Weekend 1 of visiting the cherry blossoms ended with us just across the street from the Tidal Basin and just across the street from the festivities. We did not make it inside…Of course the walk to the main even is still beautiful, but after being herded like cattle in a very narrow walkway; as a group (we went with friends) it was decided to be content with seeing the beauty from afar and go get lunch instead. On the upside we walked the National Mall with a from row view of the kite festival. What felt like thousands of families flying kites was really the coolest part of that first attempt to visit the Cherry Blossom Festival.
Weekend 2 was a bit more successful. Dustin and I made it across the street and walked the Main Street set up with tents. Kona was a big hit with all the people and she was not the only dog to make an appearance at the festivities. It was a beautiful day and the flowers were so amazing in person. I didn’t realize until it was too late that we missed Petalpalozza at the Wharf with music, food, and fireworks… epic fail.
We really wanted to be honest about the realities of the Cherry Blossom Festival. While it is worth a visit if in town, there are some things to keep in mind.
No, you will not get a wide shot image of yourself in an open area/ sidewalk of cherry blossoms. You think from images online and social media people that there will be so many open areas to take pictures… Not the case.
Tips:
- Go early in the morning to avoid the crowds, and try to go during the week/ in the morning to get the least amount of crowds.
- Study the map of the blossoms, then walk beyond the Tidal Basin. The Basin is where most stay (or get annoyed like us and leave). There is so much more to see past the Jefferson Memorial if you are willing to walk.
- Walk up to the Capitol Building. The magnolia trees are really beautiful.
Dustin and I were both highly impressed with the “safety technicians” at the crosswalks. They were multitasking the cars, bicyclist’s, scooter people, and pedestrians like a boss. (Considering all of the above were not listening, paying attention, and/or just ignoring the instructions). Not an easy gig and they were just trying to keep the show moving safely. As a visitor, mind the people trying to keep you safe, as the instructions are not just a suggestion.
Stanton Park
On our walk home we walked through Stanton Park, and there were some AMAZING cherry blossoms. There was some locals in the park, but there were wide open spaces to take some really amazing pictures! Check it out if you wan that great instagram shot. You won’t get the Washington Memorial in the image, but it is really a great local spot.
So long story short, the blossoms are really beautiful. However, go in with the expectation that there will be a lot of people joining you in a very small space. While I can’t mark off Petalpalooza off our bucket list this year (very sad), a visit to the blooms were a great way for us to kick off spring here in DC. Cherry Blossom Festival 2019 crossed off the bucket list!
