If you miss heading down to the Tidal Basin in D.C. to see the cherry blossoms, there’s an even closer spot near the Route 1 corridor where you can enjoy the flowering cherry trees and other early spring blooms.

Located at 3501 New York Ave NE just a fifteen to twenty minute drive from the corridor, the National Arboretum has 70 varieties of cherry trees, including three hybrids developed on site.

You can even take a self-guided tour of the different cherry trees using the mobile app available on both Apple and Android phones. The app will also tell you what other trees are blooming and where.

This year, the arboretum is getting extra attention as the National Park Service is discouraging visitors to the Tidal Basin — and even threatened to cut off access if crowds grow too big — due to the ongoing pandemic.

Unlike the sidewalks of the Tidal Basin, the arboretum is also full of wide-open spaces, making it easy to tour around while maintaining social distance from other visitors.

But the cherry blossoms aren’t the only reason to visit the arboretum now.

The 446-acre site on the west side of the Anacostia River also features a number of blooming magnolia trees, including star and saucer magnolias, as well as a wide variety of  colorful camellias, not to mention the daffodils are in full bloom and are worth their own visit.

And if there was ever a time to stop by the arboretum, it would be after a year spent mostly in lockdown — especially since it was closed to visitors during this time last year.

While the cherry blossoms in D.C. have already peaked, according to the National Park Service, there are still several more days left to get a glimpse. And unlike the cherry trees near the Jefferson Memorial, with so many varieties of cherry trees at the arboretum having different peak bloom times, you’re guaranteed to see some blossoms if you go.

And don’t forget to check out the sweeping views of the Anacostia River from the Asian Collections trail after you marvel at all the camellias in bloom.

The arboretum is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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