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Many European destinations and warming up, and spring is definitely on the way. But which short-haul spot is most likely to give you sunshine and dry days over Easter? Here’s the destination with the best odds.

It feels like winter has dragged on forever this year, and many parts of the country are only just emerging from months of endless rain and grey skies to see a little bit of sunshine. With Easter on the way, which can be an unpredictable time for UK weather, many people will be looking to get away to the sunniest spot they can find for a few days.

Luckily, TUI has put together a list of the Easter getaways that are most likely to give you the ideal weather conditions, analysing historic data on the average rainfall, wind speed, and temperature in early-April to work out a Good Weather Score. Brits will be pleased to hear that topping the rankings is a destination just over four hours away from the UK that’s expected to see highs of 19C over the next couple of weeks.

According to TUI’s rankings, Turkey historically has the “most ideal weather conditions” during the Easter holidays, usually offering holidaymakers average temperatures of 18C. It’s also the destination where you’re least likely to be caught in an April shower. In the Easter holiday months, the amount of rainfall is just 0.01mm on average.

When the data was broken down into individual destinations, Marmaris in Turkey was the place most likely to give holidaymakers the best Easter weather conditions. It often reaches highs of 19C around Easter, and is usually dry with only light winds. Marmaris is in southwest Turkey in an area dubbed the Turkish Riviera. This lively port town has a marina, bustling grand bazaar, and historic sites such as the 16th-century Marmaris Castle.

Marmaris also has an amazing selection of sandy beaches that sit alongside its turquoise seas. Marmaris Long Beach (Uzunyali), is around six miles long, starting at the city centre, and has a lively promenade full of hotels, restaurants, and bars. A quieter alternative can be found at İçmeler Beach, just south of the city, where you’ll find sandy coves and incredible mountain views.

Second on the list for good weather was Greece, and this time of year brings mean temperatures of around 16C and long sunny days. Meanwhile, Bulgaria ranked third for its “pleasant and balanced climate”. Like Turkey it offers light winds and low rainfall, and Easter can be a good time to explore as tourist don’t have to contend with the intense summer heat. Bulgaria is becoming a major hiking destination, especially around the Rila and Pirin mountain ranges which combine gentle trails with more intense, steep climbs.

Bulgaria is also known for its stunning beaches. The Black Sea coast has 200 beaches to choose from and resorts to suit all sorts of holidaymakers. Sunny Beach is known for its lively nightlife and cheap drink deals, while Varna is a historic and cultural hub that has soft golden sand beaches and clear blue seas.

Anyone planning an Easter break can also check TUI’s holiday weather guide, which gives a breakdown of weather by month for popular tourist spots.

Europe’s top 10 destinations for good Easter weather

1. Turkey
2. Greece
3. Bulgaria
4. Spain
5. Croatia
6. Italy
7. Hungary
8. Portugal
9. Montenegro
10. Gibraltar

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

Feb. 28 (UPI) — Firefighters in East Texas rescued two people after the hot air balloon they were traveling in struck a cell phone tower and left them stranded, local officials said.

In a Facebook post, the Longview Fire Department said the incident happened around 8:15 a.m. in north Gregg County. Neither of the occupants were injured.

After the balloon hit the cell tower, it became stuck about 920 feet in the air.

“Climbing operations began around 8:50 a.m. using multiple rope systems due to the extreme height and complexity of the incident,” the post said.

The rescuers reached the balloon occupants around 10 a.m. and both were brought to the ground.

Longview is about 130 miles east of Dallas and 65 mile west of Shreveport, La.

While seven league defeats have curtailed Celtic’s defence of the title, 11 draws have left Rangers frustrated in their pursuit of Hearts.

The most recent was a 2-2 draw from two down at Livingston last week while Celtic lost at home to Hibernian. The weekend before, Rangers recovered from 1-0 and 2-1 down to defeat Hearts 4-2 at Ibrox.

“My team showed character, big personality in the last couple of weeks,” Rohl added.

“Also to come back away in Celtic, in the stadium there after 1-0 down, showed that even if the game goes in one direction, what we don’t want, we always have a chance to come back.

“Yeah, we dropped two points [at Livingston]. We missed two points. But let’s turn it in a positive way. At the end, we won one point after 2-0 down.

“When you are a manager and you have the chance to play at home this kind of game, then you are also on fire. We are on fire. It was a good training week so far.

“I feel the confidence, I feel the belief. It’s not just about the shape and the tactic, but it’s also about how we go in duels, how we win the balls, how we play forward.”

The German said: “It’s a crucial game, but no team will be out after this game because there are still 27 points you can take. It’s two matchdays and you are in the title race again.

“It’s a crucial one because when you come closer and closer to the end of the season and there is more and more in, then you know every game is important.”

PLENTY of sunshine and highs of 17C – the UK is finally set to bask in some long-awaited warmth.

After weeks of rain and dingy skies, tomorrow the capital city is set to bask in high temperatures that make it on par with Barcelona.

So if you’re stuck with what to do – here are some of our top suggestions for all ages…

Beer gardens

When the sun shines, why not do what us Brits do best? Head over to a beer garden.

London has plenty so you’re really spoiled for choice, but one of the most popular is The Duke of Edinburgh over in Brixton.

Last year it was named London’s best beer garden by Barratt London who ranked them on reviews, price, and the amount of sun each one gets.

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It also happens to be the favourite of former radio presenter, Roman Kemp.

Talking to Sun Travel, he said: “I’ve had so many amazing times in the Duke of Edinburgh in Brixton.

“And it’s got the best pub garden, I haven’t seen a better one in London, it’s absolutely massive and it’s the perfect place to be in the summer.

“When I go there to watch the football, there’s a particular table that I have to sit at.”

Here you can get a glass of wine for as little as £4.70 and cocktails from £11.

