Tidal Basin cherry blossoms and paddle boats

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Tidal Basin cherry blossoms and paddle boats

Photo: Alpacaaviator · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

🎃 Seasonal · Washington

2.5 hours · Free · No reservation needed

age fit
0–1 yr
★ 3.0
1–3 yrs
★ 3.0
3–5 yrs
★ 3.0
5–10 yrs
★ 4.0
  • 🚗
    About 35 min drive
    From Rockville · Parking: Parking is essentially impossible during cherry blossom season; Metro to Smithsonian and a 15-minute walk, or Red Line to Blue/Orange to Smithsonian
  • 🍼
    Stroller-friendly
    Flat surfaces — bring the stroller
  • 🌳
    Some shade
    Great on sunny days · Good on cool days
  • ⏱️
    Typical visit: 2.5 hours
    Best seasons: Spring

The most famous cherry blossoms in America: for about a week from late March to early April, more than 3000 Yoshino cherries ring the Tidal Basin, petals drift on the water, and the Jefferson Memorial and Washington Monument stand behind; renting a paddle boat to see the blossoms from the water in peak season is something a kid remembers forever.

💡 Tips
On peak-bloom weekends the crowds make strollers hard to move, so go at 7am on a weekday or after sunset. Paddle boats run spring through fall ($, reserve online) and sell out in blossom season. Afterward, walk to the carousel on the Mall. Bloom forecasts are on the NPS website.

What this place offers

✓cherry blossoms
✓paddle boats
✓lakeside path
✓monuments
✓crowds
✓restrooms (memorial)
✓stroller possible

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This weekend's weather in Washington

Forecast at the destination itself (coast and hills often differ from home)

☁️
Sat 10/17
Overcast · 47–61°F · 46% rain
☀️
Sun 10/18
Sunny · 43–60°F · 4% rain

Location

Washington, Washington, DC

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