Cherry Blossoms 2022: Your ultimate guide to DC's biggest spring attraction

WASHINGTON (WJLA) — Whether you're a local or from out of town, if you're planning on heading to DC's Tidal Basin to see the cherry blossoms bloom this spring, you'll need to prepare for large crowds. This is the first time in two years that the festival will be back in full gear since the coronavirus pandemic.

Peak bloom is expected to be March 22 to 25. WJLA has some insider tips for you.

UPLOAD YOUR CHERRY BLOSSOM PHOTOS HERE

So what do you need to know before you go? Let's start with planning for your stay.

WHERE TO STAY

There are plenty of places to stay in the DC area for the cherry blossoms, but if you need a hotel, you should book soon.

Hilton Hotels are listed as a partner of the National Cherry Blossom Festival and they have packages specifically geared to the festival through April 17.

However, there are plenty of other hotels, large chains and boutiques, available for tourists. Costs could be higher as this is a peak time for tourists in DC.

You can also try booking through AirBnB or VRBO.

Visitors don't have to stay in DC either to enjoy the blooms, you could stay in nearby Arlington or Alexandria and then go into the city to enjoy the blooms.

READ MORE |Cherry Blossom peak bloom prediction: what to expect at each stage this spring

HOW TO GET THERE

There are plenty of ways to get to the Tidal Basin.

Metro is probably the easiest way to get down to the National Mall area and avoid traffic.Metrorail will run more trains to increase weekend service with no daytime track work scheduled for four consecutive weeks.

RELATED | Metro to boost weekend train service for Cherry Blossom season

If you're staying close (or if you park close) you can just walk there.

There are also plenty of scooter and bike shares.

Uber and Lyft are also options to get there as well as cabs.

If you decide to drive downtown, you'll need to be smart about where you park. While The Wharf is close, the parking garage gets filled quickly. Bring your sneakers and instead find a parking spot in one of the nearby neighborhoods and walk or rideshare over.

Most of the street parking is parallel parking. Handicapped parking is designated on West Basin Drive at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial.

Nine Capital Bikeshare stations are available within the National Mall to provide another transportation option Scooters and e-bikes must be parked in one of 19 designated areas around the National Mall.

Also, the walk around the Tidal Basin is just over two miles. You'll want to wear comfortable shoes if you plan on walking around.

READ MORE |The Tidal Basin is sinking and won't be fixed in time for the 2022 Cherry Blossom season

Watch this timelapse 7News photojournalist Mike Rudd shot.

SEE ALSO |'Economic impact is huge': DC businesses look forward to cherry blossom season

WHEN TO GO?

The best times to go are off-peak days and times. During peak bloom, every day will be crowded, but if you go at dawn or dusk, you can great pictures and there will be less of a crowd anyway.

It's obviously better to go on weekdays than weekends as well.

Depending on the weather, the blooms will stay past peak bloom, so you could come into town early the following week and you can still enjoy them.

WHERE TO GRAB A BITE?

Although The Wharf is close to the Tidal Basin, it will be packed and hard to get a table. We would highly recommend getting a reservation at restaurants out of the area and grabbing a cab, rideshare or a scooter and get out of the area. There are plenty of food trucks along the National Mall as well. You can make reservations on sites like OpenTable and Resy.

WHERE ARE THE RESTROOMS?

We have a list of where the restrooms are here. You can also check out this map below.

DAILY SPECIAL EVENTS

Cherry Blossom Ranger Talk from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. -- Join a Park Ranger and learn more about the history and lore of the cherry blossoms. Programs meet on the plaza in front of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial.

Education Program: Healthy Soil + Healthy Roots = Healthy Treeson Saturdays at 1 p.m. -- Join a Park Ranger for this interactive education program, designed for children ages 8-12, which teaches kids that cherry trees need nutrient-rich soil and strong roots in order to survive. The program will be offered each Saturday of the festival (March 19, March 26 and April 2) at 1 p.m. Program length approximately one hour; meet at the National Park Service Activity Tent in the Tidal Basin Welcome Area.

For the full schedule of National Park Service cherry blossom events, go here.

WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO?

There will be plenty of cherry-blossom-themed events, menu items and more to explore.

PIXELBLOOM:Traverse through a virtual world of cherry blossoms brought to life only at ARTECHOUSE.

• When:Saturday, March 12, 2022 - Monday, May 30, 2022
• How much: $16 to $25

Petal Porches:The National Cherry Blossom Festival invites DC residents to unleash their creativity and celebrate their springtime spirit by decorating their home.

• When:Sunday, March 20, 2022 - Sunday, April 17, 2022
• Cost: FREE

Cherry Blossom Virtual Run:Run or walk 10 miles or 5K (3.1) miles through your very favorite cherry blossom locale in Washington, DC or anywhere worldwide during the dates of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, March 20 to April 17.

• When:Sunday, March 20, 2022 - Sunday, April 17, 2022
• Entry fee: $40

Blossom Kite Festival:Rediscover the joy of kite flying back on the Washington Monument grounds, at featured parks, and at home in 2022!

• When: Saturday, March 26, 2022, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Rain date: March 27, 2022
• Cost: Free

The National Chery Blossom Festival:

• When: Saturday, April 9, 2022, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Cost: Reserved grandstand seating: $25 - 30, Telecast section: $40

PHOTOGRAPHY AT TIDAL BASIN

7News Reporter Victoria Sanchez has 7 tips for taking near-perfect pictures of seasonal flowers using your phone:

READ MORE | 7News On Your Side: 7 tips for taking great cherry blossom photos using your phone

OTHER TIPS:

Please don't pick the blooms off the trees. Every year, thousands or tourists come through to see the cherry blossoms and inevitably someone decides they want to pick a flower and take it with them. You're not supposed to do that. Not only does it take away from the beauty, but it also kills the bloom.

READ MORE:Nearing peak bloom, do's and don'ts to keep in mind when visiting Tidal Basin

Wear shoes you don't mind getting dirty. The area by the tidal basin can be muddy and dusty and there's also a lot of duck poop!

7News is On Your Side with everything about the cherry blossoms. We'll continue to update this story with more tips and tricks to enjoying the festival.

If you cannot make it, you can watch the BloomCam.

You can also Adopt-a-Tree here.