Have plans for spring break next year? Consider visiting Washington, D.C. for the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Now is the time to start thinking about your plans and making your lodging accommodations. I mean, 2017 is flying by! Spring break will be here before you know it!
March 20 – April 15 marks 2018’s National Cherry Blossom Festival. The festival has to be one of the best ways to celebrate spring in the country. Large crowds come from all over the world to admire the cherry blossom trees, a gift from the people of Japan in 1912. The cherry blossom trees represent friendship and goodwill between the two countries.
The festivities include the Opening Ceremony on March 24, Blossom Kite Festival on March 31, Petalpalooza on April 7, and National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade on April 14. I usually tune in to the local news to see if the blossoms are at peak bloom when I plan our visit. I’ve never been to any of the organized activities, but based on these photos from the National Cherry Blossom Festival’s website, it looks like we’re missing out.
There are 11 different varieties of cherry trees with 70% of the approximately 3800 trees being Yoshino cherry trees.
The cherry blossom trees bloom in three National Park Service locations: around the Tidal Basin, Hains Point and on the grounds of the Washington Monument. There are three corresponding trails if you’re looking for something more structured. The Tidal Basin Loop Trail is an easy 2.1 mile loop. Have you seen pictures of the cherry blossoms with the Jefferson Memorial in the background? They were taken here. The Hains Point Loop Trail is the longest trail, 4.1 mile loop, but allows you to see many different species of cherry trees. The Memorial Loop Trail is a 2.7 mile loop. It takes you past the Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Korean War Veterans Memorial. In my experience, the crowds are heaviest around the Tidal Basin.
Want to do your part to protect the trees? Don’t climb the trees or pick the branches. I know it seems tempting to pick blossoms but don’t. Also, be aware not to walk around the roots of the trees as ground compaction causes damage to them.
You can expect heavier crowds on the weekends and when the blossoms have reached their peak blooming period. Peak bloom is when 70% of the blossoms are open. Park horticulturists and local weather experts closely monitor weather conditions and try to determine when peak bloom will be each year. Sometimes Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate. For instance, I remember a year when we got heavy rain and wind near peak bloom and many of the blossoms fell from the trees in a matter of days. But when Mother Nature cooperates it’s truly a sight to be seen.
Peak bloom in 2014 and 2015 was on April 10, and peak bloom in 2016 and 2017 was on March 25. Often this coincides with spring break when many families are looking for a quick getaway. Consider taking a trip to the nation’s capitol this spring break. The nice thing about a trip here is that there is more than enough to see and do if the blossoms don’t cooperate.
I’ve lived outside of D.C. for 15 years and am nowhere close to seeing everything the city has to offer. So you’re determined to see flowers? Consider visiting Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens, U.S. National Arboretum, or Meadowlark Botanical Gardens. One of my co-workers and fellow National Parks enthusiast says Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens is a hidden gem within the National Parks system. I haven’t been yet, but it’s on the list for 2018.
Other options include the Smithsonian museums along the National Mall, George Washington’s Mount Vernon or a drive west to Shenandoah National Park. Shenandoah is a great place to visit in the spring since it’s considered one of the best places in the country to see wildflowers. No matter how you choose to spend your time, I know you’ll have a memorable trip the the Nation’s Capital.
When planning your trip it’s not necessary to stay in Washington, D.C. Consider Chantilly, Virginia as it’s only 30 miles from the city and off I-66. It’s an easy drive to the metro system and home to the Udvar-Hazy National Air and Space Museum. Visitors to The Udvar-Hazy National Air and Space Museum can see a Lockheed SR-71, a Concorde, and the Space Shuttle Discovery.
I’ve been spoiled being able to see the blossoms so easily. This would definitely be high on my travel bucket list if I lived elsewhere. The monuments are striking enough, but the cherry blossoms offer an element that makes this a must-do trip.
What to Remember
- Avoid a parking headache and take the Metro.
- Pack your patience. Crowds are heavy on the weekends and during peak bloom. We’ve had luck early in the morning and on weeknights.
- Bring your camera!!
- Wear comfortable footwear as the best way to see the blossoms involves a decent amount of walking.
- If food trucks are your thing, you’ll be in luck. Otherwise, food options are limited along the National Mall.
