in Tampa contains myriad tropical and subtropical trees and shrubs, a rain forest, a cornucopia of carnivorous plants, a butterfly garden, and a fruit orchard.

3 Go take a hike

Yes, those boots are made for walking. So lace ’em up and hit the trails of our top hiking spots:

Sandia National Forest outside of Albuquerque has more than 60 trails totaling 150 miles. You can even scamper up to the 10,000–foot summit of Sandia Peak itself, which the Pueblo Indians called bien mur or “big mountain.”

The Marin Headlands near San Francisco are part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. You can march to World War II–era forts like Fort Cronkhite and the NIKE Missile Site, check out the Mission Blue butterflies at Fort Baker, or stroll down to the active lighthouse at Point Bonita, all while enjoying spectacular views of San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean.

Sixty–five miles south of San Francisco, and just southwest of San Jose, is Big Basin Redwoods State Park, California’s oldest state park, where a number treks through 80 miles of trails will satisfy the most ardent hiker.

Phoenix’s Papago Park, bordering the city zoo and botanical garden, is a great place for family outings. A more difficult hike with awesome views is the Black Mesa Trail outside town, which climbs three moderate miles through thick cholla cactus to an elevation of 2,750 feet. This trail is nine miles, so don’t forget water, a hat and sun block.

The 534–acre Discovery Park in Seattle’s Magnolia neighborhood has something for everyone–including seven miles of trails (loops of two to eight miles) that afford views of Mount Rainier, Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. Pack a lunch and see the wonders of the Emerald City.

4 Roll in the mud

If you didn’t get enough mud on your shoes hiking, why not cover yourself in it at Calistoga’s mud baths in Northern California?

The hot mud–guaranteed by the owners to be “clean mud,” because it’s pumped through 212–degree heat between customers–is reputed to be a cure–all for what ails you, from arthritis to removal of blood toxins to a good old exfoliation of your dried winter skin. Extras at the numerous spas throughout the region include herbal facial treatments and couples rooms where you can enjoy the healing waters together. There are also baths at the Glen Ivy Spas located just north of Los Angeles, said to be California’s only red mud baths.

5 Kick your bucket list

“I’ve been everywhere, man,” sang Johnny Cash, before rattling off a tongue–twisting litany of American towns and cities in one of his hit songs. Chances are you haven’t traveled as widely as The Man in Black–but what places are on your “bucket list?”

Been to Bozeman? Seen springtime in the Rockies? Dipped your toe in Utah’s Great Salt Lake, or the soothing Pacific waters of Cabo San Lucas or Puerto Vallarta? Pick a place you’ve never been–but always wanted to go–and make it a priority this year. Anchorage to Austin, Fargo to Ft. Lauderdale, there’s a big continent out there, waiting for you. There’s your list, friends. Now get to it!