16 US Destinations To Visit If You Want To Spot Cherry Blossoms
Prepare to put all these places on your spring bucket lists.
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As winter (finally) starts to come to a close, cherry blossom season will soon be upon us. You've likely seen photos of these beautifully blossoming trees on your feed and even added them to your travel Pinterest board.
But good news! You can actually see these pink and white beauties IRL all across the country from March through May — exact locations below.
2. Seattle, Washington
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Where to go: Seattle's cherry blossom claim to fame is the Quad at University of Washington. With 29 cherry trees spread throughout the Quad, it'll be hard to find a spot in which one of these blooming beauties isn't in your view.
Where to stay: The Charter Hotel Seattle sits just a couple blocks from Elliott Bay in Seattle, which means you can enjoy the waterfront sites of Downtown Seattle and still be only a 3.5-mile drive from UW's cherry tree spectacle.
Rooms starting at: $154+
3. Portland, Oregon
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Where to go: The Tom McCall Waterfront Park offers a stretch of blossoming beauty right along the Willamette River. In addition to the petal-filled trees, you'll also catch views of both the Morrison Bridge and the Hawthorne Bridge, which will make for an arguably unbeatable cherry blossom Instagram photoshoot.
Where to stay: The Duniway Portland is just as hip as the city it calls home, which makes for some very aesthetically pleasing lobby furniture and interiors. The biggest bonus of all though? The Duniway is just a 15-minute walk to Tom McCall Waterfront Park.
Rooms starting at: $143+
4. St. Louis, Missouri
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Where to go: The Missouri Botanical Garden feeds over 40 Yoshino cherry blossom trees, and they are at their prime this time of year. Take a stroll through the George Washington Carver Garden or make your way over to the Japanese Garden — either choice will lead to different species of cherry trees, so you'll get your fill of both white and pink blossoms.
Where to stay: Just a quick 11-minute drive from the Missouri Botanical Garden, the St. Louis Union Station Hotel is quite the spectacle itself. The exterior architecture and mosaics lining the walls inside make it look and feel more like a castle than an urban hotel.
Rooms starting at: $163+
5. San Francisco, California
Where to go: The Golden Gate Park Japanese Tea Garden is an iconic San Francisco destination in and of itself, boasting bridges, sculptures, and even a tea house. But come March and April, the already Instagram-worthy buildings become even more worthy with the blossoming cherry trees that brighten up the 5-acre property.
Where to stay: You may mistake Hotel Emblem for one of San Francisco's classic apartment buildings, but you'll find spunky interiors to contrast the old-timey exterior as soon as you step inside. Plus, the city's Muni (bus system) is a quick walk from the hotel and will drop you off right outside Golden Gate Park for easy access to the Japanese Tea Garden.
Rooms starting at: $175+
6. Dallas, Texas
Where to go: The Dallas Arboretum is truly a spring sensation. Yes, you'll see 150 Yoshino, Okame, and Kwanzon cherry trees scattered throughout the 66-acre property, but you'll also see loads of tulips, making this place a real life floral paradise.
Where to stay: The Statler Dallas is located in the heart of downtown Dallas that's just over six miles from the Dallas Arboretum. Plus, once you're done chasing cherry blossoms for the day, the hotel has a great rooftop pool and bar for round-the-clock activities.
Rooms starting at: $184+
7. Nashville, Tennessee
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Where to go: Nashville has planted over 1,000 cherry trees, and Downtown has the most to offer. With so many blooms, the city even hosts a 2.5-mile cherry blossom walk where you can catch the trees in all their glory. Quite possibly the prettiest shot? The cherry blossom trees just outside of the Tennessee State Capitol.
Where to stay: The Hilton Nashville Downtown is located in the heart of downtown Nashville, so all you'll need to do to see the cherry blossoms is walk outside. And if you choose to head to the State Capitol for that epic shot, it's just a 15-minute walk from your hotel.
Rooms starting at: $250+
8. Athens, Ohio
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Where to go: It's possible you haven't heard of Athens, Ohio, but you've probably heard of Ohio University. Well, Ohio University is in Athens, and it's a go-to for cherry blossom sight-seeing in the Midwest. Over 200 cherry trees line the Athen's Hocking River that runs through campus, and there's a path right alongside them for easy blossom viewing.
Where to stay: The Fairfield Inn & Suites Athens is where you'll want to stay for this trip. It has everything you need considering you'll be spending most of your time three miles away on campus enjoying the blooms...in addition to roaming around in search of your next college town dive bar pit-stop.
Rooms starting at: $139+
9. Traverse City, Michigan
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Where to go: Take a drive out to Old Mission Peninsula in Traverse City, and you'll find a space that's rich in agricultural history. Pop out and go for a hike or head to the nearby Chateau Chantal Winery, where you can take in the cherry blossoms with a sip or two.
