We may try to take advantage of a fare sale and go to D.C. before April 30. Because of work obligations, my wife can't go during January or between April 1 and April 22, or April 28-May 1, which I would assume would rule seeing the Court in action (see below).

Our main interest is seeing the Supreme Court in action (it's my understanding that's M-W until late April), trying to get a White House tour through our congressman, then doing the requisite museum tours.

My wife is semi-interested in the cherry blossoms, so we thought about aiming for the March 24-27 or March 31-April 2. But I’ve read so much about how the crowds in D.C. are “unbearable” at that time, so we thought of late February, or else waiting until later in the year when there will inevitably be another fare sale.

Thoughts? Like I say, our first priority is enjoying the museums and tours. Would the “unbearable” crowds of those first two time periods have an effect on those priorities?

The actual blooming of the cherry blossoms varies quite a lot, so don't plan your whole trip around them. Hotel rates are higher then, due to demand, so that might cancel out your fare savings. The crowds during cherry-blossom time are no worse, but no better, than during kids' school vacations, especially summer.

Certainly you'll have the least crowding in February, though many kids in the northeast have a school vacation during the week of Presidents' Day (third Monday).

You should also go to the Supreme Court website to check their oral argument calendar. They take a number of breaks and I would hate for you to come here and them not be in session.

From the end of March until September, it is tourist high season.

I agree with not tying anything to the cherry blossoms..they can be as fickle as any other politican in this town. BUT, if you are here and they are in bloom you can easily avoid a lot of the crowds IF (assuming you are on foot) YOU are willing to get there early in the day to walk amongst them.

As to the WH tour, i assume you've already contacted your representative's office; if not I suggest you do so ASAP.

The museums...the earlier the better although they won;t be nearly as jammed at that time vs. later in the year.

I've snagged good hotel rates even during the Cherry Blossum Festival, albeit it was over in Arlington near the Rosslyn stop.

The only day I've noticed to be really "zoo-y" is on the Saturday of the parade. I've been to DC 3 times during the weekend of the Festival, only by chance, but only one of them was while there was a good bloom ... so as pointed out, the trees don't always cooperate with the scheduled events. They are really beautiful, but I would not do a trip to DC with those as my main criteria.

Avoid using the Smithsonian Metro station during the Festival; it gets so crowded they close the entrances. Seems a lot of people think it's the only station to get to the Mall by. I'd try to make my visit before schools start their Spring/Easter break. Either of your two weekends will probably be ok.

I definitely recommend that you check the Court's calendar before heading over their for oral argument. Some cases that are being heard are so popular and attract such attention that people camp out overnight just to get in. Whichever day you decide to go, though, plan on getting there early as they only take a certain number of visitors.

Thanks for all the assistance!

The Supreme Court website showed argument calendars going out to the week of February 27. So I think we're going to shoot for February 24-27.

I've got requests in my my congressmen, so we'll see what that turns up.

Cherry blossoms will have to wait for another time!

I love DC in March-April-May, September-October.
And hate it in January!
The end of February, as you are planning, can be a good or bad. It depends - the wind from North or South. It can be a snow or beautiful spring. We have a joke for the weather here: "If you don’t like the weather in DC just wait for 2 hours".
You have to see a cherry blossom to understand that it worth it to go during "crowd season".
We live on VA site and always use a metro for DC weekend.
The parking near the metro (inside of 495–beltway) can be a problem during weekdays unless you come before 8 am