My history with the Cherry Blossom Festival since moving to DC is well-documented. There have been highs, and there have been lows. (Well, really one high and one low, and this is my third year to see it.) But never have I had the pleasure of enjoying the cherry blossoms on a sunny Friday evening at peak bloom with my little family, so this year wins.
I’m shocked to report that this was Will’s first peak bloom Tidal Basin stroll! It was one of my first priorities to see when I moved to DC, but I suppose pink flowers aren’t as high on a man’s bucket list. The first year we lived in DC we showed up to find bare, black branches, and last year he was working, but this year we set out at the end of the work day on Friday for an evening stroll before the sun set!
At first Victoria wasn’t so sure about this little outing, but once she got warmed up to the idea, she really wanted to grab some blossoms and check them out for herself.
It was pretty glorious. One thing I will say is that the blooms seemed whiter and less pink this year, but they were still pretty breathtaking. It was one of those moments that DC just shines and I realize that we live in a really cool city.
We ended our family date night with a fun dinner in Eastern Market and were just abuzz with the prospect of summer in the city coming soon: Nats games, pop-up beer gardens, and rooftops galore! (We need baby-sitters.)
Lest you should think it was just a serene scene of cherry blossom sunsets and our nation’s treasured monuments, please be aware, that the reality was more like this:
But crowds and all, what a sweet family memory of Victoria’s first cherry blossom season. 🙂
