Ever since 1912, when the Mayor of Tokyo gifted 3,000 Yoshino cherry trees to the city of Washington, D.C., cherry blossoms have been an iconic part of spring in the DMV, and predicting their arrival has become something of a sport (just check out BloomCam). This year’s peak bloom is anticipated to occur between March 23–26. While the trees that ring the Tidal Basin bring in over a million visitors each year and even have their own festival, there are plenty of other spots and local festivals off the well-worn tourist track where the blooms are just as beautiful. Here are a few of our favorites.
Arlington National Cemetery
The final resting place for over 400,000 veterans, Arlington National Cemetery is sacred and consecrated ground. The cemetery’s Memorial Arboretum, brightened by some 400 cherry trees in spring, serves as a living tribute to those who have honorably served our nation. More than 140 memorial trees commemorate veterans. A self-guided walking tour leads you to many of the ground’s flowering and notable trees. // 1 Memorial Ave. Arlington
Cherry Blossom Cruise
Book a river tour during cherry blossom season and enjoy a brunch, lunch or dinner as you cruise by stunning blooms. Excursions lasting 2-3 hours include a cash bar on board and a DJ spinning tunes. Alternately, opt for a guided cherry blossom water taxi trip, with departures from Alexandria, Georgetown, The Wharf and National Harbor. // 1 Cameron St., Alexandria
Congressional CemeteryÂ
This historic cemetery is livelier than its name suggests and particularly gorgeous this time of year. The cemetery—a popular spot for off-leash dogs and their humans—is home to several varieties of cherry trees, including Taiwan, Yoshino, Kwanza and Higan, some of which bloom before and after the Yoshino trees at the Tidal Basin, making it a great place to catch a sneak peak or last glimpse of the spectacle. Sign up for the second-annual Cherry Blossom 5K and run the course under a canopy of petals while raising money for environmental preservation. // 1801 E. St. S.E., Washington, D.C.Â
Dumbarton Oaks
A sanctuary in Georgetown, this 53-acre historic estate is home to a museum and a research institute that supports scholarships in landscape architecture and garden design. Its sprawling grounds are meticulously maintained and have flowering trees scattered throughout. Head to Cherry Hill to enjoy a mixture of cherry varieties. Dumbarton Oaks is open 2-6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Timed-entry tickets are $15 per person and are required for all visitors to the garden. // 1703 32nd St. N.W., Washington, D.C. (Georgetown)
Hains Point
Hains Point, the southern end of East Potomac Park, is visible from the Wharf and one of the most underutilized parks in the District. Its 4-mile loop trail is lined with cherry trees, offering 360-degree views of the Potomac, and Anacostia rivers. Leave your car in one of the 320 parking spaces and enjoy the picnic areas and playground. Better yet, leave your car at home and pedal across the 14th Street Bridge by bike. You can cruise the point at your leisure, or sign up for a three-hour guided bike tour. // 1100 Ohio Drive S.W., Washington, D.C.
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens has about 200 cherry trees, including the same Yoshinos that outline the Tidal Basin in D.C. Enjoy a blossom-filled stroll around the grounds, which also include 30 manicured gardens, woodlands and lakes surrounded by weeping cherries. Stop by the Korean Bell Garden, a cultural landmark and one of the only such bell gardens in the Western hemisphere, to soak in the views of the Piedmont Hills of Fairfax County. Admission is $4 for visitors ages 6-17 and 55-plus, $8 for those 18-54, and free for kids 5 and under. // 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court, Vienna
Mount Vernon and the Mount Vernon Trail
Ready to get back on your bike or to re-lace your running shoes and enjoy the first weeks of spring? The Mount Vernon Trail, which spans 18-miles from the capital to Northern Virginia, winds through riverfront and woods, past Alexandria and George Washington’s Mount Vernon (it’s about 10 miles from D.C. to Mount Vernon). Stretch your legs, peep at the blossoms en route, and treat yourself to a stop at George Washington’s Distillery and Gristmill, a working reproduction of our first president’s distillery, which reopens for weekend tours beginning in April. Located just under 3 miles from the estate’s main entrance, it was one of the largest whiskey distilleries in America in 1799. You can still purchase spirits produced there today. // 5513 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Alexandria
United States National Arboretum
The National Arboretum—nearly 450 sprawling acres on the eastern edge of D.C.’s city limits—is a mecca for cherry blossoms. The park’s 3-mile Beyond the Tidal Basin tour features 40 stops showcasing a wide range of flowering cherries, many of which are quite rare. Each type has its own peak bloom time, so you will see different trees in flower depending on when you visit. Come for the cherries, but stay for the rest of the dazzling trees that are just beginning to bud, including dogwoods, crab apples and magnolias. The arboretum’s 9.5 miles of roadways make it accessible to pedestrians, cars, bikes and strollers. Check out the app for maps and guides to the full range of flowering trees. Admission is free and no tickets are needed. //3501 New York Ave., N.E., or 24th & R Streets, N.E., Washington, D.C. (Note: The R Street entrance is closed to incoming automobile visitor traffic after 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.)Â