Washington DC
Introduction
Washington D.C. was the first U.S. city that I ever visited, and it still holds a very special place in my memory. I still remember a very peculiar feeling of thinking that anything was possible while strolling that windswept expanse of land called the National Mall, bookended by the Lincoln Memorial and Capitol Hill, and bordered on the other sides by majestic neo-classical museum buildings containing various mementos of humanity’s achievements.
In the early 1900s, Japan gifted DC several thousand cherry blossom trees, and these may all be found around the Tidal Basin, just south of the National Mall. One of the best times of the year to visit the city that governs the rest of America is during the cherry blossom season, and this guide sets out the easiest way to see DC’s Tidal Basin Cherry Blossoms.
Where are the cherry blossoms located?
The main cherry blossoms in DC form a wreath around the Tidal Basin. The Tidal Basin itself is just south of the Washington Monument and the National Mall.
When is the best time to go?
1. Go in late March or early April. Peak blossom varies each year depending on the weather in the preceding weekend. From the point of peak, the blossoms can last 3-5 days, if it doesn’t rain or if it isn’t particularly windy.
My best advice is to monitor updates issued by the National Park Service and the Cherry Blossom Watch from late February onwards, and make your travel plans flexible. I visited in 2022, and blossoms peaked on the weekend of 20 March 2022. I had initially planned to visit a week after, and changed flights instead.
2. There is no “best time” of the day to visit. Realistically, you will find crowds anytime of the day, and you just have to block them out. The least amount of crowds will likely occur at sunrise. I recommend going at least once during the daytime, and once near sunset.
How to get there?
There are many ways to visit DC, and it will depend on your budget and other preferences. The following was the most time-efficient way for me:
1. How to get to DC: I flew American Airlines from NYC into DC’s Reagan National Airport (DCA). I generally prefer to ride the Amtrak train between DC-NYC, but during the cherry blossom month, Amtrak was extremely expensive.
2. How to get to Tidal Basin: I took the DC Metro Line. The closest train stops to Tidal Basin are the Smithsonian and L’Enfant Plaza stops, and then it’s about a 20 minute walk from either station to Tidal Basin. I don’t recommend driving because of the road blocks.
Where to Stay?
I stayed on the Arlington side of the Potomac River at the Westin Crystal City because (i) it was approx 10 minutes from Reagan National Airport (DCA), (ii) it was close to the DC Metro Line, which gets you to Tidal Basin cherry blossoms in approx 20 minutes, and (iii) it was more affordable than hotels closer to Tidal Basin which were in the region of USD $400-600 p/night during the cherry blossom weekend. The Westin is what you would expect from an American chain hotel — it’s basic, clean, spacious, but otherwise forgettable.
If you prefer to stay in DC itself, stay in the Downtown or Foggy Bottom area. These areas are the closest to Tidal Basin. I have stayed at other DC hotels in the past, and can recommend Hotel Lombardy, St Regis or the Willard.
What to expect?
1. Crowds and blossoms. In terms of the blossoms, they are a mix of white and pale pink petals. Some cascade towards the shimmering waters of the Tidal Basin in the most ethereal way.
2. It’s free. There is no entrance fee – the Tidal Basin is free to access anytime of the year. During the weeks that the cherry blossom is blooming however, there may be road blocks to help control the crowds.
3. Plan for 2-4 hours to walk the circumference of the Tidal Basin, depending on how long you linger for photos. I visited early in the morning at 8.30am, and meandered around until noon. The crowds picked up around 11am.
4. It’s not Japan. Having visited Kyoto and Arashiyama in Japan at the height of the cherry blossom season there, DC’s Tidal Basin Cherry Blossoms present a different experience. For example, I remember a stronger, though evanescent, scent from the blossoms in Japan, but I didn’t discern such a fragrance in DC. The Tidal Basin Cherry Blossoms are also not lit at light, whereas evening viewing is one of the most magical experiences during cherry blossom season in Japan. See for example, here. All that said, I do not regret visiting DC during cherry blossom month. It’s just a different experience.
What else to do?
If I had more time, I would have loved to catch the cherry blossoms at the National Aboretum or Dumbarton Oaks. Here’s a great list of other DC cherry blossom spots too.
Once you have had your fill of the cherry blossoms, consider refueling on cherry blossom-themed food! Some of the city’s restaurants offer special themed drinks, desserts and meals, and they are worth booking and/or hunting down. For example, we indulged in a cherry blossom doughnut from Astro Doughnuts, and splurged on a very memorable, very beautiful cherry blossom high tea at the St Regis. See here for a more detailed dessert review.
Safety and mobility
DC feels safer than NYC, particularly the National Mall and Arlington areas where the above itinerary visits.
You need a light level of fitness to visit DC’s Tidal Basin Cherry Blossoms using the above itinerary. Tidal Basin is flat, though some spots may become a little muddy depending on the weather.
