I had the privilege to attend the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC this past Sunday. I lucked out in that it was right during peak bloom (meaning the flowers were the biggest they were going to be and then start falling off the trees). The festival itself lasts until April 13th this year. There seems to be a lot of events that happen especially on weekends.
One thing I learned from the National Park service (you can find helpful guides at the Welcome Tent which according to the website below, is open 10 AM – 5 PM, Mondays – Thursdays, and 10 AM – 6 PM, Fridays – Sundays.) is that there are many different Cherry Blossom species! So, even if you come later in the festival, there will be blooms. You can find maps, pins, and Junior Ranger activities at the National Park tents.
Is it Crowded? - I visited on a Sunday so I felt it was less crowded. What makes it feel crowded is that there is a walking trail all around the Tidal Basin and people stop and take photos. The areas furthest from the monument was less crowded. Really pretty picture spots were definitely more crowded. Inside the monuments was a bit hectic as people are trying to get their pictures with the statues.
Can I Bring a Stroller? - the "trail" ranges from well-paved to decent dirt to massive holes/cracks to huge tree root dirt, so I highly recommend a stroller that can handle the rough terrain. I brought a stroller and was fine. They do have wheelchair/stroller ramps up to all the monuments.
Can I Use a Wheelchair or Mobility Scooter? - there are areas that will be manageable for people with mobility areas but don't plan to walk through the trees as the paths are dirt, full of treet roots and holes, and not very easy to manage. The areas around the monuments are paved and there are ramps (right now, the elevators are not operating).
How do I get there? - If you drive into DC, do not drive around the Tidal Basin itself as the traffic is VERY BAD. The free parking is very limited. Better to park away from the area and walk. Walking is very easy and strollers/wheelchair friendly. Parking is free on weekends at the metro stations and using public transportation is only a few dollars. I did see several hop-on/hop-off buses going around the city and to this area which is a good option if you plan to go outside the Tidal Basin but it costs money. I personally just used a public parking garage (I was able to pay online for cheaper rate) and just walked over. There are metro trains directly from the nearby airport. Or you can uber/lyft.
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Food Tips - Bring snacks with you as the lines for the onsite cafes/vendors were quite long and the prices were high. Normally I endorse foodtrucks, but for the ones crowding around the streets in this area, I have my doubts. First, almost none of them displayed their prices and some changed the prices on the fly in addition to obvious price gouging. The quality of the product was questionable (a frozen drink that was not frozen at all). Some only take cash. Better to walk down the street about 5 minutes to an honest business.
Restroom Tips - I saw several restrooms with long lines epecially those inside monuments. Look at the map. There almost always was another restroom just a short walk away with no line at all. Try to use the restrooms around this area because once you start walking in the direction of the capital buildings, there are very few public ones available.
For information, https://www.nps.gov/subjects/cherryblossom/maps.htm
For More Information, https://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/
For LIVE web cam views, https://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/bloom-watch/
