An Immersive Art Experience at ARTECHOUSE

An Immersive Art Experience at ARTECHOUSE

Immersive Art Experience; Average attendee spends 90 minutes there; $16 dollars online, $20 in person (discounts available)

Opened in June 2017, ARTECHOUSE (Art + Tech + House) is a first-of-its-kind innovative art space dedicated to showcasing experiential and immersive large scale installations. Artechouse offers a unique space with evolving exhibitions that transform the space throughout the year. No one experience is the same.

This museum is designed for the Instagram age. The elusive combination of art and technology is enticing in this era of the selfie. It is a big, bold, and immersive installations promoting a unique sense being overtaken by and submersed in the art.

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Washington DC - 3 Brewery Tours in One Afternoon!

Washington DC - 3 Brewery Tours in One Afternoon!

Washington DC had no breweries that packaged beer between 1956 and 2011. This changed, and changed quickly, with the opening of DC Brau, which was quickly followed by many others. Washington DC now has 5 package breweries, 4 with Brewery Tours, and many other Brewpubs, Cideries, Distilleries, and alcohol production facilities. 

Recently, the Urban Atlas team decided to hit as many Brewery Tours as possible in one day. Like many cities, the breweries in Washington DC are located in areas of light industry, not usual tourist neighborhoods. However,  it will definitely give you a wider view of Washington DC, as well as it's very active brewery scene.

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Washington DC Spring Guide

Washington DC Spring Guide

With the Cherry Blossoms off the trees, Spring has definitely arrived in Washington DC. Washington DC can become a bit of a madhouse in Spring - between the Cherry Blossoms, what feels like every high schooler's school trip, and people in town to appreciate the DC beautiful spring weather, it can get busy. Our suggestion - avoid the packed museums, get outside and enjoy the monuments, the weather, the waterfront, and other outdoor activities. 

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Wednesday Cherry Blossom Updates - April 11

Wednesday Cherry Blossom Updates - April 11

Throughout the blooming of the cherry blossoms and the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Urban Atlas will be giving updates of the status of the Cherry Blossoms, as well as some of the day's pictures.

Today was a beautiful if chilly day. Urban Atlas was down at the Tidal Blossom at sunset taking pictures. It's crazy that the blossoms have been at peak for a week at this point; the cold weather does have its advantages!

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Monday Cherry Blossom Updates - April 9th

Monday Cherry Blossom Updates - April 9th

Throughout the blooming of the cherry blossoms and the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Urban Atlas will be giving updates of the status of the Cherry Blossoms, as well as some of the day's pictures.

The cherry blossoms are going strong! Will they stay photo ready through this coming weekend?

While today (Monday) was another below average temperature day, like much of March and April thus far, it's actually great for cherry blossom viewing.

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1-Day Cherry Blossom Itinerary

The National Cherry Blossom Festival one of the biggest festivals in Washington DC; every March and April the city celebrates the gift of Japanese cherry trees from Tokyo - donated  to celebrate the friendship between the United States and Japan. It's definitely a worthwhile visit, The blossoms are a fleeting and uniquely beautiful moment in Washington DC; there are only a few weeks every year that one can see the blossoms, and that timing is dependent on the weather. 

These beautiful blossoms manage to bring out 1.5 million visitors every year. However, so the crowds of people can make it tough to appreciate the full beauty of the blossoms. To help guide your day, we here at Urban Atlas have designed a one-day all-cherry blossom itinerary that will let you go all in on the blossoms. 

The Washington Monument and cherry blossoms from East Potomac Park - CC: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

The Washington Monument and cherry blossoms from East Potomac Park - CC: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

6 AM: Cherry Blossom Sunrise

The most dense pack of cherry blossom trees it at the Tidal Basin, and the most scenic time to take in these blossoms is at sunrise or sunset. However, while sunset will be overflowing with people, sunrise is quite serene. So get out of bed early, and get down to the Tidal Basin and appreciate the serenity and beauty of the cherry blossoms at dawn.

7:30 AM Wharf Breakfast

The DC Wharf is new on the cherry blossom scene this year - the multi-year development project opened it's first phase in the fall of 2017. These are now the closest restaurants and bars to the Tidal Basin - and you should definitely take advantage of them. The only real option at this early hour is Kith and Kin, the African-Caribbean outpost in the new InterContinental Washington DC at The Wharf. Another option, if you happen to be a bit later (or a bit patient) is the more reasonably priced Pearl Street Warehouse's Diner, which opens at 8:30 AM. 

Kith and Kin; 801 Wharf Street, SW; https://kithandkindc.com/; opens at 6:30 AM.

Pearl Street Warehouse; 33 Pearl Street SW; https://www.pearlstreetwarehouse.com/diner/; opens at 8:30 AM.

