The blooming of thousands of cherry trees around Washington D.C. has come to symbolize the arrival of spring in the nation's capital and the representation of natural flora and beauty. The low slung ornamental Yoshino Cherry trees, most famous for their ring they form with their pink and white blossoms around the Tidal Basin, were a gift from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo, Japan in 1912. The gesture was an effort to enhance the friendship and continue the relationship between the United States and Japan.



Ever year, thousands flock to Washington to marvel at one of Mother Earth's most brilliant displays of color and beauty. A grand parade accompanies the event, along with the annual Sakura Matsuri, the largest Japanese street festival in the United States. The trail of cherry blossoms connects the Jefferson Memorial and Lincoln Memorial together, with additional blossoms at the National Arboretum, a fantastic way to beat the crowds of the Basin. All of this was wrapped up in the name of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

I visited Washington D.C. to take in the sights of the budding darlings. It had been years since my last trip to the nation's capital, and that was only to briefly glance at the White House from behind the concrete barricades at night. This time, I had planned out a five mile walking path that would breeze me by most of the major monuments along the Tidal Basin and the National Mall.

I had no idea what to expect when I arrived in Washington D.C. on that rather uneventful, but sunny and windy morning. As we drove in via the scenic George Washington Parkway, traffic was flowing rather quickly with little delay, but as I neared the Arlington Memorial Bridge, I received my first glance at the congestion of pedestrians so early in the morning. Driving to the center of town proved to be more difficult than I had thought.



After a half-hour of driving, I found a parking structure near the Federal Triangle Metro station and hopped out to walk out on foot, tired of being cramped in an automobile and in serious need of some exercise and relaxation. Driving can put one on edge, especially when dealing with bumper-to-bumper traffic and pedestrians weaving amongst the vehicles.

The first stop was along Madison Drive NW, but not for photographs. Rather, there was pedestrian gridlock. Thousands had flocked to the streets in anticipation of catching a glimpse of the annual National Cherry Blossom Parade and of the parade master, Alex Trebek. As I meandered through the crowd, uninterested in the parade because I could not see anything, I managed to somehow find myself in the middle of the roadway, trying to cross ahead of the parade in front of the Smithsonian Institution.

After much walking, I came to the Washington Monument, a sand-colored obelisk on the National Mall. Constructed to commemorate George Washington, the first president of the United States, the memorial was constructed of marble, granite and sandstone. It ranks as the world's tallest stone structure and the world's tallest obelisk at 555 feet in height. It also ranks as the tallest structure in Washington D.C.



I had a difficult time taking in the monument, for it was extremely windy with gusts of up to 40 miles-per-hour. Hats flew off, rolling across the green pastures surrounding the mall, their owners chasing them in vein. Flags sailed in the wind, some having become tattered due to the winds.



I headed further west along the National Mall afterwards, stopping to check in at the newer National World War II Memorial. Honoring the 16 million Americans who served in the armed forces, the more than 400,000 who perished during the battle and those who helped the war effort at home, the monument commemorates the enduring sacrifice and commitment of the American people, and celebrates the "greatest generation." The memorial opened to the public in 2004.


Fifty-six granite pillars engraved with the name of the forty-eight states in the Union, the seven federal territories and the District of Columbia circle the Rainbow Pool and are tied with bronze ropes. Each feature white bronze oak and wheat wreathes that represent the nation's industrial and agricultural strengths.



Walking further west along the Reflecting Pool was the grand and imposing Lincoln Memorial. Standing as an enduring symbol of his achievements, the Lincoln Memorial celebrates the life of Abraham Lincoln, known as the Great Emancipator during the Civil War and regarded as one of the finest U.S. Presidents. Regarded as a symbol of freedom, the memorial has been the site of several famous speeches, including the infamous "I Have a Dream" speech, expressed by Martin Luther King. The grand effigy to Lincoln, elaborated by its commanding presence along the Potomac and surrounded by flowering trees, is a fitting commemoration of a president that risked it all to preserve and defend the Union.




(For more on Lincoln's background, especially in regards to his birthplace of Kentucky, be sure to read my companion article regarding the Lincoln Museum in Hodgenville, Kentucky.)

I took off for the Potomac River, the wind carrying me towards the wide and expanse body of river chock full with Yoshino Cherry trees. The afternoon sunlight was giving me bountiful opportunities to photograph the arrays of shadows formed by the wispy branches and leaves of the Weeping Willows, and the intricate patterns laid by the cherry trees. I cut over to the Tidal Basin, and began my clockwise walk towards the Jefferson Memorial.




Thomas Jefferson, a powerful advocate for liberty and equality, was an American Founding Father and was the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809. The writings of Thomas Jefferson have helped shape America and its character, and many of those strong, bold words line the Jefferson Memorial, standing as a symbol of liberty and inspiration for those that visit.

By this point, I had become hungry and was growing tired of the high winds and the looming sun. I decided to walk, in some haphazard fashion and form, towards the White House, to at least glance at the Executive Mansion through the ornate iron fence ahead of the deteriorating concrete Jersey barriers, pocketed with speckles of rust, a leftover from the rushed attempts to secure the White House during times of terror. The White House is a key symbol of the United States government and presidency, yet its appearance along Pennsylvania Avenue showed a remarkably stark image. An unkempt, disorganized street and a stately, commanding presence within the grounds.



Finally, I headed eastward along Pennsylvania Avenue, passing through the Sakura Matsuri, the largest Japanese street festival in the United States. Many of the Japanese that attended were outfitted in traditional garments and specialized in a trade, such as crafting delicious sushi or producing works of art for the passerby. At a stage were traditional performance artists and JPOP musical singers.



I ended the trip with an exterior visit to the United States Capitol, an architectural landmark and one of the most symbolic structures in the world. Housing the meeting legislative chambers for the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well as offices and functions for the federal government.



I left the city for some fine Korean cuisine at Alexandria, Virginia's Heebeen Restaurant‎. A vast array of raw meat and vegetable selections awaited the hungry, along with a large boutique of freshly prepared fishes, specialty prepared meats among other delicate dishes. The food is not prepared in the back kitchen, but rather in the center of the restaurant, and the vegetables served are organic. The service was most excellent, and I was waited over a dozen times during our hour-long visit.

After the meal, I was pretty tuckered from the day's walk and dinner and drove north to find a hotel for the night. All in all, fighting the crowds, the wind and traffic was worth seeing a magnificent show put forth by Mother Earth that only comes once a year, and for only a handful of days.

You can find more photographs and information at American Byway's newest articles: Washington D.C. Cherry Blossom Festival, Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, U.S. Capitol, Washington Monument, White House, World War II Memorial.