Where To See Cherry Blossoms In The US Outside Of Washington DC

Sure, Washington, DC may be the most famous place in the country to see cherry blossoms, but it’s far from the only place to do so, come April. Here are some of the best spots to go blossom peeping this spring outside the nation’s capital.

Brooklyn Botanical Gardens

The Brooklyn Botanical Gardens offers an opportunity to experience cherry blossoms right in the heart of New York City. The famous Cherry Esplanade is perhaps the most scenic in the park, but you can’t go wrong during April in its gorgeous displays.

The Cherry Esplanade at Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Philadelphia

San Francisco

The festival that accompanies the cherry blossoms in April is the best way to experience the blossoms. The festival celebrates the rich cultural and historical ties between Japan and the city of San Francisco, and includes everything from origami workshops to tea ceremonies to traditional dances performed by children.

Macon, Georgia

Macon, Georgia actually has the most cherry blossom trees of anywhere in America. More than 300,000 cherry blossom trees are located in the mid-size city. Thanks to the warmer climate, they begin to bloom in late March, so if that’s when your schedule would best permit for travel and you are keen to see the trees, keep Macon in mind.

Nashville

Japan launched an initiative in 2009 that is dedicated to planting over 1,000 trees in the city over the course of ten years. There are now over 800, most prominently lining a walkway that makes an especially incredible backdrop for the requisite cherry blossom Instagram.

Boston

The historic brownstones of Boston and the Charles River make a beautiful backdrop for the cherry blossom trees that bloom in the city come April. Take a walk or a run along the river and revel in the trees, ending on Commonwealth Avenue, where they tend to look especially stunning.

Missouri Botanical Gardens

These Botanical Gardens in St. Louis, Missouri, have a famous Japanese garden section, where come April, over 230 trees bloom in concert. The trees here are descendants of trees gifted to the United States by Japan in 1912, making them a particularly good option for the historically inclined.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.