9 AM: A Cherry Blossom Bike and/or Walk

Bikers amid the cherry blossoms in East Potomac Park - CC: Rudi Riet

Bikers amid the cherry blossoms in East Potomac Park - CC: Rudi Riet

Once you have digested breakfast, it makes sense to dive back into the Cherry Blossom festivities. The 3+ mile circle circuit of East Potomac Park down to Hains Point and back is packed with Cherry Blossoms but they are more spread out, leading to a much more relaxed blossom viewing experience. 

At this hour, Capital Bikeshare is a great option; you can get a 24-hour pass for just $8, and that will cover you for unlimited 30 minute rides. There are some stations on East Potomac Park, make sure to download the app first.

Click here for more information on Capital Bikeshare.

11:30 AM: Cherry Blossom Boat Ride 

During the Cherry Blossom Festival, DC Cruises runs a ferry that is half sightseeing and half transportation between the Georgetown waterfront and the Tidal Basin. On the route between these stop, the route will treat you to great views of the cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin as well as the numerous monuments along the path. The ferry costs $25, and gets you a round trip that can be used in both directions. For those preferring to stay on land, it's only a little more than a 2 mile trip along the water, an easy bike or walk. 

DC Cruises; picks up near the Tidal Basin at the intersection of Ohio Drive SW and West Basin Drive SW; http://www.dc-cruises.com/cherry_blossom_cruises.php

12:30 PM: Georgetown Lunch

As you transit between the Tidal Basin cherry blossoms and the Dumbarton Oaks cherry blossoms, Georgetown in the sensible stopping point for lunch. We have two suggestions, Chaia for relatively inexpensive vegetarian but extremely flavorable tacos; or Pizzeria Paradiso - a great local wood-fired pizza chain with a great selection of beers and wines. Both should be quick, though Chaia will definitely be faster. 

Chaia; 3207 Grace St. NW; opens 11 AM Monday-Friday, and 10 AM Saturday and Sunday; https://www.chaiadc.com/

Pizzeria Paradiso; 3282 M St. NW; open 11:30 AM Monday - Saturday, noon on Sunday; https://www.eatyourpizza.com/

 

2 PM: Dumbarton Oaks

Magnolia in the foreground, Cherry Blossoms in the background at Dumbarton Oaks. CC: DC Gardens

Magnolia in the foreground, Cherry Blossoms in the background at Dumbarton Oaks. CC: DC Gardens

The Dumbarton Oaks historic estate was the residence of Robert and Mildred Bliss. In 1940 the The Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection was founded, and the research institute was donated to Harvard University in 1940. It supports research in the fields of Byzantine, Pre-Columbian, and garden design and landscape architecture studies. 

While being only a few blocks from the the commercial center of Georgetown, it is a quiet and serene place. Most importantly, the garden houses a great collection of flower, trees, shrubs, and other plants - to include a beautiful collection of Cherry Blossoms. For only $10, you can take your time wandering the garden and enjoying the quiet and that isn't available at the Tidal Basin at this hour. If you need a break from the outdoors, the museum is free to access and currrently features a Cherry Blossom rare book collection and an exhibition in Machu Picchu in popular culture among others. 

Dumbarton Oaks Garden; 1703 32nd St. NW; open Tuesday through Sunday; the garden is open between 2 PM and 6 PM; the museum is open from 11:30 AM to 5:30 PM; https://www.doaks.org/

6 PM Wander East Potomac Park at Sunset

The Wharf as seen from East Potomac Park

The Wharf as seen from East Potomac Park

Catch the Union Station-Georgetown circulator on Wisconsin, and hop off at Washington Circle. Here you can either walk back to the Tidal Basin or grab Metro to the Smithsonian station. Once you arrive, our suggestion is to enjoy East Potomac Park and Hains Point - the sunset colors, along with the lights of Washington National Airport or the Wharf DC, is a great and quieter way to enjoy the sunset than Tidal Basin, which will be packed a this hour.

Once you arrive, our suggestion is to enjoy the setting sun from East Potomac Park and Hains Point; the colors, along with the lights of Washington National Airport or the Wharf DC, make it a great place to enjoy the blossoms amidst the sunset. It will also be significantly more quiet than the Tidal Basin as well. 

 

8:30 PM: Ramen Dinner

Hailing from Japan, along with the Cherry Blossoms, is Ramen. Fortunately, Washington DC is going through somewhat of a Ramen revolution, with many different and excellent options. However, the ramen shop on the first floor of Daikaya remains the best (and most accommodating) ramen in town; from the more sedate Shio and Shoyu ramens, to the Spicy Miso, their ramens never dissapoint. Vegetarians and Vegans also have a great option with Vegetable Ramen as well. One of the challenges is that the ramen shop does not take reservations and the line can often be long. If waiting isn't your preference, you can make a reservation at sister-ramen restaurant Haikan, up near the U Street corridor.

