Goodbye Winter! Hello Spring!

It’s the time of the year when millions of people from across the country and all over the world flock to the nation’s capital to witness the blooming of cherry trees and participate in different activities. Thousands of pink and white blossoms adorn the Tidal Basin.

In 1912, Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo gave 3,000 cherry trees as gift to the city of Washington. The first two Cherry Blossom trees were planted by First Lady Helen Herron Taft and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador. The first festival was held in 1935 to commemorate the lasting ties of the United States and Japan.

Marching bands, colorful balloons and performers are among the highlights of this year’s parade along Constitution Avenue. Jon, of The DC Traveler, gave 5 top five DC Cherry Blossom Festival tips:

1. If you visit on weekends, definitely take Metro. If you visit on weekdays, go in the early evening (just after after rush hour), after parking restrictions are lifted. Finding parking is much easier.
2. The quietest times to visit the National Mall on weekends is before 9:00 a.m., so visit early to avoid crowds. At that time of the morning some great natural lighting is available for taking great photos.
3. A personal and often missed stop during the spring blooming season is the Haupt Garden at the Smithsonian Castle quadrangle at 1000 Jefferson Drive, SW (see below).  Some of the areas prettiest cherry and magnolia trees are in full bloom, set against the stunning Smithsonian Castle architecture.
4. Don’t delay your visit or take an “I’ll go next weekend” mentality. Strong spring rainstorms or winds often damage the blooms after they fully open yet before many people get to visit.
5. Besides visiting the Tidal Basin and the Jefferson Memorial, take a stroll past the World War II Memorial, FDR Memorial and the Washington Monument.  You’ll get a totally different perspective of Washington, DC in full spring bloom.