Hanami may be the Japanese word for cherry blossom viewing, but travellers need not go as far as Japan to see the truly spectacular sight of thousands of beautiful pink cherry blossoms. Washington, DC famous cherry blossoms draw over a million visitors to the city each year and peak bloom has just been announced: 22 – 25 March 2023.
To celebrate peak bloom and the National Cherry Blossom Festival (20 March – 16 April 2023), discover six of the best spots for spotting the blossoms in Washington, DC.
Washington Monument
Built to honour George Washington, the first President of the United States, the Washington Monument was once the tallest building in the world at just over 555 feet and still holds the title of world’s tallest stone structure and obelisk.
The Capitol Building
Perched on top of Capitol Hill, the US Capitol represents the foundations of American democracy. President George Washington, who laid the cornerstone in 1793 and today 435 elected members of the House of Representatives and 100 senators come together to represent US citizens and write laws.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
Opening in 2011, The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial was the first memorial on the iconic Mall to honour an African American. A prominent leader in the modern civil rights movement, Dr. King was a tireless advocate for racial equality.
National Museum of African American History
Devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, the National Museum of African American History and Culture has been opened to the public since 2016 and features more than 36,000 artifacts. The museum details how the diverse African American experience helped shaped the US and aims to help all visitors see how their stories, histories and cultures are informed by global influencers.
National Cathedral
Constructed between 1907 and 1990, this huge neo-Gothic cathedral blends the spiritual with the secular. Most of its richly coloured stained glassed windows celebrates religious themes, although the ‘Scientists and Technicians’ window with its embedded lunar rock is an exception, as are the famed exterior gargoyles depicting Darth Vade and a Missouri bear amongst others.
Jefferson Memorial
The gracefully domed, white-marble Thomas Jefferson Memorial is all about the man himself, an accomplished architect, political philosopher and the third president of the United States. Here visitors will find Jefferson’s stately bronze statue holding in its hands arguably his greatest achievement, the Declaration of Independent which serves as the basis for American democracy.
For more information on Washington, D.C, visit washington.org
