Where to (Safely) See DC Cherry Blossoms During COVID
Hi y'all! DC cherry blossom season is coming so soon (peak bloom is usually at the end of March of beginning of April)! You can check the predictor here for up to date, daily predictions of the best time to see blossoms. Last year, peak bloom was March 20th, right after DC went into complete lockdown. It was such a bummer to miss the blossoms, because they're such a special part of DC springtime. This year, things are getting better slowly as people get the vaccine, but fighting crowds is still not a safe idea. Because of this, I wanted to write a post with some ideas of lesser known spots to see blossoms. That way, you can hopefully find somewhere safe to enjoy a picnic this year (even if we can't do downtown this year).
(Downtown flower viewing photos from over the years).
This list will go from least likely to be crowded to most likely to be crowded (based on my opinion/experience).
1. Foxhall Neighborhood in northwest DC
Foxhall is a suburban-y DC neighborhood in northwest, adjacent to Georgetown Hospital. There are tons of flower trees here - there are even several blocks where cherry blossom trees line the streets! It's so pretty! The neighborhoods are pretty quiet, so you're unlikely to run into crowds. It would be a great place to go for a flower viewing walk. To really up your experience, go to the Foxhall Jettys for ice cream cones and walk down the blossomy streets while eating ice cream!
2. American University campus
I know some of my AU people may be skeptical, but -- don't boo me, I'm right! There are a ton of different flower trees sprinkled throughout the AU campus, and there is a ton of green space everywhere you look. The campus is mostly empty right now since classes are virtual, so it's super easy to find safe space to enjoy the flowers. Plan a picnic on the central quad, or take a flower walk! The on campus coffee shop (the Davenport Coffee Lounge) is also open weekdays from 9 to 5, so you could grab a drink or snack while you're there, too! You can read about the different types of flowers and trees you can see here, which may give you an idea of if this would be a fun spot for you.
(I hate how college promotional this photo looks haha - please forgive me).
3. Stanton Park
Stanton park is in northeast DC, over near Union Station and close to the Capitol Hill neighborhood. The park is lined with cherry blossoms, gorgeous, and significantly less likely to be crowded than the downtown areas. It would be a great place for a nice picnic! It's close to both Bistro Cacao and Union Pub , and Ebenezer's Coffeehouse as well - get some takeout or coffee and enjoy the blooms. You could also get food at Union Station, which means you could have an Auntie Anne's and/or Taco Bell picnic, which is....embarrassingly my speed.
I've never been to East Potomac Park, but it's at the confluence of the Potomac and Anacostia rivers and is apparently gorgeous (and lined with cherry blossom trees!). There is also apparently free parking, which is nice. Allegedly, it stays relatively uncrowded during blossom season, unlike the tidal basin and downtown areas. One thing I would warn is that it's possible that it will be more crowded this season as people look for alternatives, so exercise safety and caution if you go this route. Watch this gorgeous video if you want to be sold on this as a spot (lol) -- it looks so nice.
The Arboretum is gorgeous and has tons of space to spread out, take a nice walk, and enjoy nature (and the blossom trees!). Apparently the trees are more spread out here, but still just as stunning as the downtown ones. The only thing I would caution is that since the Arboretum is well known, it may become kind of crowded during this season for people trying to beat the downtown crowds. It's large enough that this shouldn't be a big problem (it's easy to spread out!), but if you're looking for somewhere where you can be alone, this is probably not the place.
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