For most north-eastern Americans, a tell-tale sign that spring has arrived is the annual blooming of the cherry blossom trees in Washington DC. This year, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which has both virtual and in-person events will be held from March 20th to April 17th. Although the festival goes on for four weeks, March 22nd to 25th have been predicted by the National Park Service (NPS) as the peak bloom dates. Meaning about 70% of the pretty pink flowers will be open, these dates are a bit earlier than the average peak date, April 4th.
Unlike other annual festivals, the exact timing of the cherry blossom blooming is difficult to predict as it relies solely on mother nature. The NPS reports on their website that, “it is nearly impossible to give an accurate forecast much more than 10 days before the peak bloom,” and the best time to view the trees falls four to seven days after this date. Unfortunately, this makes visiting the festival at the best time possible difficult for those living far away. Leaving only two options, a very long trip to the DC area, or the possibility of arriving before or after the peak period. However, the blossoms can continue to be worth seeing for up to two weeks after this depending once again on weather conditions.
For those who can make it in time, even as a last-minute trip, there are several areas worth seeing the trees from. One aspect of the display that makes it special is that most of the trees are lining the water, at both the Tidal Basin and the shores of the Potomac River. Additionally, from these areas are great views of several of DC’s most famous memorials, including the Jefferson Memorial, FDR Memorial, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. This combination of clear blue water, baby pink flowers, and white marble makes it easy to understand why these areas are most popular for visitors.
However, this main area isn’t the only place with these trees. In fact, many smaller clusters of cherry trees can be found along the National Mall, northwest of the Lincoln Memorial, surrounding the Washington Monument, and even as far as the National Arboretum. Although the cherry blossoms attract over 1.5 million visitors each year, a look at these less popular areas may provide a slightly more crowd-free experience. Keep in mind that while it may be tempting to pluck a flower from the low-hanging branches for a photo or friend, it is actually illegal. If you must get your hands on a flower, stick to one of the freshly fallen ones covering the sidewalks.
