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Cherry Blossom Festival, Washington D.C

The winter in our neck of the woods has been so long now that it feels like i accidentally opened a wardrobe and walked into narnia.

while im waiting for the bleak days and bitter winds outside to give way to spring, im thinking of one of my earliest spring memories after coming to the usa. nothing says spring more than flowers, especially the cherry blossoms and magnolias - and visiting the cherry blossoms in washington d.c was one of our very first road trips.

it has been a decade now since i first saw them, but i still remember how enamoured i was the moment i set foot in the tidal basin in washington d.c during the cherry blossom festival. how do you put down in words the feeling of seeing more than 3000 trees at a time covered completely in white and pink blooms ?

these cherry trees came to the usa as a gift from japan in 1912, from the mayor of tokyo, and were planted around the tidal basin, which is a reservoir for the water flowing in from the potomac river. called 'sakura' in japanese, their annual blooming in early spring is hugely popular and attracts millions of people during the few weeks when they are in bloom.

the peak blooming dates are predicted based on the weather conditions each year and a cherry blossom festival is held during april with lots of events happening around the tidal basin and potomac park. food, music, art exhibits, there is so much packed round the clock into those few weeks. after leisurely walks taking in all the beauty of the flowers, there are also paddle boats on rent to go around the tidal basin - seeing the trees on the bank as you gently paddle down the water is a very soothing experience indeed.

for those who might plan a trip, there are a few things to keep in mind before visiting -

  • find the location of tidal basin on google maps here
  • be prepared for crowd, lots of crowd. especially if youre going on a weekend.
  • and hence, parking spaces will be scarce and will be expensive. 
  • washington d.c is very well connected inside the city itself and with its suburbs outside by bus and train. so it is best to look for places to stay a little outside the city and catch a train. (hotel rooms also become very expensive during this season and fill up fast.)
  • to know the most accurate dates of the blooms, the current conditions, and the happening events, check out the official cherry blossom festival website and follow their social media for updates.
  • always check out the weather for the days you visit and plan accordingly. it is spring, but still it is also invariably windy or cold or rainy enough that you'll need a jacket.
  • and lastly, there are endless options for things to see and do in washington d.c, so if you're new to the area, do your homework and make a list of other places that you'd like to see ! the national mall area, with the lincoln and jefferson memorials, many of the smithsonian museums, the US capitol building, are all just a walkable distance away. there are also bikeshare options available in DC. 
and so, here are some photos from my very first visit to the cherry blossom festival  - 



rows of cherry blossoms along the banks of the tidal basin

the trees as seen from the water

the branches bending so close that the blooms are almost touching the water


these delicate white blossoms with that blush of pink make you want to keep looking at them all day, dont they ? 

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