Tidal Basin

This is a great park to visit. A very cool walk around this iconic basin with its historical sites nearby. Like the Thomas Jefferson’s memorial, the George Washington monument and it’s reflective pool, as well as a statue of MLK Jr. Cherry blossoms trees all around it. The best time to visit during the full bloom that lasts only few days. This year we were lucky it started this weekend, the peak was I guess Sunday and Monday March 17-18. Plenty of parking options around it. Plenty of people as well. Bathrooms available. The only thing that I’m not sure about is food options inside this park. But you definitely get an option for renting a paddle boards suitable for a group of 2 to 4. Happy Spring season you all. Cheers!

Beautiful place to see the cherry blossoms in DC. We took our time and walked around to see all of the historic monuments and duck boat rides. Families were out and smiling. Great place any time of year, but during the cherry blossom season it is truly breathtaking.

Best place to watch over cherry blossom with lake view. 1. Lot of trees and dense cherry blossoms which makes it beautiful and good for pictures or videos. 2. We went on March 26th. Anytime in late march early April would be great. But watch out for weather for sure. 3. Dress nicely before you go. 4. Be prepared if you go during holiday. Over crowd, traffic and full parking lots makes it harder. I would suggest you park 1-2 blocks away and take bicycles. (You can rent street bikes there).

-Cherry blossom is the best time to visit DC. -parking is very difficult in this spot. They generally have parking near tidal basin but they had closed it during cherry blossom time. -best to park near memorial parking meter and do a short walk.

The cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin are a breathtaking spectacle of nature’s beauty. During peak bloom, the area transforms into a sea of delicate pink and white flowers, creating a mesmerizing and picturesque scene. Walking along the Tidal Basin surrounded by these blooming cherry trees is a truly enchanting experience that captures the essence of springtime in Washington, D.C. It’s a must-see for anyone visiting the capital during this magical season.

Parking is a big messy and hard to find in DC. However, Cherry Blossom is beautiful. You definitely need to walk 2.1 miles circle around Tidal Basin to see all. Highly recommend in 3/23-4/10 to see the blooming. Beautiful

Must visit place in DC! I love this in all seasons- Spring, fall, winter & summer! It’s a great place to bike or jog! It’s pet friendly and if you need to use restroom then public restrooms are available near MLK memories and there’s a construction zone in between, so some paths may be closed. Do look out for that. There’s boating session in Tidal basin, it’s mesmerising! Check that out too! There’s paddle boating. There’s a store for souvenirs near MLK memorial, do check that out! Parking is plenty, still on weekends it falls short! So I would say come early in the morning like 5AM, especially during Cherry blossom festival!

We went to see the cherry trees in full bloom. We started at the Jefferson Memorial and walked all the way around, going clockwise. We were pleasantly surprised at the other things to see along the way. The main ones were the Franklin Roosevelt Memorial and the Martin Luther King Memorial. There were several girls in Quinceanera gowns getting their pictures taken.

The Tidal Basin is a nice walking path with views of historical sites in DC. While it's gorgeous (and packed) in the spring during cherry blossom season, it's also a sight to see in the fall. I walked all the way from the Washington Monument to The Wharf last month by way of the Basin and really enjoyed all the scenery, little boats, and wildlife.

We walked around the basin on a cloudy afternoon. Not many were boats & the cherry blossoms weren't blossoming. We had a wonderful view of the monuments. There is a lot of construction around the basin as the National Park Service is preparing a $113 million multi-year repair project to Tidal Basin & West Potomac seawalls. The Tidal Basin is part of West Potomac Park. The Jefferson Memorial, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, the FDR Memorial, the George Mason Memorial, the John Paul Jones Memorial, the Floral Library, the Japanese Pagoda, and the Japanese Lantern and site of the First Cherry Tree Planting all surround the Tidal Basin. We visited all the monuments in one day by walking along the Tidal Basin Loop Trail. It is the location most associated with Washington's Cherry Blossom Festival that takes place each spring. The Tidal Basin is about 107 acres in size & about 10 feet deep. It was built to harness the power of the tides in the Potomac River to flush silt & sediment from the Washington Channel. Twice a day at high tide, 250 million US gallons of water from the Potomac River enter the Tidal Basin through the inlet gates. As the tide turns, water trying to flow out of the inlet gates causes the gates to close, and the outlet gates on the Washington Channel side of the Basin open. The rush of water out of the Tidal Basin sweeps away any silt or sediment build up inside the Washington Channel, keeping it navigable Water from the Tidal Basin is also pumped to maintain water levels in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting pool.

