There is less and less left for cherry blossom and at Smartcherry we tell you some options to experience this unique moment. Take note and don’t miss these great opportunities.
Although it’s difficult to anticipate exactly when peak blooms will occur, most areas will see them in March or April. However, they can appear as early as February in some places, such as San Francisco and Los Angeles, or as late as May in Traverse City, Michigan, depending on the weather. So be ready because since in bloom, these iconic flowers don’t stick around for long.
Here are 7 top destinations in the United States to behold these enchanting blooms:
1. Tom McCall Waterfront Park (Portland, Oregon): Tom McCall Waterfront Park sits on the edge of the Japanese American Historical Plaza; it was built in 1990 to honor those whose lives were uprooted during the era of Japanese American internment camps. There are 100 cherry trees planted in and around the park, but visitors are encouraged to also explore the rest of the plaza, which is dotted with poems that explore the Japanese American experience.
2. Portland Japanese Garden (Portland, Oregon):
At the Portland Japanese Garden, visitors have a chance to experience Japanese culture alongside a handful of cherry trees, each artfully arranged throughout the space to create carefully considered views—a key characteristic of traditional Japanese gardens. Reservations for timed entry are recommended, and tickets cost $16 to $22 per person (children under six enter for free). Just make sure to leave time for tea and mochi at the garden’s Umami Café or for one of the many cultural offerings, such as koto (Japanese harp) performances or ikebana (flower arrangement) demonstrations.
3. The Japanese Tea Garden at Golden Gate Park (San Francisco, California): Although you can find cherry trees throughout San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, head to its Japanese Tea Garden to see the trees interspersed throughout the historic garden’s picturesque bridges, pagodas, and teahouse. The peak season for San Francisco’s cherry blossoms is typically around mid-March to mid-April. To celebrate the blossoms in grand fashion, head to San Francisco’s Japantown to attend the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, which will take place on April 13, 14, 20, and 21 in 2024.
4. The University of Washington Quad (Seattle, Washington): Since 1962, Seattle locals have known that spring at the University of Washington is synonymous with one thing: cherry blossoms. The dozens of trees that line UW’s central quad look so ethereal that stressed-out students, harried professors, and those simply passing by can’t help but stop and stare when the trees are in bloom. In fact, the highly anticipated cherry blossoms even have their own Twitter account.
5. The National Mall (Washington, D.C.): In 1912, the mayor of Tokyo gifted 3,000 trees to the District as a symbol of Japanese American friendship, and they’re planted all along the National Mall. The locals’ secret is to visit in the evening after the daytime crowds have gone, or stroll through Dumbarton Oaks, a beautiful (and relatively tourist-free) historic estate in D.C.’s Georgetown neighborhood. Official forecasts for D.C.’s cherry blossoms say it’s still too early to predict when exactly the flowers will be in peak bloom, but the flowers have typically appeared in March during past seasons.
6. Fairmount Park (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania): Philadelphia transforms into a pink paradise each spring, with Shofuso Japanese House and Garden serving as the pinnacle of the sakura spectacle.
7. Missouri Botanical Garden (St. Louis, Missouri): Delight in a front-row view of the floral extravaganza at the 14-acre Japanese Garden, boasting an array of cherry tree varieties from late February through early April.
Source: AFAR
