Cherry blossoms and spring flowers with kids in New York
New York's cherry season runs from late March to the end of April, with the varieties taking turns: early cherries on Roosevelt Island and in Central Park first, then the double rows of Kanzan along Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Cherry Esplanade, and finally wisteria in early May.
The most ceremonial is Brooklyn Botanic Garden, whose website updates a bloom map daily; the last weekend's Sakura Matsuri brings taiko drums and crowds in kimono. For free and quiet, take the $2.90 aerial tram to Roosevelt Island, where a row of cherries on the west shore faces Manhattan. And the free Conservatory Garden in Central Park's northeast corner has tulips in April and wisteria in May in the park's quietest corner.
- 4 places
- 1 free
- 4 stroller-friendly
- closest is 10 min away
4 places
Travel times from Midtown, by subway or car
Brooklyn Botanic Garden cherry blossom season (Sakura Matsuri)
4.0Brooklyn · 30 min away
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Getting there: Subway 2/3 to Eastern Pkwy or B/Q/S to Prospect Park, then a 3-minute walk
Roosevelt Island Tramway
5.0Manhattan · 10 min away
2 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Getting there: Subway 4/5/6/N/R/W to 59 St–Lexington Av, then a 3-minute walk to the tram station
Central Park: Conservatory Garden
4.0Manhattan · 25 min away
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Getting there: Subway 6 to 103 St or 2/3 to 110 St, then an 8-minute walk (Fifth Ave and 105 St entrance)
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
5.0Brooklyn · 30 min away
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Getting there: Subway 2/3 to Eastern Pkwy or B/Q/S to Prospect Park, then a 3-minute walk
💡 Good to know
- Sakura Matsuri weekend needs advance tickets and is very crowded; with a 2-year-old, weekdays are far more pleasant.
- April weather in New York is fickle and one rain can knock down half the petals; go as soon as the bloom hits rather than waiting for the weekend.
- The Roosevelt Island tram takes OMNY at the subway fare, and kids under 44 inches ride free.