Join the Cherry Blossom Queens (both from the U.S. and Japan) as they lead the annual National Cherry Blossom Parade, complete with marching bands, dance teams, drum and bugle corps, and more.

National Cherry Blossom Parade
Constitution Avenue between 7th and 17th Streets NW
Washington, DC

Date and Time – Saturday, April 12, 2008, 10:00 a.m. until around noon.

Parade Route – Constitution Avenue between 7th Street and 17th Streets, NW.

Tickets – Admission is free for viewing form the street. Grandstand seating is available for $15.00 and includes a complimentary entry to Madame Tussauds. Tickets are available online at Ticketmaster.

Nearest Metro subway station – Federal Triangle – Blue and Orange line, then a 1/2 block walk to Constitution Ave. or Smithsonian – Blue and Orange lines, then a 3 block walk.

Parking – Street parking is available, but will be difficult, so using Metro is recommend.

Images – Flickr – Mickey & Minnie, balloons, band ____________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

Over a dozen of DC’s top chefs have created special meals just for the annual Cherry Blossom Festival.  The theme ingredient?  Why cherries, of course.

The participating restaurants, along with a few of the more interesting menu offerings, include:

• 15ria at the Doubletree Hotel – Grilled lamb chops with a cherry compote, cherry Yorkshire pudding.
• Aria Trattoria - Grilled pork tenderloin with a cherry balsamic glaze, and cherry crostata with cherry gelato.
• Bangkok Joe’s Dumpling Bar and Café - Roasted quail with sweet cherry compote, and a cherry Napoleon.
• Bastille
• Café MoZU
• Charlie Palmer Steak - Roasted Sonoma duck with preserved cherries.
• Dupont Grille at Jurys Hotel - Sun-dried cherry Crème Brûlé
• Indebleu – Pan seared Alaskan salmon with ‘cherry heering’ jus.
• Juniper at the Fairmont Hotel  
• KAZ Sushi Bistro, A special cherry blossom Bento Box.
• Mie N Yu, Miso duck and sour cherry gyoza with cherry cola barbeque sauce.
• The Oceanaire Seafood Room
• Renaissance M Street Hotel - Cherry soup with pistachio ice cream bon bons.
• Roof Terrace Restaurant & Bar at the Kennedy Center - Duck paté with dried cherries with bourbon-cherry compote
• Peacock Alley at the Willard Hotel - Afternoon tea with homemade cherry jam and lavender honey peanut butter PB&Js. 
• Taberna del Alabardero – Hazelnut & cherry encrusted Venison loin with cherry and blueberry compote.

Special cherry-themed cocktails have also been created, just for the Cherry Blossom Festival.

At Bangkok Joe’s Dumpling Bar and Café try a Frozen Cherry Bellini. Firefly, is offering a Cherry Blossom Mojito, and the Park Hyatt Washington, they are serving up their version of a Cherry Blossom Martini.

All I can say is Yum!!

National Cherry Blossom Festival Cherry Picks
Multiple restaurant around the city

Reservations – Available through Open Table.

Dates and Times – March 31 – April 15, 2008

Images – Flickr, cherry, cherry and blossoms, bunch of cherries
_________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

The 2-week festival begins Saturday, March 29th and runs until Sunday, April 13th, with peak viewing some time during that two weeks.  But I recommend that, if possible, you get  down to the National Mall early (the first weekend) to view the blossoms.  Historically, DC’s spring rains and wind can often put an abrupt and early end to the show.

Historically, the average blooming date is April 4th, but nature doesn’t always cooperate.  The earliest blooms have started was March 15th and as late as April 18 back in 1958.  The National Park Service reports one of the earliest “green buds” on the trees, suggesting blooming may occur early this year.

The Yoshino cherry tree blossoms (Prunus x yedoensis) range in progressive colors from bright whites to then soft then brilliant pink. So visiting a couple time over the two weeks usually results in seeing a different range of nature’s colors.

The original cherry trees along the Tidal Basin were first planted in 1912.  The trees were a gift of friendship from the government of the Empire of Japanese.

The blooming season of the cherry tree blossoms is probably the most picturesque time of year in the nation’s capital.

My favorite locations for enjoying the colors and for photo ops is:

• Anywhere around the Tidal Basin, notably across from the Jefferson Memorial. 
• Along Independence Avenue along the Tidal Basin, at the southern and eastern ends of the Washington Monument grounds.
• Near the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial.
• At the garden at the Smithsonian Castle (Smithsonian Information Center) at 1000 Jefferson Drive, SW.

Tours

• You can attend a free 20-60 minute National Park Service Ranger talk daily at 10:30 a.m., noon, 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. at either the The Tidal Basin near the of entrance of the FDR Memorial or at the visitor’s welcome tent at the Jefferson Memorial.
• There’s also a self-guided mobile phone tour, starting Friday, March 28th. Call  202-727-3465 to hear Park Rangers present information about the historic cherry trees. (Phone charges may apply.)
• There are also 1½ mile Ranger led night time Lantern Walking Tours of the Tidal Basin on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, during the festival, starting at 8:00 p.m.  Reservations are required. Register at the National Park Service Welcome Tent, but reservations are accepted only on the same day, and they go fast.

To avoid the big weekend afternoon crowds, try to schedule your cherry blossom visit before 9:00 a.m. on weekends or after 7:00 p.m. on weekdays.  Parking is easier and there are less people that might end up in the background of your photos.

Want to see a few more photos?  Check out my photos from last year’s cherry blossoms in full bloom.

Nearest Metro subway station – Federal Triangle or Smithsonian – Blue and Orange lines.

___________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

The Cherry Blossoms are in full bloom and definately worth the trip, so I’ll let my photos do  the talking.

Nearest Metro subway station – Federal Triangle – Blue and Orange line, then a 1/2 block walk to Constitution Ave. or Smithsonian – Blue and Orange lines, then a 3 block walk.

Parking – Street parking is available, but will be difficult during the festival, so I recommend you use Metro. 
____________________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

With the area weather forecasted to hit 80 degrees tomorrow, the paddle boats are an ideal way to relax on the water and get a bit of exercise while having one of the best views of the Jefferson Memorial.

But one word of advice, paddle into the wind as you start your ride, and you still have lots of leg energy for the trip back to the dock.

Tidal Basin Paddle Boats
Across from the Jefferson Memorial, on the Tidal Basin
Raoul Wallenberg Place /15th Street, just off Independence Avenue
202-479-2426

Dates and Times – Open daily weather permitting, March 15th through Labor Day, 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. with the last boat rental at 5:00 p.m.

Cost- $8.00 per hour for a 2-person paddleboat, $16.00 for a 4-person boat. Credit cards are accepted.  Additionally, there is an age requirement — at least one person must be at least 16 years old, and all “boaters” must be old enough to wear life fest

Reservations – It’s usually fairly easy to get a boat during the summer, but during the festival, when crowds are large, it might be impossible to rent one. You can however, reserve a boat in advance online during the Cherry Blossom festival (March 31 – April 15).

Nearest Metro subway station– Smithsonian Station – Blue and Orange Lines – use the 12th Street & Independence Avenue exit and walk west on Independence toward 15th Street. Turn left on Raoul Wallenberg Place /15th Street toward the Jefferson Memorial and look for the Tidal Basin Paddle Boat dock.

Parking – There is street parking along the basin, but during the next few weeks, it will be tough to get a spot.  I recommend you use Metro.

__________________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler