Capital of Spring

Washington D.C., whose wintery landscapes transform into a sea of pink and white blossoms every year, boasts a forest of more than 3,000 cherry trees and is home to America’s National Cherry Blossom Festival.

Washington D.C’s West and East Potomac Park, the Tidal basin (between the Potomac River and the Washington Channel) and the National Mall (whose landscaped gardens stretch from the U.S. Capitol Building to the Lincoln Memorial) are the most popular sites to view the blossoms.

If you want to get away from the crowds, the 446 acre US National Arboretum, Stanton Park in Capital Hill and the 200 acre Anacostia Park next to the Anacostia River, all boast a gorgeous lineup of cherry blossoms too.

Cycling is another great way to experience the blossoms and, if you haven’t brought along your own bike, there are Capital Bikeshare docking stations near the Jefferson Memorial and on the corner of Jefferson Drive and 14^th Street NW, both of which are a short ride from the blossoms.

It’s also not just about flower viewing – the Cherry blossom Festival stretches across three weeks (March 20-April 11) and is packed with cultural and family attractions such as Art in Bloom, kite flying, a celebration show and a Petal Porch Parade.

If you’ve had your fill of cherry blossoms – Washington is highly underrated as a tulip viewing destination. The Floral Library, is located on the north side of the Tidal Basin between the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Memorial. It has 93 flower beds featuring either tulips or annuals. The flowers require up to 10 000 bulbs to be planted by hand each year and famously feature nearly 100 varieties of tulips.

Spring is also a reasonable time of year to visit Washington D.C. as many hotels in the area offer packages and discounts at this time of year together with special extras to lure in guests, such as bloom-inspired meals and cocktails.