Daikaya (1F Ramen); 705 6th St. NW; https://www.daikaya.com/; no reservations

Haikan; 805 V St. NW; https://www.haikandc.com; reservations encouraged

 

11 PM: Cherry Blossom Bar

Cherry Blossom Pop-Up Bar - CC: Joe Flood

Cherry Blossom Pop-Up Bar - CC: Joe Flood

To finish your cherry blossom filled day, there is no better option than to grab a drink, say a Cherry Blossom Gin and Tonic in a room with 90,000 individual blossoms. The bar, playing on the Japanese-American relationship, incorporates numerous elements of Japanese culture into the design and the drinks. One bar resembles a teahouse, another is made to resemble Tokyo's Memory Lane, and there is a 10-foot animatronic Godzilla that blows smoke out of its mouth. 

Cherry Blossom Pop-Up Bar; 1839-1843 7th St. NW; open 5pm to 12:30 AM Sunday through Thursday, and till 1:30 AM on Friday and Saturday; Through April 30th. https://popupbardc.com/

Thursday Cherry Blossom Update - Peak Blossoms!

Peak cherry blossoms have arrived!

The best viewing for the main cherry blossom trees will be until early to mid-next week. 

Top Cherry Blossom Photos

Warm weather tomorrow; measurable snow less likely on Saturday

As it has been all Spring, the Washington DC weather just keeps us on our toes. Today was a beautiful clear day, if a bit cold. The weather tomorrow (Friday) is supposed to be partly cloudy with a high of 66 degrees - another great day for taking in the Cherry Blossoms. Saturday, chances of significant snow have decreased greatly as well. 

Wednesday Cherry Blossom Updates - April 4th

All this week, Urban Atlas will be giving daily updates of the status of the Cherry Blossoms, as well as some of the day's pictures.

Today's Cherry Blossoms

As promised, today's weather was all over the place - warm in the morning but then a front came through midday. While it cleared later, it was cold and windy. I stopped by the Tidal Basin just before sunset, and the trees are really starting to bloom.

The wind was really blowing this afternoon, but the cherry blossoms proved resilient and managed to stay attached to their trees.

Peak bloom starts tomorrow!

Upcoming Weather - Friday, April 6th looks to be a good option. Sunday has potential too.

The weather remains challenging this year. March in Washington DC was colder than February for the second year in a row. April continues to challenge us with cold weather and potentially snow, mixed precipitation, or rain on Saturday. In the near term, Friday looks to have the best weather to take in the blossoms. However, there could be an opportunity to see a rare combination of snow + blossoms Saturday morning. We will keep you updated. 

 

 

Tuesday Cherry Blossom Updates - April 3rd

All this week, Urban Atlas will be giving daily updates of the status of the Cherry Blossoms, as well as some of the day's pictures.

Today's Cherry Blossoms

The weather remained tough for Cherry Blossom viewing - today the weather was cloudy and was between between threatening to rain to lightly raining. However, the blossoms continue their march towards opening.

According to the National Park Service - we have reached the bloom period; 20% of the Yoshino trees are now in full blossom.

Tomorrow: Be dressed for extremely variable weather and wind

The Washington DC weather remains super-variable - it will be warm early - reaching 70, but in the afternoon the temperatures will drop quickly.

Also be prepared for significant wind gusts tomorrow as well.

Cherry Blossoms in the Snow?

It's a possibility for Saturday morning.

 

 

Cherry Blossom's Competitors - Magnolias

Cherry Blossoms aren't the only beautiful tree that is blooming - Magnolias are in bloom too!

Cherry Blossom Updates - Monday April 2nd

All this week, Urban Atlas will be giving daily updates of the status of the Cherry Blossoms, as well as some of the day's pictures.

Today's (April 2) Cherry Blossom Photos 

Today wasn't the prettiest day, cold and cloudy, but there are plenty of Cherry Blossoms to see already, and the weather is looking to improve later in the week.

Cherry Blossom Updates

The peak blossom is forecast to be on the move again - forward this time - both NPS and the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang are forecasting peak bloom to be this weekend.

A friendly reminder

National Park Service sign

National Park Service sign

National Cherry Blossom Festival Tips and Tricks

people enjoying the Cherry Blossoms - CC: Al Jazeera English

people enjoying the Cherry Blossoms - CC: Al Jazeera English

To help you get the most out of your visit to the Washington DC Cherry Blossoms, we have developed the following suggestions to help you plan your trip and navigate throughout the day. 

Urban Atlas is here to help tourists and travelers get the most out of their travel, and major events like the National Cherry Blossom Festival provide a great opportunity design the best experience possible. As with any major event, there are best practices: ways to make your experience better; ways to avoid crowds, and assist in getting the best views and best pictures.  Our goal is that you enjoy yourself more and waste less time. We also recognize that people have different preferences and constraints.

