Guide to Watching The Cherry Blossom Festival in DC
Watching the Cherry Blossom Festival in DC gets all of the hype it deserves. This post is going to break it all down for you, including fun things to do in the area! Things can get a little hectic, just a fair warning so be prepared to wake up early to get the best viewings of the cherry blossoms. When you have the chance to see them in full bloom, it is like no other. A true bucket-list destination & adventure if I do say so myself.
Why Is The Cherry Blossom Festival In DC So Fascinating?
Considering this is a timely event, it’s one of those vacations where you either make it or miss it royally. This is why planning is key. If you guys are free when the National Park Service predicts the bloom, GO GO GO! You can find the prediction for this year here. Thanks to the Washington D.C Tourism website, “The entire blooming period can last up to 14 days, which includes the days leading up to peak bloom. NPS annually predicts the official peak bloom“. That means that even if peak bloom is X date, you can still get a chance to see it a few days before/after!
Fun Facts About The Cherry Blossoms
🌸1:There are 3,000 cherry blossom trees planted in D.C
🌸2:It is a symbol of friendship between Japan & the U.S
🌸3:Japan gifted these trees to the U.S in 1912
🌸4:Japan had planned to gift 2,000 cherry blossom trees 2 years earlier, but the Department of Agriculture halted them due to infested insects in the trees
🌸5:The flowers are edible, but if you pick them, you could get arrested because it’s considered vandalism of federal property!
How To Watch The Cherry Blossom Festival In DC
Every year, the dates change due to the weather, but there is a festival where you can appreciate and learn about Japanese culture. For 24 hours, enjoy Japanese cultural performances, authentic Japanese food and beverages, handmade Japanese crafts & more. For the full scoop, check it out here. Even if you don’t plan everything perfectly, admiring the beautiful trees and checking out some museums will suffice. Since it gets crazy, it’s important to reserve places you most certainly want to go. Need help deciding which places to prioritize on your itinerary? Here is your perfect guide to watching the cherry blossom festival in DC with my favorite spots to explore in the area!
1. Don’t Just Go For One Day
Rookie mistake, let me tell you. If you are trying to go to D.C for the cherry blossoms, I get it there are other cool places to go nearby, but make sure your schedule is open in case things do not go to plan- because well, hate to break it to you, that is life and not everything goes to plan. You want to at least have a good 2-3 days to get the experience and make sure that you get the photos that you want. Maybe it rains on the first day, and then what? You missed your chance. Don’t bank on one day and instead have a few more days to make sure that you get to see it.
2. Scope Out The Tidal Basin
The Tidal Basin is one of the most popular sights for the Cherry Blossom Festival in DC. Surrounding the basin along the walkway path are thousands of trees that are in full bloom. Here you see the iconic photos of the trees with the lake in the background. The cool thing about D.C is that everything is relatively in the same area, so once you find it, you’re golden and no longer have to worry about directions anywhere. Directions to the Tidal Basin here! Looking for some adventure? Paddle your way through the Tidal Basin for a unique vantage point of the beautiful cherry blossoms. Paddling also allows you to see the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, a spot that is more out of the way to get to by walking.
Images By: TheBrooklyniteAbroad.com
3. Go Early To Avoid Crowds
My sister and I woke up at 6 am to go watch the sunrise and it was peaceful. Even at 6 am, people were still walking around, going for a jog, and exploring. This is your best shot at getting a good picture without a ton of people in the way. Hands down, it’s better than being shoulder to shoulder with everyone and their mothers trying to enjoy the view. Since we got there early, the walkway paths were close to empty, and we could go for a bike ride around the Tidal Basin. When we were biking, we scoped out the best spots to take photos that when we went later with our friends, we had the location on lock! I mean, how else would I know that this exact location would get the BEST PHOTOS!!? Planning ahead- that’s what! Pro Tip: If you’re trying to bike around the Tidal Basin during Cherry Blossom season in the afternoon, good luck. You’re better off parking your bike away and walking into the Tidal Basin.
Images By: TheBrooklyniteAbroad.com
4. Getting Around Washington, DC
- By Bike: One of the best ways to explore a city if you are not the best at public transportation is by bike. You’ll find yourself walking a ton in DC so this is a great break to let your feet rest. The city is 100% bike-friendly with a lot of infrastructure in place to feel comfortable and confident. Pro Tip: Coordinate your hotel/accommodation close to the bike stops so you can rent and start your day earlier! Check out the Capital Bike Share System Map here. All you need to do is get the app here and choose the package. I’d recommend the 24-Hour Pass that goes for $8/ per day, and you get unlimited 45-minute rides!