Where to stay: Book a room at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa! Head to the hotel's golf course or up to the 16th floor Aerie Restaurant & Lounge, where you'll have surrounding views of the cherry orchards and other springtime blooms.
Rooms starting at: $94+
10. Newark, New Jersey
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Where to go: When you think of Newark, you may recall a terrible flight delay or endless airport security line...but Branch Brook Park is a lot less dreadful. The park is home to 4,000 cherry trees, making it one of the country's biggest displays.
Where to stay: For easy access to Branch Brook Park, stay at the TRYP by Wyndham Newark Downtown. You can take an easy-peasy eight-minute train ride on NJ Transit from Military Park (a five-minute walk from TRYP) straight to Branch Brook Park.
Rooms starting at: $135+
11. Brooklyn, New York
Where to go: The Brooklyn Botanic Garden puts on quite the cherry blossom show. There are over 200 trees around the property, and the Botanic Garden even hosts a celebration of Japanese culture, called Sakura Matsuri, to honor the cherry blossom season with an entire weekend of events, which include music, dancing, and art.
Where to stay: 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge has a rooftop bar, Harriet's, that looks across the East River at downtown Manhattan and up at the Brooklyn Bridge. To get to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, just hop on the subway (a little over a 10-minute walk from your hotel) and it will drop you off about a quarter mile from the Botanic Garden.
Rooms starting at: $289+
12. Salem, Oregon
Where to go: Oregon State Capitol State Park is lined with 150 cherry trees, so walk underneath all the blossoms as you take in the sights of springtime at the Capitol. And when you're done, Salem has an adorable little Downtown area right on the Willamette River waterfront — we suggest grabbing a bite at Epilogue Kitchen and Cocktails.
Where to stay: The Bella Collina Bed & Breakfast holds the same charm as Oregon's capital. It's about a 25-minute drive from the cherry blossoms but it's worth the trek for a stay at this secluded property (especially considering you'll be surrounded by vineyards).
Rooms starting at: $175+
13. Irmo, South Carolina
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Where to go: The quaint Irmo Town Park in Irmo, South Carolina has a massive showing of cherry blossoms for such a small little town. Pop into the gazebo in the middle of the park, set up a picnic blanket, and take in the sites.
Where to stay: The Aloft Columbia Harbison gives you everything you need for your stay — a clean, contemporary place to rest your head and a $10 continental breakfast to wake up to in the morning. Plus, this hotel is only a five-minute drive from Irmo Town Park.
Rooms starting at: $108+
14. Boston, Massachusetts
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Where to go: Though the Charles River is known for its big time rowing regatta (Head of the Charles), the Charles River Esplanade on its south bank is home to a three-mile stretch of greenery, including a number of cherry trees. Walk the five miles of paths along this stretch as the months warm up in order to take in the fresh blooms.
Where to stay: Just a ten-minute drive from the Charles River Esplanade, Hotel Commonwealth in downtown Boston is conveniently just steps from Fenway Park if you want to catch a Red Sox game.
Rooms starting at: $178+
15. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Where to go: Head to Fairmount Park in Philly for a truly fantastic cherry blossom show. The heat of the action is in the Shofuso Japanese House and Garden (which costs $12), but don't forget to take a look behind the Please Touch Museum in West Fairmount Park for a free viewing.
Where to stay: The Inn at Penn is just an eight-minute drive to Fairmount Park, and is located right on campus at the University of Pennsylvania.
Rooms starting at: $180+
16. Washington DC
Where to go: The country's most famous cherry blossom show takes place in the nation's capital at the National Mall. The 3,000 cherry trees were a gift of friendship to DC from the mayor of Tokyo back in 1912, and they are still standing and blooming every year. Walk through the National Mall by foot, or take the waters less traveled by way of a Cherry Blossom Festival Cruise to see the blossoms from a different angle.
Where to stay: The Conrad Washington, DC is doing a special for cherry blossom sight-seers. With a two-night stay at a Sakura Club level room, you'll get a $100 gift card to use for shopping and dining, discounts, and free cherry blossom merchandise.
Special rates starting at: $519+
17. Macon, Georgia
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Where to go: Coleman Hill Park in Macon, Georgia offers cherry blossom viewing on a smaller scale. Sitting right next to the Walter F. George School of Law, Coleman Hill Park hosts a small-town celebration of the season with free concerts until the blossoms last.
Where to stay: Just as small-town as Macon, you can stay at the 1842 Inn to experience some genuine southern hospitality, and a whole lot of antique-filled rooms. The inn is housed in a Victorian Home, and it's located just a half-mile walk from Coleman Hill Park.
Rooms starting at: $189+
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