i am considering visiting the dc area the first week of april. Do you think it is a good time to visit? Would love to see cherry bloosoms but if the crowds are that huge i will put off to another time. what do you think is the best time to visit area. Thanks.

Sure cherry blossom time is ok, but be warned - the weather can turn cool. The trees are terrific! Otherwise, April-May, and late September-October.

The crowds are indeed huge around cherry blossom time. (As a resident, I've never understood what the fuss was about.). The timing varies, sometimes it's the last week in March, other times it's the first week in April. Best bet is the first week in April, but it depends on weather. Check with www.washingtonpost.com for updates. If you're looking for smaller crowds, come in April (after blossoms), May, Sept., October. June, July and August are brutally hot and loaded with tourists.

Well, April can be 50 or 93, I've seen both. Usually if it hits 90 in April it wont last but for a couple of days. Spring here really flip flops back and forth making it seem as if we have no real spring. Oct is really nice here.

Gail: I go home the third week in October every year and am going again the first week of March, so I am partial to those months; however, early April is good too. It is a wonderful city to get around in, either on foot, the Metro or a combination of the two. If you have time, get a good mug of coffee and walk in the early morning (9:00 a.m. or so) from the Lincoln Memorial to the Washington Monument and return to the Vietnam Memorial, etc. It is an inspiring walk. Then walk around the Jefferson to see the Cherry Blossoms, if they are in bloom. They are not reliable; so, unless you can make quick and uncostly revisions to your travel plans, do not center your trip around whether they are in bloom or not. More than likely, something will be blooming - like tulips.

Gail:

I lived in D.C. in late 1980s, and toured year around but would say end of March would be best. It is usually very comfortable then 60s and 70s and the crowds haven't arrived yet. To be honest, never saw the cherry blossoms in person but there is so much more to see then a few trees that will easily keep you busy for a week. Don't forget to travel to Mount Vernon - Geo Washington's home, very enjoyable to walk around the grounds and get a verbal tour when you walk through each room.

I have found that spring break week is the worst time to visit during the springtime--cherry blossoms or not, the museums are overrun with huge school groups that clog up all the lines, cafes, etc. The crowds attracted by the cherry blossoms at their peak do not compare to the throngs of spring breakers. So just be sure you're not there during spring break, and hope that you're there to catch the cherry blossoms! Good luck, and enjoy!

Cherry blossoms put on a terrific show, but that is the only attraction at that time. I like end of April/early May much more because of greenery, blooming azaleas and many other blossoming trees.Of course, fall weather, espec. Oct.,is lovely. Avoid the summer heat & humidity !

That would be a fine time to visit. It's not mosh pit, after all. It is beautiful.

The second best time to visit is around July 4th, of course.