We do not want you to miss the flowering period of this 2023, so it is convenient that you start preparing your visit to Washington DC now. In this week’s post you will discover which accommodations with adapted rooms you could stay in, the recommended accessible places to see the event and the best dates, among other tips.
Cherry blossoms are a symbol of Japan. They represent beauty, the ephemeral, rebirth, life. As a token of friendship, Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki gifted thousands of cherry trees to Washington, DC in 1912. Since then, the gift from Japan has been treasured in the US capital and stars in an annual event.
This 2023, the National Cherry Blossom Festival will take place from March 18 to April 16, although the maximum flowering period —when 70% of the trees will have opened their buds— will be from March 22 to 25.
According to the official website for tourism in Washington, DC, the most popular place to see cherry blossoms is in the Tidal Basin. Specifically, near the Jefferson, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorials. You can get to these points via the DC Circulator, as all buses are accessible and can accommodate wheelchairs or scooters.
The metrorail or the metrobus are also other comfortable options to get to places with flowers. Of course, they are also accessible for people with disabilities.
The festival is accompanied by other events such as the Pink Tie Party (March 16), Art in Bloom (March 20 – April 17), the Opening Ceremony (March 25), the Spring Parade (March 15, April) or the Sakura Matsuri (April 15 and 16). We recommend that you look at all the programming so you don’t miss what might interest you the most.
Accessible hotels
The Cherry Blossom Festival is a tourist attraction, so we advise you to book your accommodation in advance. We recommend the following three accessible hotels where you can stay while you enjoy the festival.
The Hilton Garden Inn Washington DC/ US Capitol is located 1.5 kilometers from Union Station. Among its accessible facilities it has an indoor pool with a hydraulic chair, where you can enjoy a moment of relaxation. Likewise, the property has several types of rooms adapted for people with reduced mobility, all with accessible shower or bathtub with grab bars and seat.
The Courtyard Washington, DC/U.S. Capitol is also very close to the main railway station, Union Station. Like the rest of our recommendations, it’s in an excellent location for exploring the city and witnessing its bloom. As it is an accessible hotel, the corridors and common areas are prepared so that guests with reduced mobility do not have access problems. In addition, the adapted rooms have the sockets, the peephole in the door and the switches at an appropriate height to be within reach of customers in wheelchairs.
The Grand Hyatt Washington is located in the heart of the Penn Quarter neighborhood, close to the heart of the city. Its adapted rooms are elegant and spacious; bathrooms have amenities like grab bars and lowered sinks for wheelchair users. The accommodation has everything you need for an unforgettable stay.
Tell us, have you attended or would you like to attend this festival?
Sources: Official Tourism Site of Washington DC and National Cherry Blossom Festival
