Washington DC
Cherry Blossom Festival

April 1 - 5, 2009

The blooming of the cherry trees around the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. has come to symbolize the natural beauty of our nation's capital city. Visitors from across the nation and around the world come to the Nations Capital to witness the spectacle, hoping that the trees will be at the peak of bloom for the Cherry Blossom Festival, Washington, D.C.'s rite of spring.  The famous trees, a gift from Japan, signal the coming of spring with an explosion of life and color surrounding the Jefferson Memorial on the Tidal Basin in a sea of pale pink and white.  The history of the cherry trees dates to 1912 when the original trees were planted by First Lady Mrs. William Howard Taft and the Vicountess Chinda of Japan.  Today more than 3,700 cherry trees of several varieties grow around the Tidal Basin, at East Potomac Park, and on the Washington Monument Grounds.
(See tentative itinerary below)

We are currently in the process of planning this trip.
Once we have all the activities, hotels and other details confirmed,
and the price finalized, we will remove this information and post
a completed itinerary with the price.

If you are interested in learning more about this trip,
make a pre-reservation.
It is very important to make a no-obligation pre-reservation.
Those who have made a pre-reservation will be notified first
when the full itinerary and pricing is posted.

 Make a Pre-Reservation

A pre-reservation does not require any money.
Once the tour is finalized and a tour price available, those who have pre-reserved
a space will be contacted via email and asked to decide if they
want to make a deposit. If you are not interested, you don't have to do anything.

Tentative Itinerary

Wednesday, April 1 - Arrive Washington DC, Welcome Dinner

Arrive Washington National Airport no later than 4pm.  If you arrive early, your tour leader will be able to suggest sightseeing ideas.  Tonight will be our welcome dinner.

Thursday, April 2 - City tour; Afternoon free time

We will begin our visit to the District of Columbia with a half day drive-by sightseeing tour of many of the famous Washington DC Monuments such as the Old Post Office, US Capitol Building, World War II Monument, Jefferson Memorial, FDR Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Iwo Jima Memorial, and the White House. 

The remainder of the day will be free time to visit those places of interest to you.  The National Mall, home to many of the magnificent museums of the Smithsonian Institution, is a great place to start.  See the magnificent jewels, dinosaurs and mammals on display at the National Museum of Natural History, the airplanes and interactive flight simulators at the National Air and Space Museum, and the stories, arts and crafts at the National Museum of the American Indian. There's more to explore on the National Mall than just the Smithsonian Institution. Art lovers won't want to miss a visit to the National Gallery of Art, while the National Archives is a must for any American history buff. 

Friday - April 3 - Georgetown Walking Tour, Free Time

A walk through Washington’s Georgetown neighborhood is a venture through time. You’ll wind your way past remarkable historic properties, homes of political movers and shakers, and charming boutiques and cafes. You'll see the area formerly known as Herring Hill, a once-bustling Freedmen's community, immaculately preserved Federal period homes and the Tudor Place estate, built by one of Georgetown’s founding families.  And of course no one can mention Georgetown without recalling the Kennedys. In the 1950s, John F. Kennedy and his wife Jacqueline almost single-handedly turned the neighborhood into the city’s most politically fashionable place to live.  The afternoon is free to have lunch and do some shopping in Georgetown or return to the Smithsonian to see those places you may have missed.  For a great view of the city, take a ride to the top of the Washington Monument.  If you haven't seen the pandas, head for the National Zoo. 

Saturday - April 4 - Cherry Blossom Parade, Farewell Dinner 

We invite you to attend one of Washington's most exciting traditions - the Parade of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The Parade starts at 10:00am and marches along historic Constitution Avenue.  There are dance and drumming performance teams from Japan and the United States highlighting the art of taiko drumming and high school bands from around the country.  Cherry blossom queens from the US and Japan add royalty to the procession. Giant balloons, floats, horses, antique cars, clowns and mascots all add to the merriment on parade morning.  There will be time to continue your explorations after the parade.  We'll get together tonight for our farewell dinner.

In the evening, the National Park Service conducts the Cherry Blossom Lantern Walk.  Guided by the light of festive lanterns, a Ranger will lead a 1.5- mile walk around the Tidal Basin and through the history of the blossoms.

Sunday - April 5 - Departure at your convenience. 

Make your return flight at your convenience.

All previous information has been superseded.