Welcome Spring and the Cherry Blossoms!

It's March 20th and I'm glad and excited that it's the first day of Spring. Living in the Washington DC area, I go through the four seasons but especially look forward to spending more time outside on beautiful days. There is an influx of activities both indoor and outdoor, and one of my favorite things about Spring is the Cherry Blossoms in DC. Today marks the start of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, and the National Park Service has predicted and pushed the peak bloom dates of the Cherry Blossoms to April 3-6. These websites about the Cherry Blossoms have lots of information to make the most of your visit. 

I have fond memories of my visit to see the Cherry Blossoms in DC last year, due in large part to the pictures I took there at the Tidal Basin. It was also wonderful to have the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial right there. There are also lots of Cherry Blossom trees along Ohio Drive. The best way to get into DC to see the blossoms in my opinion is to take public transportation or bike there. In taking Metrorail, the closest stop is Smithsonian station which is on the National Mall. The L’Enfant Plaza Station is about a 10 minute walk away from the blossoms. Driving into DC during Cherry Blossom season isn't easy and it's difficult in finding a relatively close parking spot unless you get there super early. It is crazy and frustrating in trying to get a parking spot. When taking public transportation you should expect that many people will take it, so going early is best. If you're planning on biking into DC, prepare yourself for the exercise you're going to get in riding a bike, prepare the bike ensuring it's in good working order and also bring some snacks and water. Of course bring a camera. Enjoy the Cherry Blossoms and the festival. It's a gift.

Here are some photos from my visit to see and photograph the Cherry Blossoms last year and I can't wait to see and photograph the blossoms this year.