The Washington, DC cherry blossoms are a most extraordinary gift. In 1912, Japan gave the United States 3,020 cherry trees in a grand show of international friendship. First Lady Helen Taft and the wife of the Japanese ambassador planted two of the trees along the banks of the Tidal Basin. Little did they know the legacy they were creating. The first Cherry Blossom Festival was held in 1935, and has evolved from a small three-day affair into a multi-week extravaganza attracting over a million visitors each spring.
Between the opening ceremony and parade finale, there are a range of blossom-themed events. These usually include a 5K run, fireworks, and a kite festival on the grounds of the Washington Monument. Of course, the most popular thing to do is simply to stroll the two-mile Tidal Basin promenade and gape at the pretty pink blooms.
The Tidal Basin is home to several of DC’s most beloved memorials. These include the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. The Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial are a short walk away.
The period of peak bloom, when 70 percent of the flowers are open, spans just a few days. The trees are closely monitored by the National Park Service, which issues a prediction for peak bloom about a month in advance. On average, the DC cherry blossoms are at their peak around the end of March, but this is greatly dependent on the weather.
Tips for attending the Washington DC Cherry Blossom Festival:
For specific information on the calendar of events, visit the official National Cherry Blossom Festival website. Many of the events are free, but some require advance tickets.
Free public restrooms and a large gift shop are in the basement of the Jefferson Memorial.
The Smithsonian metro stop is the closest to the Tidal Basin. However, it is a long walk and you will want to wear comfortable shoes. The Foggy Bottom metro is closer to the Lincoln Memorial.
If you don’t want to walk, bikes and paddle boats are available to rent.
Weekdays are best for visiting the Tidal Basin, as crowds will be much smaller. If you must go on the weekend, aim for early morning or late evening for a more peaceful experience.
Spring weather in Washington, DC, can be unpredictable, so dress in layers and pack some rain gear. If you’re lucky, you’ll need sunscreen instead. Note that the Tidal Basin usually floods at high tide.
Dogs are allowed on the National Mall and around the Tidal Basin, as long as they are kept on a leash. They are NOT allowed on the Metro (service dogs excepted).
Would you like to see the DC cherry blossoms?
PIN this blog for later!
Gorgeous photos of the blossoms! I especially love the lush close-ups. Our display here in Toronto’s High Park will be late this year but at least the trees weren’t destroyed in the pre-Christmas ice storm. Power was out a week some places and much of the city ‘s tree canopy damaged. So grateful for spring this year:)))
Thanks, Lesley! Mother Nature did most of the work 🙂
I hope you enjoy those spring blooms once they finally arrive! It was definitely a welcome treat here.
Lovely photos! The blossoms were exceptionally gorgeous this year and you captured then beautifully! 🙂
Thanks, Christina! After looking at your stunning photos, that compliment means a lot! 🙂
Beautiful! I’m really enjoying the blossoms (unfortunately mostly not cherry) in the UK right now – they make everything seem so much more cheerful. Yay for spring!
Yay for spring, indeed! It’s definitely my favorite season 🙂
Beautiful photos! You’re so lucky to have seen the blossoms at their peak! I think my visit was a little early!
Thanks, Karisa! It was great being able to pop down to the Tidal Basin as soon as they announced peak bloom had arrived. You may have been a little early, but it was still a gorgeous day! 🙂
Lovely, charming and adorable – that’s all I can say Heather. I feel like visiting Japan, not the U.S.A. 🙂
I know, I’d LOVE to visit Japan during cherry blossom season! But there’s just something special about seeing Washington’s monuments through all those pink blooms 🙂
Beautiful captures of the blossoms in this series, Heather. To answer your question, yes, I would most definitely like to visit for this festival. As I first knew cherry blossoms in Japan, some two decades ago, when I lived there for three years, they still say “Japan” to me — and especially here in the photos that do not have any building in the background, as these could just as well be there.
Very interesting about how the cherry trees came to Washington. There are here, too, in the streets of Santiago, and bloom in spring time. I have not been able so far to find out how they got here, though.
And by the way, I found your blog from a comment you made on Jack and Jill Travel the World. All the best…
Thanks so much, Andrew! I have yet to see the cherry blossoms in Japan, but it’s definitely something I would like to experience. It’s hard to believe anything could be more beautiful than the DC showing, so I’m sure to have my socks knocked completely off 🙂
Thanks for stopping by! I do hope you’ll visit again. Cheers!
Wow! For a moment I thought it was in Japan, at least it feels that way. It’s incredibly nice over there, such a lovely explosion of flowers. I love spring! 🙂
If you love spring, you should definitely plan to visit DC during the cherry blossom season. It’s absolutely stunning in person!
I’ve always wanted to be there for Cherry Blossom, just did the festival and parade in San Francisco and it was huge…walking around DC looks lovely at this time of the year.
Spring is definitely the best time to visit DC, the blossoms look so pretty against the memorials and monuments! I didn’t know San Fran also had a festival. Will have to check that out!
Incredible! I haven’t such pretty cherry blossoms before! I’d love to attend cherry blossom festival. Thanks for the inspiration. 🙂
Thanks, Renuka! I hope you get to experience the blossoms in person one day! 🙂
Oh wow, they are so beautiful! For some reason I thought this was something you could only see in Japan
Had I not grown up in the area, I’m not sure I would have known either. You should start planning a DC trip for next spring!
Thanks for sharing the history behind the trees, I never realized they were a gift from Japan! We ran the Cherry Blossom Race a few years back in DC and it was seriously the perfect weather and most beautiful jog!
I bet that run was gorgeous! I used to run the JP Morgan 5K in Central Park when I lived in the city, and the lovely setting definitely helped keep me going 🙂
Really beautiful photos! I’m sorry we couldn’t make it to DC this spring to see the blossoms in person. I would love to go to Japan and visit the gorgeous gardens. I’ve seen pictures and they are breathtaking!
Thanks, Mom! Hopefully we’ll get you to Japan one of these days 🙂
Wow these photos are stunning! Never knew Japan gifted cherry blossom trees to the US. What a beautiful gift!! I would love to walk under them!
Thanks, Rosemarie! It really is a beautiful gift – and one that keeps on giving! You should see the pure joy on the faces of everyone as they walk under the blossoms and forget their troubles for a few moments. I hope you get to see them one day!
Wow, so beautiful…I think that we will have to go to Washington next year having seen the blossoms in NYC and Toronto…can’t wait!
Thanks, Lauren! I love the idea of a cherry blossom world tour 🙂