Must watch video!! The cherry blossoms are at peak bloom today (03.20.2020). They are looking beautiful and fluffy.
There were no travel restrictions imposed by the National Park Service- only safety recommendations were issued. I had referred to the NPS statement before going which goes as “With peak bloom of the cherry blossoms occurring this week, we are aware that many people will visit the Tidal Basin to view the trees. Although the park is not closed, we encourage all visitors, particularly the most vulnerable, including the elderly and people with underlying conditions, to make smart decisions and to follow CDC guidance to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. These measures include practicing social distancing; following routine precautions like washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze; and most importantly, please stay home if you feel sick.” Also, the Tidal Basin was accessible, roads were open and so were the metro stations. Whether it’s a good idea to go is another matter.
In order to comply with their guidances, i.e. to minimize my time at the Tidal Basin and maximize distance from other people, I did a drive around the area- I did not get out of the care nor did I open the windows for clicking photos. I also went early in the morning to avoid any crowds and traffic. But I was wrong! There were many people at the Tidal Basin, maybe not as much as other years, but it wasn’t deserted either. There was traffic on the International, Ohio and the East/West Basin Drives. Looks like many people had the same ‘drive-thru’ idea like us. The parking lots at the Tidal Basin were closed and street parking was full.
The National Cherry Blossom Festival org has recently partnered with the trust for the national Mall and the NPS to provide a live streaming of the cherry trees so you can watch them from the comfort of your home. Link here
Disclaimer:
I am posting this video not to encourage people to visit but rather for viewing pleasure of many viewers who will choose to follow from afar this year. Read my post on ‘Should You Go See The Cherry Blossoms In DC This Weekend Amid The Coronavirus?’. Link here:
About the world famous cherry blossoms in Washington DC:
For over a century, the cherry blossoms l in Washington DC have heralded the arrival of spring. 3,000 cherry trees were a gift of friendship to the United States from Japan in 1912. In March of that year, First Lady Helen Taft and the Vicountess Chinda of Japan finally planted the first trees. Today there are nearly 4,000 cherry trees planted around the Tidal Basin, along the Potomac river and on the grounds of the Washington monument and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
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Date of visit: 20 March 2020.
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