Cherry blossom alternatives: Virginia blooms without DC crowds

Discover where to see cherry blossoms in Virginia this spring, from small towns to botanical gardens, without having to face the DC crowds.

While the iconic cherry blossoms along the National Mall draw thousands each spring to Washington, D.C., Virginia offers plenty of equally picturesque cherry blossom destinations with fewer crowds. Found in diverse settings, from historic estates to botanical gardens to charming downtown districts, it’s easy to enjoy cherry blossoms no matter what part of the commonwealth you’re in.

Here are our top 10 Virginia cherry blossom alternatives.

Northern Virginia

Arlington National Cemetery

Location: 1 Memorial Ave., Arlington

Arlington National Cemetery is perhaps the best place to go in all of Northern Virginia to experience cherry blossoms, given that 417 cherry trees can be found throughout the 624-acre site.

The Confederate Memorial is surrounded by cherry trees, and the corner of Porter and Grant drives features a prominent weeping Higan cherry. The cemetery is also home to the black cherry, a native species. Although less ornamental, the 48 black cherry trees support a variety of fauna, including the cecropia moth, tiger swallowtail butterfly, and eastern tent caterpillar.

If you can’t make it to the cemetery in spring, you’ll be relieved to learn that one species of cherry blossom provides a second blooming in November. The small “autumnalis” grove can be found in Section 45 near the John F. Kennedy gravesite.

Keep in mind that those 18 and over entering the cemetery by car, including drivers and passengers, must present a REAL ID. However, visitors who park at the Welcome Center parking garage or enter by foot are not required to present a REAL ID.

Cherry Blossom Water Taxi

Location: 0 Cameron St., Alexandria

The Cherry Blossom Water Taxi allows those interested to see the Washington, D.C. cherry blossoms without having to set foot in the district. Departing from Alexandria, the taxi cruises along the Potomac River offer views of the blossoms with national monuments in the background.

Download the City Experiences app so that you can experience the tour with narration.

Availability varies, so be sure to check in advance. Tickets start at $31.

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens

Location: 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Ct., Vienna

Roughly 100 cherry trees, of more than 20 varieties, can be found throughout the 95-acre Meadowlark Botanical Gardens. Plan to meander along the many trails to see all the cherry blossoms. Use this map as your guide.

Admission is free for those 5 and under, $5 for those 6-17 and over 60, and $9 for those 18-59.

River Farm

Location: 7931 East Boulevard Dr., Alexandria

Look for a lively grove of cherry trees along the front gates of River Farm, a 25-acre estate along the Potomac River that was previously part of George Washington’s farmland. Today, the farm is home to the American Horticultural Society. Admission is free.

During March and April, several other blooms can be found at the farm, including daffodils, tulips, and Virginia bluebells.

Green Spring Gardens

Location: 4603 Green Spring Rd., Alexandria

Even though Green Spring Gardens only has a modest number of cherry trees, a trip to the gardens is well worth the effort. A total of 22 themed gardens are spread across 31 acres, so the destination is bursting at the seams with blooms come spring.

March and April are the best times to see the Akebono Yoshino Cherry trees in bloom. Admission is free, but you may want to book a garden tour with one of the master gardener docents to get the most out of the trip. These cost $15 per person.

Van Gogh Bridge

Location: 1609 Washington Plaza N, Reston

Cherry trees perfectly frame the Van Gogh Bridge, which connects a walking path through Lake Anne Plaza. The wooden footbridge is picturesque, designed to pay homage to the drawbridge in Arles, France, that Vincent van Gogh depicted in some of his paintings.

Before heading for the bridge, you can also grab a brew from the Lake Anne Coffee House.

Central Virginia

Cherry Tree Walk

Location: 1800 Lakeside Ave., Richmond

The Cherry Tree Walk at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden meanders along a path that features a lake, numerous gardens, a meadow, and a constructed wetland.

The walk starts along the waters of Lake Sydnor, which is surrounded by cherry trees. The trail continues along a cherry tree-lined path that leads to the Lucy Payne Minor Garden, which also features springtime favorites like daylilies and daffodils, before making its way to the Margaret Streb Conifer Garden, where dwarf conifers and ornamental grasses reign supreme. Continue along the walk until you reach the Vienna Cobb Anderson Meadow, which is frequented by birds and other pollinators, and you can also see a constructed wetland.

The garden is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. Tickets can be purchased here. Even if you can’t make it in person, you can still go on a virtual tour of the walk by watching this video.

Downtown Lynchburg

Location: Fifth Street

Fifth Street in Downtown Lynchburg turns pink each February/March as the cherry blossoms take center stage. Depending on the weather, late February and early March are the best times to see the blooms.

While you’re here, grab breakfast at Squared Biscuit Co. at 522 5^th Street. It serves scratch-made biscuits that are the epitome of comfort food.

Hampton Roads

Cherry Blossom Festival

Location: 1398 General Booth Blvd., Virginia Beach

The Cherry Blossom Festival at Red Wing Park is where culture and natural beauty collide. Celebrated in conjunction with Virginia Beach’s sister city of Miyazaki, Japan, the week-long festival, running March 27 to April 3, will feature cherry blossoms and Japanese music, art, and food.

Make sure you look for the 150 Yoshino cherry trees in the park. They were donated by the sister city in 2005. In the evenings, they will be illuminated. While there, purchase a festival T-shirt, which will benefit the Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation Foundation.

Southwest Virginia

Downtown Buchanan

Location: Between Lowe Street and the Buchanan Town Park

The streets through the downtown area of the quaint town of Buchanan come alive each spring with tons of cherry blossoms. While the highest concentration of flowers can be found along Lowe Street, Main Street, Boyd Street, and the Town Park also have a fair share of them.

The trees typically bloom between the last week of March and the first week of April. The Yoshino Cherry trees typically stay in bloom for seven days. To verify that the trees are in bloom, you can call the Buchanan Town Hall at 540-254-1212 using extension #1.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Related: Top 10 spring activities to do in Virginia