The 10 best places to see cherry blossoms this spring
Photo by Jonathan Kim
Cherry blossoms are symbols of peace, beauty, serenity, and the ephemeral nature of life. They bloom for just a short period of time between spring and summer, so if you want to enjoy a cup of rice wine under a delicate pink canopy, you'll need to plan your trip carefully. Here are just a few of the world's must-see destinations for cherry blossoms.
Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival
Where: Hirosaki, Japan
When: Late April to early May
You can't talk about cherry blossoms without mentioning their birthplace. Called Sakura in Japan, the cherry blossom trees are gathering places for eating, drinking, socializing, and hosting traditional games and activities. These flower-viewing parties are called hanami.
The Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival is just one example of a hanami event in Japan. It's held in front of a castle with old-fashioned bridges overlooking the water, and the whole area is lit with lanterns at night for extra awe. It's definitely one of the top cherry blossom destinations in the motherland.
Branch Brook Park
Where: Essex County, New Jersey
When: Mid- to late April
Branch Brook Park is a must-see for cherry blossom fans. It actually boasts more cherry trees than Washington D.C., and it hosts games, picnics, festivals, and viewing events for three entire weeks in April and May. If you want to time your trip for peak bloom, they even offer an online tracker where you can check on the trees and decide when they're full enough to visit. You can take the guesswork out of your sightseeing.
University of Washington
Where: Seattle, Washington
When: The last week of March
Cherry blossoms transform the University of Washington campus each year. The quad is the best place to see them, especially if you enjoy the festive atmosphere of milling crowds and picnicking families, but there are quiet nooks and crannies as well. The tree-lined sidewalks are covered with pink and white petals, and on windy days, it "snows" cherry blossoms on delighted onlookers. The best time to see the cherry blossoms of Seattle is in the last week of March.
Photo by Sean Pavone
Washington, D.C.
Where: Washington, D.C.
When: Early April
Washington, D.C. is the place to see cherry blossoms in the United States. The city was gifted cherry blossom trees from the mayor of Tokyo, Japan back in the early 1900s, and they've been thriving ever since. Parks, malls, sidewalks, and historical monuments get a blanket of blossoms every spring. Festivals are held with everything from outdoor concerts to exotic cultural events.
The only bad thing about visiting the capital during this time is that it's always packed with tourists. You might want to schedule your trip for the early or late blossoms when the crowds are thinner. Keep an eye on the weather forecast and make a judgment call!
Cherry Blossom Avenue
Where: Bonn, Germany
When: Early to mid-April
"Cherry Blossom Avenue" might sound like something out of a fairy tale, but when you see the amazing canopy of cherry blossoms that stretches over this small German street, you'll realize that the name is more than fitting. They cover the roofs, shopfronts, and street lamps as far as the eye can see. In peak bloom, they can become so tightly packed together that you can't even see the sky above them! They're a one-of-a-kind sight, especially if you're in the mood for romance. Who's up for date night in Germany?
Charles River Esplanade
Where: Boston, Massachusetts
When: April
The Charles River Esplanade stretches for miles along the Boston coast. It's filled with shops and restaurants, so it's always a hot spot for tourists, but it gets particularly stunning in the weeks of April. The cherry blossom trees bloom right over the water, and you can rent a boat to drift along and let the petals tangle in your hair and pool around your shoes.
Another nice thing about the Charles River Esplanade is that its cherry trees are very fragrant. It might have something to do with the water carrying the scents over the river, but visitors always talk about the sweet cherry blossom smell of the Esplanade. It's easily one of the best things to experience in Boston, so if you're considering a trip to Massachusetts, schedule it for the spring!
Traverse City
Where: Traverse City, Michigan
When: Mid-May
With more than two million cherry trees, the city of Traverse is one of the best places to see cherry blossoms in the United States. You can walk, hike, bike or drive along a number of trails to appreciate the view, and when you're done with sightseeing, the city is quite hospitable to tourists. You can wine and dine to your heart's content.
Traverse City is also one of the few cherry blossom locations that thrive until late spring, so if you miss the early blooms of other locations, you can still catch them here. They've been known to stick around until the second or third week in May.
Photo by Kasper Rasmussen
Copenhagen Sakura Festival
Where: Copenhagen, Denmark
When: Late April
If you want to see authentic Japanese cherry blossoms without spending thousands of yen, consider this annual celebration in Copenhagen. It's co-hosted by the Danish government and the local Japanese embassy. It offers all kinds of cultural activities in the form of food, music, folk dance, kimono fashion, and martial arts demonstrations. It's a great way to make your cherry blossom experience both entertaining and educational. Cherry blossoms have a lot of meaning, and it's important not to forget that just because they're pretty.
Macon
Where: Macon, Georgia
When: Late March to early April
Be a peach among the cherry blossoms when you travel to Macon, Georgia. There aren't a lot of places to see cherry trees in the southern United States, but this is one of them, and they're a rare breed to boot. They produce flowers that are white or pale pink as opposed to a more vivid pink. They'll be a breathtaking sight when you travel through the city, especially if you take a horse-drawn carriage through the grand old mansions of the historic district.
Photo by Pascale Amez
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Where: Brooklyn, New York
When: Mid-March to mid-April
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a stunning destination for cherry blossoms. Walk among the trees; take wedding or honeymoon photos; let the kids run around the statues. It's a botanical garden, so it's very family- and event-friendly. You can enjoy it in a variety of ways.
The only tricky thing about the Brooklyn Botanic Garden is that blossom season can range from mid-March to mid-April, so you'll need to keep an eye on the weather forecast to determine the best time for your trip. You don't want to miscalculate and wind up picnicking under bare branches! Mind the blossom season and choose the right dates for sightseeing.
If you're looking for the best place to see cherry blossoms, consider one of the destinations on this list. Just make sure that you plan ahead before you pack your bag and ready your camera. Cherry blossoms are symbolic of spring because they're brief, fleeting beauties, so timing is everything!
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