This article gives insider tips from those of us who have experienced the Cherry Blossom Festival over a number of years. This is the second in a series of articles about the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

Cherry Blossom Crowds at the tidal basin - CC: Chicabandita

Cherry Blossom Crowds at the tidal basin - CC: Chicabandita

Go to the Tidal Basin to see the Cherry Blossoms early in the morning

An estimated 1.5 million people visit the National Cherry Blossom Festival every year. Most of these people focus their time at the Tidal Basin. This means for most of the day, the Tidal Basin ends up being packed, slow moving, and not as enjoyable as it should be.

The best way to deal with this is to visit the Tidal Basin first thing in the morning. It is by far the quietest time of day, you will be able to appreciate the views better, and you are much more likely to get a cherry blossom photo without tons of stranger crowing your pictures. 

 

See the cherry blossoms at dawn or dusk

Tidal Basin with cherry blossoms just before dawn - CC: Nicholas Schooley

Tidal Basin with cherry blossoms just before dawn - CC: Nicholas Schooley

As with most things, the Cherry Blossoms are at their most scenic in the colors of dusk or dawn. Check out the Tidal Basin at dawn, but Haines Point is a great option for enjoying a beautiful Cherry Blossom sunset. 

 

Check out other Cherry Blossom locations during the day

As we discussed in the National Cherry Blossom Festival Basic Information post, cherry blossoms in DC are not restricted to the Tidal Basin. Once late morning comes, the vast majority of the visitors will descend on the Tidal Basin, we suggest that you enjoy the cherry blossoms elsewhere. The best additional options are:

Hains Point and East Potomac Park

While part of the larger National Cherry Blossom Festival, Hains Point and East Potomac Park are larger and significantly less trafficked than the Tidal Basin. This means that there is a lot more space to explore, and lead to a much more relaxed atmosphere. To do the roundtrip from the Jefferson Memorial to Hains Point and back is about a 3.1 mile walk (5 kilometers), so be prepared. You can also take the National Cherry Blossom Festival Shuttle.

National Cherry Blossom Festival Map.jpg

United States National Arboretum

Cherry Blossoms at the National Arboretum - CC: Cammy

Cherry Blossoms at the National Arboretum - CC: Cammy

The U.S. National Arboretum is one of DC's hidden gems - especially when it comes to seeing Cherry Blossoms without the crowds. It is operated by the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service. The Asian Tree collection features both magnolias and cherry blossoms.  It is free to enter.

The major challenge comes in getting there - it is not particularly metro accessible, although there area few options:

  • There is free parking outside the R Street gate (2400 R St NE)
  • Lyft or Uber X from the NoMa-Gallaudet U metro station on the Red Line. Without surge pricing, it should cost around $9.00.
  • The B2 Metro Bus drops you off adjacent to the R Street gate.
  • For the adventurous types, the closest transit station to walk from is on the DC Street Car - the walk from the Benning Rd. NE and 15th St. NE is just over a mile. However, it is not the most scenic of walks. 
 

Dumbarton Oaks Garden

Dumbarton Oaks Garden Cherry Blossoms - CC: DC Gardens - dcgardens.com/dumbarton-oaks/

Dumbarton Oaks Garden Cherry Blossoms - CC: DC Gardens - dcgardens.com/dumbarton-oaks/

Much closer to the Tidal Basin, but also quiet, Dumbarton Oaks Garden is another great quiet place to enjoy the Cherry Blossoms. The garden is only open from 2-6PM, but if you do get the opportunity, it is a great garden to enjoy in historic Georgetown. While not free, those who want to see Cherry Blossoms in the afternoon without a crowd will find the admission fee worth it: $10 Regular, $8 Senior (60+), $5 Students and Children (ages 2–12).

It is also not particularly metro accessible, however, there are a number of easy ways to get there:

  • The Georgetown-Union Station line of the tourist friendly DC Circulator runs every ten minutes and the Wisconsin Ave. / R St. (Georgetown Library) stop is one block to the entrance. It only costs $1. Click here for more information on the DC Circulator.
  • It is only a 1.3 mile walk from the Dupont Circle Metro Station.

For more information on Dumbarton Oaks Garden or Museum, please click here.

 

Biking (but not at the Tidal Basin during the day)

Capital Bikeshare parked among the Cherry Blossoms - CC: Joe Flood

Capital Bikeshare parked among the Cherry Blossoms - CC: Joe Flood

As you can see above, while there is a strong concentration of Cherry Blossoms at the Tidal Basin, otherwise the blossoms are very spread out. Washington DC is a great biking city, having just been awarded Gold Bicycle Friendly Community status by the League of American Bicyclists - the only major East Coast city to receive this designation. 

