The Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC is well underway and in peak season, when at least 70% of the Yoshino cherry blossom trees all over the city are in full bloom. There’s no better place to view the cherry blossoms than on the water.
We here at The Wharf Marina know the best spots to sit back, relax, and watch the cherry blossoms with your friends and loved ones while you’re out on the water, and offer you an ideal gateway to the Tidal Basin and the National Mall. Check out all the amazing views you don’t want to miss out on!
The Best Places to View the Cherry Blossoms on the Water
The Tidal Basin
The Tidal Basin is the perfect place to see all the cherry blossoms growing by the water in full bloom with a lovely backdrop of some of the most iconic monuments in the National Mall. There’s never been a better time to rent a paddle boat and get out on the water than in the springtime!
While you might not be able to sail your private vessel into the Tidal Basin, you can still make the trip on land and rent a paddle boat. From the waters of the Tidal Basin, you get a stunning panoramic view of the flowering trees that span the entire Tidal Basin, from the Thomas Jefferson Memorial all the way to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial.
By foot, the most common route is to make a loop that circles the entire Tidal Basin while stopping at some of the most photogenic areas, starting from the Jefferson Memorial, then all the way around till you get to the Japanese lantern, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, then down to the Japanese pagoda. These are just some of the best places to stop, admire the blossoms, and take pictures to capture the moment.
East Potomac Park
If you’d rather stay out on the water, East Potomac Park has cherry blossom trees growing right next to the water and are viewable from your vessel. The Washington Channel on the East side and the Potomac River on the west offer great views of the cherry trees which run along the exterior of the peninsula.
You can explore this area by foot via the Hains Point Loop in East Potomac Park, which offers the same incredible views without battling the tidal basin crowds. Located at the southernmost end of East Potomac Park, this 4-mile loop is lined with up to 10 different cherry blossom species and can be traversed by foot or by bike.
West Potomac Park
Paddle boats just can’t beat the smooth and seamless experience of using your own boat. You can see marvelous views of the cherry blossoms in West Potomac Park, just south of the Lincoln Memorial and National Mall, while you’re cruising on the Potomac River. Granted, they won’t be as plentiful as when you’re in the Tidal Basin, but they’re still worth checking out and are a sight to behold.
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The Wharf Marina is the best place to dock for easy access to the Washington Channel and the Potomac and offers seasonal and long-term slips for anyone hoping to see the cherry blossoms while they’re still in full bloom. So hurry and book your slip today! Full bloom season only lasts for a short time and there’s no better time to see these fleeting blossoms yourself.
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