Approximately what would be the best week in April/May to visit DC to see the spring colors and other sights in DC?

I just want to plan the week so that I can make reservations for the weekend that we would be there.

We dont want to get there when its very cold or when its very hot.
Thanks for your reply.
-njs

Early to mid April will be the most pleasant period in the time frame you're considering. You'll most likely have perfect weather with no chance of it being too cold. In May you run the risk of a hot spell. Good luck!

The Cherry Blossom Festival is March 26 -April 10. The USUALLY corresponds with the flowering of the cherry blossoms and spring flowers, but weather can delay the blooming or accelerate it. In my experience in living there for a few years, May is Summer and the spring flowers are gone. I would aim for early April. DC is in the South, and Spring comes earlier than other parts of the northeast US.

I agree, early to mid-April. The festival is geared towards the types of cherries that bloom earliest, so even if they're done there will be others. A great hotel if you like flowers is the Marriott Wardman Park, which is next to a Metro stop and has acres of bulbs planted. Last year in mid-April it was glorious and we had a blooming cherry right outside our window.

Even if you miss the cherry blossoms, the tulips and daffodils all over by the bridges and monuments are very cool and bloom in early April (sometimes late March if it is warm)- and they stay out for wahile.

Cicerone-I am thinking of making reservations at Marriott Ward. Did you stay in the historic Wardman tower or the new area. Did you find it was okay to be that far away. How about restaurants?

The azaleas and dogwoods are usually in full bloom about a week before Mother's Day. And the temperature is still nice then.

If cherry blossoms aren't the most important spring blooms for you, I'd recommend later in April. There will be more variety, and a better chance of warm weather, from mid-April til about May 10. And you would miss the Easter/cherry blossom crowds. There have been some very cold days in early April here, though the only thing that can be said with certainty is that either extreme in temperature is possible almost any time of year. Last month saw a week of 60-70 degree days followed by a spell of 30 degree highs.

Funny, I did not post about the Wardman above but have stayed there, in the older wing. I love the neighbourhood, lots of restaurants and some interesting shops and actual local people. Rock Creek Park is basically at the front door, is very pretty in Spring and you can bike/walk/jog and even horseback ride (parts only) down to the Potomac or up the other direction. Go to http://www.nps.gov/rocr for info. The tony Kalorama neighbourhood is just across the bridge spanning the park, go look at some very expensive real estate. . .With the Metro, the sites of DC are easily accessible.

Sorry Cicerone-I got confused as I read the postings. I found your info. helpful on the Wardman Marriott though.
Were the restaurants quite close? Any great shopping nearby?

There are so many good restaurants in Northwest DC (and DC generally) and new ones are added all the time. Take a look at the website for the Washingtonian Magazine at http://www.washingtonian.com/, which lots of people in DC use as their restaurant bible. Some of my favorites which are near to you are

Petit Plats
2653 Connecticut Ave., NW
Woodley Park
(202) 518-0018
http://www.petits-plats.com/

This is across the street from the hotel. Great French food. Not too expensive.

Palena
3529 Connecticut Ave., NW
Cleveland Park
(202) 537-9250
http://www.palenarestaurant.com/

This is further north, but walkable. Quite expensive. Make reservations now.

Lauriol Plaza
835 18th St., NW
202-387-0035
http://www.lauriolplaza.com/

Good inexpensive Mexican food. Fun crowd, they have a roof deck. This is near DuPont Circle and is walkable from your hotel. They have a sister restaurant further up toward the National Cathedral: Cactus Cantina, 3300 Wisconsin Ave., NW; 202-686-7222.

Nora
Dupont Circle
2132 Florida Ave., NW
Washington, DC
202-462-5143
http://www.noras.com/

Excellent, expensive, usually ranked as one of DC’s best restaurants. This is in the DuPont Circle area, walkable from your hotel

Tabard Inn
Dupont Circle
1739 N St., NW
Washington, DC
202-833-2668
http://www.tabardinn.com/

Excellent, also somewhat expensive. Near DuPont circle, walkable from your hotel.


For shopping, just head to Connecticut Ave in either direction and see what appeals to you. The Dupont Circle area also has some interesting shopping neighborhoods. There are no malls in the area.