Capital Bikeshare

Capital Bikeshare is the established, docked bike sharing program in Washington DC. It is a great way to get around Washington DC, and perfect for seeing the Cherry Blossoms as there are multiple stations where there are Cherry Blossoms to include the Tidal Basin, East Potomac Park, the Mall, Georgetown, the National Arboretum; there are also hundreds of others stations in and around the city. 

You can rent a single bike for 30 minutes for $2, but the better deals are $8 for a 24-hour pass, or the $17 for a 3-day pass; both come with unlimited free 30 minute rides. Beware - if you go above 30 minutes on a single ride (without getting an extension at a full dock), they will start charging you. However, you can have as many free back-to-back 30 minute rides in your time period as you would like. 

For more information on Capital Bikeshare, please see their website. Also, be sure to download the app so that you can know where there are stations and how many bikes and/or docks they currently have.

Dockless bikeshare

Dockless bikeshare is a new concept in Washington DC; it began late in 2017 as a trial, and a number of companies can have up to 400 bikes in the city. The companies include Jump DC, Spin, OFO, LimeBike, and Mobike. It's another great option, but it's good to be flexible, with limited bikes, you may need to switch between companies.

Seriously don't try to drive and park at the Tidal Basin

Cherry Blossom traffic at the Tidal Basin - CC: Douglas Muth

Cherry Blossom traffic at the Tidal Basin - CC: Douglas Muth

Between Washington DC's usual traffic, tons of people going to see the Cherry Blossoms, and not a large number of alternative routes, there are a ton of people driving in the vicinity the Tidal Basin. This means traffic gets and stays bad most of the day; you should expect it to be very slow going. Beyond that, there is only limited parking, so unless you are going at a particularly odd hour, or have reserved a spot ahead of time, it will be tough going to try to park in the vicinity of the Tidal Basin.

Cherry Blossom Watch 2018 Parking for Cherry Blossoms

Bottom Line

There are a large number of ways to organize your visit to the National Cherry Blossom Festival, to ensure you get the most out of your visit. A little planning goes a long way at this popular but time-limited event.

Do you have any National Cherry Blossom Festival tips and tricks? Any questions about the festival? Post them below and we will get back to you!

Peak Cherry Blossoms Delayed Again

Snowmen in front of U.S. Capitol, March 21, 2018 - E

Snowmen in front of U.S. Capitol, March 21, 2018 - E

Despite initial predictions that the peak of the Cherry Blossoms in Washington DC would be first in mid-March, then in late March to the first few days of April, they are expected now to peak closer to mid-April.  Both of the major forecasters, the National Park Service and the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang (CWG) now project the peak bloom window to be April 8 to 12. The CWG also expects the peak day to be April 10. Peak bloom is defined as when 70 percent of the cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin are showing their colors.

The delays have moved what was expected to be a super-early bloom in mid-march to a late blooming towards mid-April. For any given year, the most likely time to reach peak bloom is between the last week of March and the first week of April. The reason for the early first prediction and then all the delays is that while the Washington DC weather in February was warmer than usual, March has been very cold. Washington DC had a very late snowstorm where much of the city got 4-6 inches on March 21st!

Hopefully this will be the last revision this year, and people can start making their plans to see the beautiful cherry trees in bloom!

 

National Cherry Blossom Festival Basic Info

Cherry Blossoms with the Washington Monument in the background - CC Trevor Klatko

Cherry Blossoms with the Washington Monument in the background - CC Trevor Klatko

Springtime is definitely tourist season in Washington DC, and it's easy to understand why - the weather is often great for being outside and Washington DC's scenery is prettier than usual with blooming trees and flowers. If spring is peak tourist season, then the National Cherry Blossom Festival is the peak of the peak - when an estimated 1.5 million people flock to Washington DC to see these beautiful trees blossom. Washington DC is never quite as beautiful as when bathed in the pink glow of cherry blossoms. 

To help you plan your visit, we are bringing you a series of articles that help you navigate Washington DC as you try to figure out where to go for the best views, how to get there, whats around, and what else to do while you are here.  This article covers the basics on the National Cherry Blossom Festival. We will follow this up with tips, an itinerary, and other helpful articles.

Cherry Blossoms with the Jefferson Memorial in the background. CC - Victoria Pickering

Cherry Blossoms with the Jefferson Memorial in the background. CC - Victoria Pickering

Cherry Blossom Background and History

The 3,000 cherry blossom trees that dot Washington DC were a gift from the Toyko, Japan Mayor in 1912 to the city of Washington DC.  Most of the cherry blossom trees at the Tidal Basin are of the Yoshino variety. However, there are other varieties as well, including the Kwanzan, which usually bloom ten days to two weeks after the Yoshino - extending the time one can appreciate the Washington DC cherry blossoms.

