Hey everyone! The cherry blossoms look beautiful! They are in full bloom from what I saw yesterday. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get any good pictures or enjoy them but I plan on going back Tuesday morning, early. Tried to take the metro out of New Carrollton, took awhile to find a parking space. Then saw the line outside the station itself. So I decided to drive down into DC just to check out the crowds. I came in off 395, only took 20 min & I was surprised to see not much traffic down near the tidal basin (around 11am). There was no parking thou and lots of pedestrians about. You really have to be careful driving around down there, people just walk right out in front of you as they gaze up and around. I so wanted to get out as it was a nice day. I figure I go back during the week when there is fewer people out. It was such a nice day yesterday in DC! The blossoms looked awesome! I'm sure they will be around next weekend too, no doubt

Is that true?
Will the cherry blossoms look as good during the next weekend too?
We r visiting DC on April 16 and 17

They have said that the Blossoms will at least extend thru the 18th so you should be good! I'm actually going back back tomorrow near dawn so I can walk around and take some pictures!

Well I woke up this morning and drove down to DC. I found plenty of parking around 630ish around the tidal basin. When I left at 8am there was still lots of parking. Watching the sun rise with the cherry blossoms was beautiful! I'm glad I was able to go back and get some photos. The wind was blowing about 20mph and the falling blossoms reminded me of snow! They are really coming off today, they definitely will be gone by next week. I put my photos online this morning if anyone wants to see them and what they look like as of this morning.

http://community.webshots.com/user/bluestructure

Even if the early type of cherries are done by next weekend (which I agree is likely) the later ones will still look great.

As of today, April 12, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom.

bluestructure: thanks for sharing the pictures. How rare to not have hoards of peopl ein the pics- I admire your determination to get up so early and get down there before the crowds. I live here in DC area too and was down there over the weekend (HUGE crowds), but I posted your link to the photos on the Asia board here. There are several people who live in Japan who post regularly on the Asia board and I want them to see the DC sakura, since Japan started it all!

Lovely photos, Blue structure! So rare without the crowds. Sunset is lovely, too, but usually lots of people.
Also recommended is the Kenwood area of Chevy Chase/Bethesda, just off River Road, inside the Beltway. Classy neighborhood with thousands of very old cherry trees. They are also in full bloom and will last a bit longer than the Tidal Basin if you come to DC the end of April.

Well, I am not arriving in DC until the 27th, and probably the leaves will have fallen off by them! Wish I could have gotten there this week........

Weski- Is the Kenwood area accessible by Metro? I live in DC parttime, I have just arrived for a several-week stay and it looks like I missed ther main event at the Tidal Basin this year!