In spring, Washington, D.C., dazzles. That’s when more than 2,500 cherry trees pop into bloom at the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park. The flowers frame the Jefferson Memorial, fringing the artificial reservoir with a lush ribbon of pink and white that’s subtly reflected in the water. The famous site is bucket-list beautiful. Plus, the National Cherry Blossom Festival’s citywide celebrations from March 20 to April 13 add fun. The events commemorate Tokyo’s 1912 gift of the trees to the city.
And it’s not just the Tidal Basin that’s in bloom. The budding cherry trees soften the facades of government buildings, lace the streets, and brighten the National Arboretum. Delicate, fragrant and like all things magical, the blooms are fleeting but so worth experiencing. Even with throngs of people, we always find strolling beneath the canopy of petals restorative, and we can feel the joy of the other onlookers, which increases our own.
Start your cherry-blossom tour at the Tidal Basin, but be there by 6 a.m. if you can. In the early morning the crowds are thinner than later in the day, and the light is optimal for photos. At those hours, we pass engaged couples and wedding parties happily posing amid the blooms. We also like to walk to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, for us one of the most calming sites, on the western side of the Tidal Basin. The outdoor rooms divide the crowds, the fountains, and waterfalls create a soothing soundtrack, and the sculpture of Roosevelt in his wheelchair near Fala, his Scottish Terrier, humanize the president.
If you want a sweeping view from one of the site’s paddleboats, line up early since the National Park Service suspends its reservation system during cherry-blossom season. Peak bloom, when 70 percent of the cherry buds open, can occur between mid-March and mid-April, depending on the weather. The National Park Service predicts this year’s peak to be between March 18 and 31. But even without the ultimate display of flowers, the Tidal Basin delights.
A few tips: Don’t even think about parking nearby. One year we arrived at 5:30 a.m. to find all of the legal and most of the illegal spaces occupied. Now we take an Uber, taxi, or Metrorail. To reach the Tidal Basin from the Smithsonian-National Mall Metro Station, the closest to the site, requires a 25-minute walk.
Locals also know to find additional blooms and fewer crowds at the U.S. National Arboretum in the northeast part of the city. The off-the-beaten-path facility, just 2.2 miles from the Capitol, blooms with 451 acres of gardens and greenery. Although you won’t be alone, the crowds are less intense than at the Tidal Basin. In addition, you can drive or bike (bring your own) along the arboretum’s nine miles of road.
Two large weeping Japanese cherry trees with their cascading branches stand near the National Herb Garden. To help prevent the decline of the 75-year-old trees, USNA experts successfully used structures to support the trees’ limbs. About 650 additional cherry trees lace the grounds, with most visible to the public. Some remain part of the research collection. To see clusters of blossoms, drive along Azalea Road, Hickey Hill Road near the Holly and Magnolia Collections, and tour the Asian Collections.
For another Japanese tradition, visit the arboretum’s impressive display of more than 300 miniature trees at the facility’s National Bonsai and Penjing Museum. Another bonus: In spring, the arboretum’s hillsides blaze with azaleas, daffodils, and dogwood.
The National Cherry Blossom Festival blooms with many citywide events. Fly a kite at the Washington Monument Grounds (March 29), be energized by Taiko drum performers (March 29), enjoy live music and fireworks at the Navy Yard (April 5), and watch floats and marching bands roll along Constitution Avenue at the annual parade (April 12). Check the festival schedule for more events.