Peak Bloom

The peak bloom date is defined as the day when 70% of the Yoshino Cherry blossoms are open. Peak bloom varies annually depending on weather conditions. The most likely time to reach peak bloom is between the last week of March and the first week of April. Extraordinary warm or cool temperatures have resulted in peak bloom as early as March 15 (1990) and as late as April 18 (1958). Cherry blossom blooms only last a little while — which is part of what makes the peak bloom so special. The time from when those first early blooms appear on the trees to when they all begin to fall off the tree is only about two weeks.

Travelers who can’t make it to D.C. during the peak time have a small window in which they can play. For about two days before and two days after, the trees still appear like they’re in peak bloom.

Peak cherry blossoms bloom predictions: (Updated 3/25)

Where are the Cherry Blossoms?

The majority of cherry blossoms are located near the Tidal Basin and along the shoreline of East Potomac Park, extending all the way to Hains Point. The preferred area for viewing he cherry blossoms is around the Tidal Basin - it is considered the most scenic and the eastiest to get to. Other places with Cherry Blossoms including Hains Point, the National Arboretum, Anacostia Park, Stanton Park and Oxon Run Park.

National Park Service National Cherry Blossom Festival Map

National Park Service National Cherry Blossom Festival Map

How to get to the Cherry Blossoms

As you can tell by the map above, there is not a lot of parking around the National Cherry Blossom Festival. This means that the best way to get there is either taking Metro (or a Bus) and walking, taking a ride-share like Uber or Lyft, or other alternative means of transportation (biking, bike-share, etc...)

Getting to the Cherry Blossoms by Metro

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is very accessible my Metro. The Smithsonian station, which is on the Orange, Blue, and Silver lines, is only a half mile from the tidal basin. 

Screen Shot 2018-03-15 at 9.24.56 PM.png

Getting to the Cherry Blossoms by Bus

Another good option to get down to the Tidal Basin is the DC Circulator - National Mall route. This bus runs from Union Station and along most of the length of the mall. It is a good way to get either to the Tidal Basin or directly to the Jefferson Memorial on the south side of the Tidal Basin. The DC Circulator only costs $1. 

DC Circulator - National Mall Route.

DC Circulator - National Mall Route.

For more information on the DC Circulator National Mall Route, please go to http://www.dccirculator.com/explore/where-we-go/national-mall/

Cherry Blossom Links

For further information on the National Cherry Blossom Festival, we have included a few links below. 

 

Lunch: Food Court with Convenient with Food Options for Everyone

Lunch: Food Court with Convenient with Food Options for Everyone

The L’Enfant Plaza Food Court is the most convenient, and one of the broadest available food courts close to the National Mall.

Hours: Fully open Monday through Friday starting at 11 AM (though many establishments open earlier). Saturday limited openings. Sunday closed.

A wide variety of DC regional and national chain restaurants providing one of the best lunch options on the south side of the National Mall (not that there is a lot of competition). There are over 20 restaurants, fast casual establishments, and fast food options inside including DC originals Five Guys, Amsterdam Falafelshop, and Roti Mediterranean Grill as well as Jamba Juice, Starbucks, Potbelly, Panda Express, Subway. If you are trying to avoid crowds, you should arrive before noon or after 1:30 PM as the food court can get crowded with office workers, and in the Spring and Summer, the school trips that fill Washington DC.

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Farmers Market Lunch - Outdoors and Varied Food

Farmers Market Lunch - Outdoors and Varied Food

Fridays only!

Hours: 9AM to 2PM, n 2019 starting on May 3rd and running through October 25th (except holidays).

A great option for lunch on the south side of the National Mall - the market is next to the Smithsonian Metro station. Food vendors include Timber Pizza Company, Asian style buns at BUN'D UP, some of the best bagels in Washington DC at CALL YOUR MOTHER DELI, burgers at SWIZZLER, and great vegetarian and vegan fare at VEGHEAVEN.

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Miracle on 7th Street - the pop-up Christmas Bar - a tour and review

If you are looking for a place for some Christmas cheer, there is now a bar for you. It feels like Christmas all the time at the Miracle on 7th Street, a pop-up bar from the same team that gave you the Game of Thrones Bar, the halloween bar "PUB Dread," the Cherry Blossom PUB, and many others. Inside, you will find rooms that have been decorates for different themes - A Winter Wonderland, a Gingerbread House, a Christmas Tree, and a Hanukkah themed "Chinese Food and Movie" room. 

The Christmas Tree bar at Miracle on 7th Street - Photo by urban atlas

The Christmas Tree bar at Miracle on 7th Street - Photo by urban atlas

As you wander from packed room to packed room, it's hard not to get in the holiday spirit considering the decorations, the holiday themed drinks, and the fellow patrons that are reveling in the Christmas spirit.