Other popular spots around the city include The Pear Tree Cafe – there’s one at Battersea Park, another in Clapham Common and Lincoln’s Inn Fields.

Or head to The Terrace at Alexandra Palace which is open all year round – and you don’t get many views as good as this one.

At the beer garden you can order stone-fired pizzas by Fuoco’s and drinks from the Phoenix Bar.

Parks

If you want to spend time outdoors, just without the lively beer banter, then head to one of the city’s many parks.

The eight Royal Parks of London have beautiful spaces, lots with ponds and plenty of greenery.

The biggest is Richmond Park which lends itself well to a relaxing stroll or bike ride.

For a sit down to bask in the rare February sun, head to the likes of Greenwich Park or St James’s.

In Regent’s Park, make sure to head over to Japanese Island which has a waterfall and is accessed on a wisteria-covered footbridge.

When it comes to families, tomorrow will be a great day to let kids loose in the great outdoors.

Playgrounds

And London has lots of playgrounds ready to be explored.

Paddington Recreation Ground has recently been revamped and has a ship playframe with rope ladders and slides.

It even has its own mini Paddington Rec Station with a wooden train, and swings too.

There’s also an adventure play section with a wooden play structure, rope bridges and a zip line.

In central London, head to the National Maritime Museum to explore The Cove – it has a play ship, Kraken, and even its own shark – it’s also free entry.

Exploring the world’s largest botanical garden is something that is better when it’s hot.

Attractions

Kew Gardens holds the Guinness World Record for its massive living plant collection, which includes over 50,000 plants.

Of course many of the exhibits are indoors and climate-controlled, but outside there are lots of trails and even more plants to see.

Travel Reporter Cyann Fielding went along late last year and said: “The gardens appear to sprawl on for miles and miles, with numerous different attractions and features to be explored.

“Another spot that is great for kids, is Kew Gardens’ new Carbon Garden. Having only opened in summer of this year, it is a great new spot to explore for returning visitors and children alike.

“The garden shows the essential role plants and fungi play in tackling climate change and in the centre is a pavilion that was created using low-carbon, natural materials.

“Elsewhere in the gardens, visitors will find the Treetop Walkway, which allows you to walk level with the tree canopy and even see London‘s skyline.”

Peak tickets cost from £24 online or £27 at the gate for adults.

Restaurants

In the evening, you can enjoy the last of the sun (for a little while at least) while tucking in to a riverside meal.

Time Out has revealed their top riverside restaurants in London – and here are best ones that you can go to tomorrow.

Ombra sits on the banks of the Regent’s Canal and is the perfect spot to sip on a spritz and indulge in some pasta.

The bright pop art Darcie Green barge actually sits on the water on Regent’s Canal and brings a taste of Australia to the city.

You can enjoy a ‘Bondi Brunch’ in mid-morning, or tuck into a tasty lunch of tuna steak, chicken parmigiana or sirloin steak.

It also has an extensive cocktail list – with an Aussie twist of course.

For more fun slightly further out from the city, here are our favourite cheap days out that are under an hour from London – from trendy seaside towns to historic cities.

And here are the Sun Travel team’s 30 best experiences around the world that everyone should do this year.

Billy Steinberg, who wrote the lyrics to some of the biggest pop hits of the 1980s — including Madonna’s “Like a Virgin,” Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors” and Heart’s “Alone” — died Monday at his home in Brentwood. He was 75.

His death was confirmed by his lawyer, Laurie Soriano, who said the cause was cancer.

A master of the melodramatic power ballad, Steinberg wrote vividly about the experience of being overwhelmed by love. In “Like a Virgin,” the narrator sings of having been lost in the wilderness — “I was beat, incomplete / I’d been had, I was sad and blue” — only to meet someone who makes the singer feel “shiny and new.” In “Alone,” the narrator lies in a dark room late at night, listening to the clock tick as they ponder an unconfessed infatuation.

“Like a Virgin,” which Steinberg co-wrote with his frequent creative partner Tom Kelly, spent six weeks atop Billboard’s Hot 100 in late 1984 and early 1985. With Kelly, Steinberg went on to score four more No. 1s on the Hot 100: “True Colors,” “Alone,” Whitney Houston’s “So Emotional” and the Bangles’ “Eternal Flame.”

Among the other hits he wrote were the Pretenders’ “I’ll Stand by You,” the Divinyls’ “I Touch Myself,” and “I Drove All Night,” which was recorded by both Lauper and Roy Orbison.

Born in Fresno in 1950, Steinberg moved as a child with his family to Palm Springs, where his father had a business growing table grapes in the Coachella Valley. He started writing songs while studying literature at Bard College in the late ’60s. Yet after his junior year he began having severe anxiety attacks and dropped out of school, as he wrote in a 2004 essay posted on his website. He moved home to Palm Springs and worked on his dad’s vineyards, writing lyrics as he drove around in a red Ford pickup truck.

In the late ’70s, Steinberg formed a new wave band called Billy Thermal — the name pointed to the Coachella Valley town where the vineyards were located — that eventually got signed to the producer Richard Perry’s Planet Records. Billy Thermal made an album that went unreleased, though Linda Ronstadt and Pat Benatar recorded several of the band’s songs; Ronstadt’s version of “How Do I Make You,” from her “Mad Love” LP, hit No. 10 on the Hot 100 in early 1980.

After Billy Thermal broke up, Steinberg formed a group called i-Ten with Kelly, whom he’d met at a party thrown by Fleetwood Mac’s onetime producer, Keith Olsen. The duo released an album in 1983 that featured an early version of “Alone.”

Steinberg won a Grammy Award in 1997 for his work on Celine Dion’s “Falling Into You,” which was named album of the year. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2011. His survivors include his wife, Trina, and his sons Ezra and Max.