- Ubers are also extremely affordable in DC. Rides were as low as $10 and came in handy when we got tired of walking. If you’re going out at night and debating taking the Uber to your hotel, just do it. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
5. Explore The Monuments
Since this is the capital of the United States, there are a lot of monuments here that are symbolic of American culture and its history! While walking/biking along the Tidal Basin, keep a close eye out for the…
- Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
- Thomas Jefferson Memorial
- Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
- Washington Monument
- Lincoln Memorial (Fun fact: the building which has the Lincoln Memorial has all 50 states and the date they were considered apart of the US) Keep a close eye out and tell your family and friends!
Hack: If you want to take a break- do what I did and take a nap at the park! This is one of my favorite things to do- being surrounded by nature and resting on the grass. You know you had a good nap when you get grass marks on your face. If you plan on doing this- maybe bring a light blanket and wear clothes that won’t get stained. You’ll also want to wear comfortable walking shoes for obvious reasons!
Images By: TheBrooklyniteAbroad.com
6. Visit the Museums
Now there are a TON of museums so you most certainly cannot do all of them. Here is the list for you to choose from and guess what- they’re free!!
- National Archives Museum
- International Spy Museum
- Smithsonian National Museum of American History
- Larz Anderson House
- Eisenhower Executive Office Building
- Library of Congress
- National Museum of American History
- The Capital
- United States Botanic Garden
- O Museum in the Maison
7. Places to Eat
- Eat at The Warf, Chesapeake Bay’s Finest! So The Warf is a boardwalk-esque spot that has SOO many food spots. If you are a seafood lover, you need to go here! We got the prawns & raw oysters, and let me tell you- with the added spices- IT’S ABSOLUTELY SCRUMPTIOUS. They don’t have seats, but you can easily walk along the boardwalk, find public tables, and enjoy the sunset. As you can tell, we ate this pretty quickly,y so I don’t have a picture of the sunset. Again, if you love seafood- THIS IS THE PLACE!!
- Get Bottomless Brunch at Mission Dupont Circle: Let me tell you when I made them ride the bikes everywhere, I MADE THEM ride the bike everywhere, haha! This place was like a 15-20 minute bike ride from the main area, and trust me, it was W O R T H I T! The food was delicious and the food was even more, WOW. Bike riding after a 90-minute bottomless brunch was an adventure, but we made it and live to tell the tale, haha! I would recommend getting the Tinga Brunch Bowl. It was a perfect balance and gave me just the right amount of energy to continue sightseeing around D.C without feeling exhausted and bloated! See the menu here.
- Kirwans on the Warf: Food, delicious. Location, priceless. Experience, worth your while. What I loved most was the ambiance and service. After eating, go for a walk along the wharf!
Images By: TheBrooklyniteAbroad.com
8. Places to Drink/Go Out
- Catina Bambina: Along the Warf, there are so many places to eat and drink, but here is the catch- you have to make a reservation! We weren’t able to get seated and the wait time was sooo long. This one place was nice and squeezed us in so very grateful. We got these fun fancy drinks, but of course, get what your heart desires! Heads up, this is just bar and they only serve snacks, so make sure you plan accordingly and eat somewhere else beforehand! Check out the spot here.
- If you’re into Speakeasies: Check out The Mirror & Allegory & Never Looked Better. It’s perfect for winding down without the clubbing experience.
- Blues Alley Club in Georgetown: If you love jazz music, this spot is worth it. Check them out here to see upcoming shows.
- Karaoke: Sing your heart out after a long day of traveling around DC. For a fun experience, check it out here.
Images By: TheBrooklyniteAbroad.com
So There You Have It
To summarize this weekend trip in a few words, it would be excessive biking, drinking, cherry blossom gazing, and a whole lot of laughs! If you are planning a trip soon, you cannot miss the Cherry Blossom Festival in DC. Even if you cannot go during the cherry blossom festival, the itinerary is the same all year round. Be sure to send this to a friend and start planning your trip to see the Cherry Blossom Festival in DC!
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