Winter wonderland bar at Miracle on 7th street

Winter wonderland bar at Miracle on 7th street

Menu at Miracle on 7th Street

Menu at Miracle on 7th Street

Chinese and a movie bar at Miracle on 7th street

Chinese and a movie bar at Miracle on 7th street

To give you a better feel of the bar, I have included Urban Atlas's first video tour, a feature I hope to use more often. See below for a one minute tour of the bar.

If you want to experience the Christmas wonderland, be sure to do so soon; it is only open until the end of December. Also, if you go at busy times, be prepared to wait.

 

Updates to Classic Washington DC Itinerary

Welcome to the Itinerary Sackler Gallery, Freer Gallery, and Zenebech Ethiopian Restaurant

As the calendar moves from Summer to Fall (and eventually Winter), the Classic Washington DC Itinerary has become obsolete and needs to be updated. A couple of basic updates were needed both as the weather gets colder, baseball season ends (disappointingly for the Nationals again), and new (or in this case relocated) restaurants open. For today, here are the updates to the Classic DC itinerary:

  • Visiting the newly reopened (as of Mid-October) Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery replaces going to a Nationals game (removed for the obvious reason that they are done for the year). Visiting the Sackler and Freer Galleries now presents a unique opportunity to see speical temporary exhibits that were designed for the reopening. 
  • The Sunday afternoon activity of eating Ethiopian has been relocated from Ethiopic on H St NE to Zenebech in Adams Morgan. The team at Urban Atlas sees the newly reopened (and relocated Zenebech) as the superior restaurant, and it also allows you to explore Adams Morgan before and/or after. Also timely as Tom Sietsema's review on Zenebech went live today on the Washington Post

In the next week or two, I will continue to update the Classic Itinerary to prepare travelers visiting in the late Fall and Winter months. Click here for the updated Classic Washington DC Itinerary. For anyone interested, the 2017 Summer Classic Washington Itinerary has been archived here.

Washington Post: Top 10 Bars in Washington DC - 2017

One of the major goals of Urban Atlas is to help travelers and tourists identify what to see and experience when on vacation. Restaurants and bars present one of the tougher aspects, as the landscape is always changing with new establishments opening all the time, as well as changes at existing restaurants. 

Jack Rose Dining Saloon Whiskey Collection - CC: Thomas Cizauskas

Jack Rose Dining Saloon Whiskey Collection - CC: Thomas Cizauskas

Beyond guides and sites like this one, a great resource for this information can often be found in local publications. While these are not targeted towards travelers and tourists, they are often the most consistently updated information sources available. This is especially true in Washington DC, as the Washington Post, Washingtonian, and many other publications do a lot of hard work visiting and reviewing restaurants and bars. Urban Atlas identifies the best of these and then posts them to the External Recommendations page, for easy reference.

In Washington DC, there is no better guide to restaurants and bars then the Fall and Spring Dining Guides. Tom Sietsema, the Washington Post Dining Critic, is behind these behemoth efforts, in the Fall writing about the top restaurants in the Washington DC area, and in the Spring, revisiting previously reviewed Restaurants.  The guide has also extended beyond restaurants reviews, with Washington Post Bar and Beer Critic Fritz Hahn publishing his top 10 bar list.

Washington Post - Top 10 Bars (We’ll never agree about D.C.’s best bars, but we ranked them anyway)

While no list is definitive or perfect, Fritz provides a great roundup of the stand-out bars in Washington DC, to include beer standout The Sovereign, whisky standout Jack Rose, and cocktail standout The Columbia Room.

Urban Atlas on the Road - Denver, Colorado

In August, the Urban Atlas team spent a couple of days in Denver, Colorado. However, despite not being in Washington, DC, there are definitely some travel experiences worth sharing.

CC: Al Case

Overall, I enjoyed Denver. It is an interesting and walkable town - they have put a lot of work into developing Lower Downtown - known as LoDo - into a walkable and tourist friendly part of town. This is anchored on the 16th Street Mall, which runs from Union Station at the northwest end to state capitol at the southeast. I found the most interesting areas tended to be the neighborhoods that bordered LoDo, esepcially around the ballpark and Highland Park. A few places I visited and recommend:

Señor Bear

I had a great dinner at Señor Bear - it's a new "latin-influenced" restaurant from a team that has some well regarded restaurants in Denver. With a limited menu, they have crafted some delicious options. The Crudo Vegetales, basically a collection of delicious variety of fresh vegetables is served with an amazingly delicious chile and herb crema. The crema is apparently made with avocados and has an amazing smooth and spicy sensation all at the same time. I also had the Crispy Pit Tail, which came with some fresh jicama and cabbage as well as soft taco shells, made for a delicious main course. The Albacore Tuna Ceviche was definitely a study in discreet flavors, coming with a sauce and some vegetables that complimented and didn't overwhelm the fish. The restaurant is located in LoHi - Lower Highland - which is an interesting area that I'd like to spend more time in and is super easy to get to from LoDo - a number of buses run between the two, it's only a 20-25 minute walk, and my uber cost $6.

