Images – from personal collection – © 2008 – Jon Rochetti

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Post from: The DC Traveler

Image – from personal collection – © 2008 – Jon Rochetti

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Post from: The DC Traveler

Image – from personal collection – © 2008 – Jon Rochetti

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Post from: The DC Traveler

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

The moment the interview started, the tourist visiting from Italy, turned her own video camera on herself. When the reported ask why she was recording her own interview, she commented, “for the people back in Italy”. 

You can see her holding her video and pointing it toward herself and the crew.  I guess that’s one way to prove you used up a couple of your fifteen minutes of fame.

The reporter was, I believe was, Roberta Baskins, from DC’s ABC affiliate, Channel 7.

Images – from personal collection   © 2008 – Jon Rochetti 

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Post from: The DC Traveler

Then try a visit to the 450-acre U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, DC. 

The park has over 2,000 cherry trees on their grounds representing 230 different species, varieties and cultivated forms of ornamental cherry trees. Plus there’s additional flowering plum and apricot trees.

And many of the trees are in full bloom this week.  Here’s a link to an Arboretum pamphlet that describes their self-guided park tour.

U.S. National Arboretum
3501 New York Avenue, NE
Visitor entrance – corner of New York Ave. and R St.
Washington, DC 20002
202-245-2726

Hours – Daily 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Admission - FREE

Tram Tours – Starting April 12th, )perhaps a bit late for the cherry blossoms), a 35-minute non-stop tram tours is available. Adults – $4.00, Seniors – $3.,00, kids 4-16 – $2.00, kids under 4 are free. 

Dining – There is no food service at the park, but you may bring your own picnic.

Nearest Metro subway station– Stadium Armory Station – Blue and Orange lines. Transfer to the B-2 Metrobus to Bladensburg Road.  Then a 2-block walk to R Street. Turn right on R Street and continue 2 blocks to the Arboretum gates.

Parking – Free parking is available throughout the park.

Image – from personal collection – © 2008 – Jon Rochetti

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Post from: The DC Traveler

And the cold hasn’t stopped people from bundling up in winter clothes and lining up to rent a paddle boat on the Tidal Basin either.

So far this Spring, the high temperatures have been sticking between 45 and 55 degrees, a near 30 degree drop from the balmy temps last year, when highs cracked 80 degrees and made for comfortable touring.

This weekend, the temps should reach highs into the 60s, with Sunday being the only day forecast for sunny conditions.  In case you don’t get a chance to see the trees by this weekend, here’s a quick tour from photos I took on Wednesday.

MORE PHOTOS OF THE CHERRY BLOSSOMS IN BLOOM –> 

Images – from personal collection   © 2008 – Jon Rochetti 

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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.

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Post from: The DC Traveler

The event includes three hours of family entertainment including music, kids crafts and food from local restaurants.

Dates and Time – Saturday, April 7. The festival begins at 5:30 with the fireworks starting at 8:30 p.m.

Great views of the fireworks should be from anywhere on South Water St., SW or along Ohio St. in East Potomac Park. 

Nearest Metro subway station – to watch from South Water St., use The Waterfront-SEU station – Green line, then a one-block walk.

Parking – street will be very tough, and the area garages may also be full so it’s best to take Metro or the DC Circulator (but Circulator service stops at 9:00 p.m.).

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Post from: The DC Traveler