This time of year is when we think about grabbing an Amtrak and heading South. Not that South but enough to enjoy the cherry blossoms. It begins with the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which is a spring celebration in Washington, D.C., commemorating the March 27, 1912, gift of Japanese cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo City to the city of Washington, D.C. If you haven’t experienced it, we strongly encourage you to. However, we are also here to save you the trip! Like all things around the world, we have it here!
Cherry blossom season is one of the best times to experience the beauty and charm of spring — the season of flowers. Cherry trees blossom in parks across the five boroughs — explore some of the best spots to see one of the most anticipated spring moments in New York City. Okame cherry trees (which have tiny pink flowers with red calyxes) are the first to bloom, usually around mid-to-late March, followed by the more famous Yoshino (white/ light pink flowers) and Kwanzan cherry trees (fluffy pink flowers), which usually blossom in April. As the wave of cherry blossoms arrive, the flowers for each species usually are in bloom for about two weeks. So, the time is now! While it sure doesn’t feel that way just yet, you should get the plans in the works!
You can plan to visit the Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden or take in the beautiful Japanese blooms from the best NYC parks to hidden spots around town. The delicate pink flowers serve as the perfect background to take the perfect warm-weather-ready photo for your Instagram feed and check off your bucket list with one of the best things to do in the spring.
Our favorite place to view them is in Central Park. The cherry blossom trees in Central Park can be found between 72nd Street and 96th Street around the Reservoir, Cherry Hill, Pilgrim Hill, Great Lawn, Cedar Hill, and the area just south of Cedar Hill between 74th and 77th Streets.
Make your plans and let’s spring!