This year I crossed not one, but two experiences from my wish list. The first one was visiting California. The second one was visiting Washington, DC when the cherry blossoms are in peak bloom! Which for me is the second best thing to experiencing the cherry blossoms in Japan.
I spent roughly 24 hrs in DC with the sole purpose to see and of course shoot the cherry blossoms! I know I come across as crazy (I call it dedication), but I was super lucky as the weather was more than fine the day that I visited and I got some sweet photos to share with you!
Tips for seeing the Cherry Blossoms in Washington DC
– Check the bloom watch. The National Cherry Blossom Festival website provides an indication about the peak bloom dates (that’s when 70% of the blossoms are open). Weather conditions can alter these dates. In the website you’ll see how the peak bloom dates differ from year to year.
– Avoid weekends, if you don’t like crowds. I visited on a Monday just after the Cherry Blossom Festival ended, so I avoided the weekend crowds for sure. It was still crowded when I visited, as you can tell from my photos, but bearable.
– Washington DC has many places of interest such as the Capitol, The Library of Congress, The National Mall, numerous museums, memorials, The White House and Arlington Cemetery (that’s technically in Virginia). Neighborhoods that you should miss are Georgetown and Capitol Hill (more about the latter in a future post, sneak peek can be found on Instagram)
Related: The essential guide to Washington DC
I'm Anna and this is my lifestyle and travel blog! 
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STUNNING! I have family about an hour from D.C. and i’ve never been able to visit this time of the year. I’ll still make it happen one day! Thanks for sharing these BEAUTIFUL images!
ah! Well I was a bit pressed for time, because it was either this year or probably never, so I did it!
Gorgeous! Thanks for sharing the beautiful pictures. We can’t wait to get back to DC (like, next year) to catch the blossoms!
thank you! Indeed seeing the cherry blossoms was quite an experience!
Absolutely love your photos. The cherry blossoms make DC look absolutely iconic, and you’re making me homesick aaaah! xx
thank you! When I first visited DC it was wintertime so I didn’t know about them, but then I saw so many souvenirs with the cherry blossoms, so it went straight on my list!
Wow gorgeous! Seeing the cherry blossoms in DC (and Japan) are both on my bucket list! I can only imagine how crazy crowded it gets during the festival… going on a Monday is smart! Love the DC area, haven’t been in a while… I need to go back!
love DC too! Still it was crowded on a Monday (I went during the afternoon) but I guess during the weekend it would be much worse!
I don’t think visiting solely for the cherry blossoms is crazy at all! There are few things as lovely as spring. 🙂
Silly Medley: Lifestyle and Travel
Indeed! I had to visit, because it’s one of a kind experience which lasts for a week or two!
Ah, such lovely photos! Thank you for sharing! We’ve been to DC a couple of times, but never when the cherry trees were blooming. That must have been lovely to see!
They were beautiful indeed! In my previous visit in DC it was winter, but I visiting during the cherry blossom season was high on my list and I’m glad I made it!
Anna I’ve always thought that people who love nature and flowers are sensitive and I think you are very sensitive 🙂 As you know I love cherry blossoms. Thanks for your great tips! I hope to visit Washington in spring!
Ah thank you Maria! Well, a part of me is sensitive indeed! And yes I hope you visit Washington in the spring (but it’s a beautiful city regardless the season)!
That’s just gorgeous! I live in the land of tulips, though blossoms make me happy everytime!
Found you through #weekendwanderlust 🙂
The pics are beautiful! I live in Bonn, Germany, and we also have increasingly knowned Cherry Blossoms. My FB feed is full of pics. It’s a shame that’s over so fast.
Great photos! The cherry blossoms in DC are so beautiful. I remember going there a few years ago, but I didn’t have a DSLR back then to take amazing photos like yours. Guess that’s an excuse to go back!
Anna,
It looks like you are visiting the best parts of my home country while I visit the best parts of yours! I am from Washington, DC and I absolutely adore the cherry blossoms. I think it is the most special thing in the whole city! I am glad you got to experience DC during this time of year, and your photos are stunning, they actually make me miss my home a little – which is a pretty big deal!
Katie