I really like the Eastern Market area near Capitol Hill they have a flea and crafts market on weekends and a huge indoor fish/meat/cheese market weekdays and Saturdays. The Market Lunch is famous for its crab cakes and does great breakfasts. There are lots of charming town houses in these neighborhoods. There are a lot of restaurants along this stretch of Pennsylvania Ave toward the Capitol. Take the metro (orange line) to Eastern Market. This would be a good place to go either before or after a visit to the Capitol.

I'll be traveling soon to DC., and am wondering if the tulip and daffodil bulbs are anywhere close to blooming at Rock Creek, around the National Cathedral or Natinal Arb. We'll be there April 2 through 5. Thanks.

For the OP -- if you're interested in seeing the cherry blossoms, they are predicted to peak April 4-9 this year. It can still be cold during that time period, but it can also be quite lovely (perfect Spring-time weather). Because of the cherry blossoms, this is a very popular time for tourists to visit D.C. and the crowds can be unbearable. I try to avoid going downtown around this time, unless it's during the week.

If you wait until later in April or May, it's a pretty safe bet that you'll have the kind of weather you're looking for here. As another poster mentioned, there will be Spring foliage other than cherry blossoms in bloom at that time. I prefer this later period, as the grass is greener and the flowers are much more vibrant. During the time the cherries are blooming, the rest of the grounds around D.C. can seem quite bare.

Please just be aware that so far our March is cooler than normal; I think maybe 10-12 degrees normal. Don't know when the weather will "turn" but not much is budding now. The trees still look very wintery. The birds are more active, though, so perhaps that's a sign.

Thank you-I have been following the temps. and I can see that you are cool. Are they still predicting peak bloom from April 4-9th?
Also, with this in mind, do you know if the old town trolley or tour mobile are enclosed and heated?

Laurelee -- I live just outside of D.C., near Old Town Alexandria, and I have daffodils already starting to bloom in my yard. I suspect by the time you get here they should either be in full bloom or starting to wane. Tulips come a little later, so should still be in good shape for your visit.

Cicerone is correct about the location of your hotel, it's considered "uptown" and has more of a local residential feel to it than downtown D.C. It's very close to metro (Woodley Park-Zoo stop on the red line), so downtown attractions are about a 10 to 15 minute ride away. The National Zoo, Cathedral and Adams Morgan/Kalorama neighbourhood are all within walking distance.

As for shopping, I recommend you venture into Georgetown which should only be about a 5 minute cab ride from your hotel (no metro stop unfortunately). The upscale shopping mall, Mazza Gallery, is about a 10 minute metro ride away (Friendship Heights stop on the red line going in the opposite direction of downtown).

For dining, Adams Morgan, Cleveland Park, Dupont Circle and Georgetown are all near you and have a slew of restaurants from which to choose. Cicerone gave you some good suggestions. If you have a particular type of cuisine you're interested in, let me know and I can try to give you more specific recs.

ttt

We are actually staying in the downtown area near the White House-I am just wondering if it would be worth it for us to head out to these areas to see some spring gardens. Also, my mother and I are interested in some fun shopping. We are mostly interested in unique gift shops, etc-not necessarily clothes. Would the shopping center you mentioned..Mezza something be a cool place for this-and what would shopping in Georgetown be like? I've never been there and think this might be fun. Any thoughts?

The bulb and chery tree display at the Marriott Wardman Park is extensive, but it's not really a garden as such that you can visit -- it's just the rather extensive hilly "front yard" grounds of the hotel. Not worth a special trip, IMHO, but you'd see it near the Metro stop if you went to the zoo.

For gardens and shopping, I recommend Georgetown, you won't get that "mall" feeling like you will in many other places. Visit the gardens of the old stone historic house that's right on the main shopping street in G'town, or venture a few blocks into the residential areas to see their pocket gardens and the extensive gardens at Tudor Place and Dumbarton Oaks.

Ooops, travdis and I cross-posted and I also neglected to check laurelee's travel dates. Unless there's some serious warm weather in the next couple of weeks, there won't be much to see in early April. OTOH, I was in DC last year in mid-April and everything was beautiful and comfrotable. Those cherry trees that the festival is based on are hardy Japanese specimens and among the earliest bloomers.