It’s almost National Margarita Day! Nine great places to savor one

Sunday is National Margarita Day, a time to take a trip to mark the occasion and hoist a salt-rimmed glass to toast the cocktail’s creator, whomever he or she was.

The classic Mexican concoction of tequila, lime juice and Cointreau or Triple Sec is marked every Feb. 22. The drink’s creation dates to the late 1930s or early ‘40s, though the origin is fuzzy, according to a story in Smithsonian Magazine.

Nowadays there are endless twists on the classic, and endless places to visit to find them. Here are nine cocktails perfect for a Margarita Day getaway. The only thing you’ll need to ponder: salt or no salt?

Tucson, Ariz.: Tanque Verde Ranch in Tucson, Ariz., hand picks the cactus pears on its desert property to make a $9.50 Prickly Pear Margarita. It’s a mix of prickly pears, tequila and simple syrup and it’s served at the resort’s Doghouse Saloon.

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico: The resort serves up a Carrot Margarita made with Tequila Clase Azul Platino, Cointreau, fresh lime juice, fresh carrot juice and lavender syrup. You’ll find it at the Resort at Pedregal in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. (It costs $13 but will be discounted to $10 on Sunday.)

San Diego area: ‘ritas Cantina at Harrah’s Resort Southern California in Valley Center will be serving an Avocado Rita ($8.95 to $10.95) made with Avion Silver Tequila, fresh avocado, Triple Sec and fresh lime juice.

Phoenix, Ariz.: Litchfield’s restaurant at the Wigwam near Phoenix, Ariz., will be mixing up several margaritas priced at $9 each, including the Berry Margarita made with Don Julio Blanco tequila, fresh lime, fresh strawberries and Triple Sec.

Lanai, Hawaii: Shake it up with the $15 Elderflower Margarita, a mix of Patron Silver Tequila, Elderflower liqueur, agave nectar and grapefruit juice served at Four Seasons Lanai at Manele Bay on Hawaii’s Lanai Island.

Rancho Santa Fe: The El Jefe comes with a hefty $45 price tag. It contains Don Julio 1942 Anejo Tequila, Grand Marnier 100, Cointreau and fresh lime juice and is served at the Pony Room at Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa at Rancho Santa Fe.

San Diego: The Avant Restaurant at Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego brings together a $12 Blood Orange Margarita made with Avant Double Barrel Reposado tequila made by Herradura, fresh-squeezed blood orange juice and Solerno.

San Diego: The South American Margarita skips the tequila and replaces it with Kaapa Pisco paired with muddled blueberries, agave nectar and fresh lime juice. It costs $7 and is served at Don Chido restaurant in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter.

Nationwide: Omni Hotels rolls out a series of margaritas for National Margarita Day, including a Smoky Margarita for $15. It’s made with Del Maguey Vida Mezcal shaken with Grand Marnier and is available until the end of the year at most of the brand’s properties across the country.

And to end on a cold note: Dallas restaurant owner Mariano Martinez invented the world’s first frozen margarita machine (inspired by a 7-Eleven Slurpee machine) in 1971, a gizmo that now lives in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.