SPRINGING UP

Many in the Washington, D.C. area are waiting with abated breath! The barren winter landscape is being transformed as spring blossoms are emerging everywhere. The most prized blossoms are cherry blossoms that are coming to full bloom over the next few days.  Way back in 1912, Japan gave more than 3,000 cherry trees to the USA as a gesture of friendship and these were planted at the Tidal Basin. This event is still being celebrated with the Cherry Blossom festival. About one million tourists and locals will be swarming the D.C. area to peek at this spectacular scene.  Being an avid photographer, my daughter is planning to brave the crowds to soak in the sights and sounds of the festival. Public transportation is the way to go – take the metro or the new express bus that plies between places of attraction such as Union Station and the memorials. On previous years, we have driven downtown and managed to find a parking lot at Hains Point which is also lined with the magical blossoms. Other fun stuff to do is to watch the Cherry Blossom Festival Parade and browse around the Sakura Matsuri – Japanese Street festival.

This year, I am planning to take a water taxi from Washington Harbor in Georgetown to the Tidal basin and view the blossoms from the water along the trip. Besides the Washington Mall area, many neighborhoods will morph into magical places as, over the years, thousands of trees have been planted over the entire metropolitan area. My favorite suburb is Kenwood in Bethesda where I can enjoy a long walk, and picnic under the delicate blossoms. I am also heading out to Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna to enjoy the spring scene.

Besides the Cherry Blossom Festival, spring heralds the start of outdoor activities. There are spring flings such as outdoor picnics and cookouts in backyards – I am planning to go to one next Saturday. Some good friends of mine are preparing for spring marathons, and the Boston marathon is probably the most famous of them all. The wedding season begins and my son will be flying in from San Francisco for a friend’s wedding. Baseball season has started and many will head for the ballparks to route for their favorite teams. The Potomac River will be dotted with kayaks and regattas and a big event is the annual Dragon Boat Festival that promotes Chinese culture in the D.C. area through the sport of dragon boat racing. It is quite a sight!

Spring is one of the best seasons to visit Washington, D.C.!

Lydia Sin
Author of “Going to America? Get INSIDE Information”

Ebook and paperback available at:

http://www.amazon.com/Going-America-Get-Inside-Information/dp/B003VKGTEW

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/lydia-sin