Señor Bear - 3301 Tejon Street. Reservations suggested.

Crudo Vegetables

Crudo Vegetables

 

A Colorado Rockies game at Coors Field

Coming from the humid summer of Washington, an August evening in Denver is usually very pleasant and last night was exceptionally pleasant, with a dew point of 43 °F. On top of the beautiful weather, Coors Field lives us to its reputation as a great place to watch a baseball game, relax, and spend an evening. 

Colorado Rockies Tickets

Great Divide Brewing Company

After the ballgame, we wandered over to the Great Divide Brewing Company at the corner of Arapahoe and 22nd Streets. This location is the original brewery which first opened in 1994, and it is still an active brewery. The taphouse feels and smells appropriate for an active brewery - so definitely don't go expecting a bar. However, it has an amazing selection of Great Divide beers for only $2 per taster. While it is not a large place and apparently super-busy before baseball games, it's definitely in a less Disney-fied part of downtown. 

Great Divide Brewing Company - Ballpark: Brewery and Taproom. 2201 Arapahoe St. 

September Top Activities for Travelers and Tourists: Washington DC

Fall in Washington DC is often the best time to visit - the weather is as nice as spring, but the city is much less crowded. For travelers and tourists coming to DC in September, the team here at Urban Atlas has identify a couple of events and activities that would be worth checking out. This September, the highlights are:

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CC: Christa (Burns) Porter

Free Admission to Museums with Museum Day Live!

Saturday, September 23

While Washington DC is blessed with many excellent free museums, there are worthy museums that require paid tickets as well. On Saturday, September 23rd, Smithsonian Magazine's Museum Day Live! event allows visitors free access to a number of museums that usually charge. Especially notable museums include the Newseum (usually $25) and the National Building Museum (usually $10).

The Newseum, located closest to the Archives metro stop, is a beautiful tribute to journalism and its history. The museum galleries include one on 9/11 which features the broadcast antennae from the top of the World Trade Center, a gallery on the the Berlin Wall, and one that traces the evolution of electronic communication from the birth of radio, to the technologies of the present and the future. It would likely be one of the most popular museums in Washington if it was free. 

Remember that you need to download your free tickets from the Museum Day Live! website.

All DC area museums participating in Museum Day Live!

Snallygaster - The Best Beer Festival in Washington DC

Saturday, September 23, 1 - 6 PM

September kicks off beer festival season, whether it is Oktoberfest in Munich or in Washington. Snallygaster is Washington's best beer festival, and considered by some to be one of the best beer festivals either in the Mid-Atlantic or the country. It features more than 400 beers from across the globe, along with over a 19 food vendors (restaurants and food trucks), as well as two stages with musical performances. However, it's not just big, it's designed well - while there may be lines for the most popular beers, you won't spend your day waiting in lines if you don't want to.

The event is put on by the Neighborhood Restaurant Group, a group the runs the leading craft beer bars in DC (Churchkey and The Sovereign) as well as the Bluejacket Brewery. They are so focused on beer that Greg Engert, the beer director, has been recognized by Food and Wine who named you one of their “Sommeliers of the Year” – the first beer professional to ever have been honored and Imbibe magazine named him their “2014 Beer Person of the Year."

Snallygaster is held at The Yards and is easily accessible from the Navy Yard Metro Station (Green Line). If possible, get an advance ticket. The best deal is for Cyclops, which gets you the admission, 30 tickets for beer or food, and a mug - it costs $38, but gets your $40 dollars worth (and a mug), and even better, you get to skip the line for admission. 

Snallygaster beer list

H Street Festival

Saturday, September 16, Noon to 7PM, H Street NE from 4th Street NE to 14th Street NE

H Street Northeast is one of Washington, DC's most dynamic hotspots. The area has long been up and coming, especially at it's far eastern end. This is most evident between 11th St and 14th St NE, where there are a number of restaurants and bars that have been around for the past decade, taking advantage of a young neighborhood and cheap rent. However, as Washington DC installed the streetcar on H Street, the neighborhood has been quickly transforming, especially between Union Station on the western end, and 11th St on the eastern.

A great opportunity to experience this neighborhood is the H Street Festival, taking place on the afternoon of the 16th. What started off with 500 people in attendance 12 years ago has blossomed into a three-quarters of a mile long event expecting over 150,000 visitors. From restaurants spreading tables into the street, to additional food vendors as well as a significant focus on DC art, it is a great way to be introduced to a Washington DC neighborhood that is becoming one of the most popular in town.

http://www.hstreetfestival.org/