Toni

We are starting to think about the exact time for our visit and were wondering what weeks would be the best to visit D.C. so we can experience the city in bloom. Thanks!

Rebecca

I went there in school for spring break and everything was in bloom. I'm thinking it was early April.

Celeste

There's no way to set even a good approximate date as it completely depends on the weather. The year I lived there, they burst into full bloom on April 1. This year, I was there until April 4 and they hadn't bloomed yet. A couple of years ago, they bloomed in March and then it rained and all the blossoms fell off. So it's a very iffy thing at best.

marie

Toni, went twice the first week in April. Once hit the cherry blossoms prime, and once very slightly overripe. But they are gorgeous even when they are overripe

Jill

About the only thing you can depend on is that the cherry blossoms won't be in bloom for the cherry blossom festival (although they may have for this year). The cherry blossoms only bloom for a week (provided there's no strong winds). DC is beautiful in the Spring - April even May. You have the azaelas which start blooming in late March thru May, rhodedenrums(not sure of the spelling) bloom in late April thru May. Then you have all the flowering bulbs which start in late March thru May. April is probably the peak time for many blooms but it is also the peak time for tourists especially busloads of kids. I'd opt for late April or early May.

kam

Lived in D.C. Would never plan a trip specifically for the cherry blossoms---they are too unpredictable. As other say, the weather cause great variances. I would go in April--lovely spring weather and cherry blossoms or no.

Colleen

There is a website--
nationalcherryblossomfestival.org--that
can be helpful, but even they say it
cannot be predicted earlier than 10 days
ahead. I was there this year April 7 - 12 and it was just about perfect at the
start. Then the rain and wind changed everything, but it was still beautiful!