Where to admire Cherry Blossoms

The time of the year to see the cherry blossoms changes every year but it usually falls between the end of March and mid-April, depending on weather conditions. When the cherry trees are in full blossom, you are facing a sea of pink and white trees announcing the beginning of spring. Too much wind and the blossoms will be gone. So enjoy them while they last.

Some states are home of thousands of cherry trees, we have listed some of them. If you believe that some sites were overlooked, let us know. The cities still holding festivals will most likely have their cherry trees in full blossom. As far as the others locations are concerned, you may want to hurry to catch the last flittering flowers.

Festivals

Reading, Pennsylvania

Enjoy the Riverplace Cherry Blossom Festival taking place in Reading from April 17^th to April 26^th.

San Francisco Bay Area, California

The Bay Area will also be hosting two cherry blossoms festivals this month: one in San Francisco and one in Cupertino.

In San Francisco, on Saturday, April 18^th and 19^th, there will be a parade (19^th), a street fair and performances by Japanese and classical and folk dancers as well as martial artists.

The Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2009 - Sunday, April 26, 2009 from 10am to 5pm. A fair with Japanese items will provide visitors with the opportunity to buy some crafted art and entertainment will be provided.

Last flittering flowers

New York City, New York

Walk along the Sakura Park (Sakura means cherry blossom in Japanese) and you will be able to admire more than 2000 cherry trees that were given to the city by Japan in 1912. The Brooklyn Botanic gardens are also home of many trees.

Newark, New Jersey

Stroll the Branch Brook Park and be surrounded by 2000 blossoming trees.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Visit the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center to admire more than 1000 cherry trees blossoming.

Washington D.C.

You can find these 3700 treasures of nature in the West and East Potomac Parks and on the Washington Monument grounds (Click here for maps). The National Park service conducts Cherry Tree Walks and bikes tours around the Tidal Basin. You can also take some ranger-guided night lantern walks. Parking in the area will be difficult: these are spectacular views and you will not be the only one wanting to look at nature at its best.

Unable to go? No worries, you can admire them via webcam.

Macon, Georgia

Imagine 300,000 cherry trees blossoming. Their website states that if the trees were planted in a single row, 10 feet apart, they would reach Memphis from Macon!

Seattle, Washington

Most of the cherry trees can be found along Lake Washington Boulevard and Steward Park as well in the quad of the University of Washington. Discover and/or appreciate the Japanese culture during the Seattle Cherry Blossom and Japanese Cultural festival from Friday April 17 to April 19^th at the Seattle Center.

Los Angeles, California

The best places in the city of Angels would be the Japanese American National Museum and the Balboa Park.

San Francisco Bay Area, California

Saratoga

The hakone gardens are small but their intimate feeling will bring you peace. This is more about simplicity than abundance.

San Francisco

You can admire some trees in the Golden Gate Park and enjoy a walk in their Japanese Tea Garden (read Trekaroo reviews). Take a walk on Peace Plaza in Japantown to see more trees.

Happy Blossoming!