The Tidal Basin's pink clouds of cherry blossoms are a D.C. landmark, drawing huge crowds from all around the country every spring.
What most people don't know is that the week of peak bloom isn't necessarily the best time to get an Insta-worthy shot. Here's how you can gauge the best time to plan your visit.
First and foremost, Cherry Blossom Watch is the quintessential website for updates and announcements. They do a phenomenal job of reporting on the various stages of the blooms, leading up to and beyond the height of the season. A lesser-known fact is that the Kwanzan cherry blossoms make an appearance about two weeks after the Yoshino peak bloom, so early April is also a magical time.
Kwanzan cherry blossoms at West Potomac Park. This variety blooms about two weeks after Yoshinos. 🌸 pic.twitter.com/qfeufKbiqA
— Alana Quinn (@aquinsta) April 12, 2021
Another great resource if you want to celebrate the pink blooms is the National Cherry Blossom Festival website. It's THE place to find out what's going on around the city around the actual bloom times.
Peak Bloom Period prediction will be announced 03/01 and we do not want you to miss out! 💐
— National Cherry Blossom Festival 🌸 (@CherryBlossFest) February 17, 2022
Subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch the announcement live and catch up on all of our amazing cherry blossom content!🌸https://t.co/wLcnBtVpR9#CherryBlossFest #RediscoverSpring pic.twitter.com/bg9yu1cdTK
Blossom Kite Festival will be happening this spring on March 26.🪁
— National Cherry Blossom Festival 🌸 (@CherryBlossFest) February 8, 2022
We can't wait to see all of the beautiful kites soaring on the National Mall!🌈 @7NewsDC Thank you for sharing! #CherryBlossFest #BlossomKiteFestival #RediscoverSpring https://t.co/lTuPu8v5Ep
If you're planning on taking your senior pictures, a proposal, or some other monumental event, then the last week in March is generally when peak bloom occurs. The best time for photos without all the crowds is right at sunrise, so set your alarm to get there early.
Do you visit the cherry blossoms every year? When is your favorite time to go? Sound off in the comments!