Beautiful sites during this cherry blossom season at Tidal Basin Highly recommend scooting to this area instead of driving, parking can be tough. Plus riding on the scooter is way more fun and a nice way to see all of the monuments.

What an amazing place to walk. There are sights, and there are special places. This is the latter. Can't believe how stunning this is, and if you can during the cherry blossoms, that's the best time to do this. The tidal basin is recommended for good reason, and that is that it's peaceful. You forget you're in a large city. Okay there's occasional horns honking and the like, but rarely here do I pay them any mind. The Jefferson Memorial, to MLK, and the FDR ones are alone amazing. Add this and the word that makes sense is mesmerizing. Whether with family, friends, or alone a place to just take in the beauty. Quite often got headphones on, with some laid back music. It's good for one's blood pressure and more. If you're in the area, a must visit attraction. It really is that good!

The Tidal Basin is certainly one of the most iconic locations to visit when in Washington DC - particularly if it is at the start of spring when the cherry blossoms are approaching (and in) full bloom. The beautiful location attracts hundreds of thousands of people every year - and all for good reason. This year I chose to walk around the Tidal Basin, which took about an hour and a half. It was a great way to get some fresh air, exercise and take in the beautiful sites and sounds of the beginnings of spring time. There are two notable memorials walking distance from the Tidal Basin - the Martin Luther King Memorial and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial.

You can't go wrong with the Tidal Basin. Surrounding it has FDR Memorial and The Jefferson Memorial which you can have a nice leisurely walk if that's your forte. There's a lot of Cherry Blossom all over that is worth visiting. Many visitors out of town come here to see this spectacle. It's a wonderful sight. If there's any downside to visiting the Tidal Basin, it'd probably be the traffic and the parking. Almost impossible to find parking unless you don't mind being extremely patient. I would rather opt to take the metro and avoid having to go through that mess. Otherwise, big crowds can hamper your experience if you're also here to take photos too. But despite all of it, it's worth checking out. There's a Cherry Blossom festival that also occurs around this time of the year so I think that's also fun to check out too!

Beautiful lake, perfect for walking its perimeter and enjoying the cherry blossoms in the Spring (March/April). Lots of tourists but also lots of great spots for taking pictures. You can see the Washington Monument, MLK memorial, FDR memorial, Jefferson memorial, and reflection pool, if you walk the path. It's very clean and well-maintained.

We traveled to Washington DC for medical reasons. We stopped here to refresh our minds and to take in a couple of the historical landmarks before catching a flight back to CA. It rained 3 out of the 4 days we were there. On the 4th day, the rain paused, the clouds parted and the sun and blue skies were visible. The air was slightly chilly, but the sun was warm. It was the perfect spot to remind us of the many things we had to be thankful for - including our country.

Beautiful spot to take a walk and so close to all the other spots on the national mall. During cherry blossom season, it's crazy packed here but right next to this is Haines point. Would rate this a 5 star spot, but the path around the basin floods very often, and the tree branches can grow into the path and force you to duck.

It's my favorite time of the year when the cherry blossoms are in bloom. I visited the cherry blossoms about four times this year and at various times. Three times I went during sunrise and one of the evenings I went during sunset. Unfortunately, the very first day that I went, it was very cloudy. A couple of days later, I had really good weather and was able to take these beautiful photos. Fun fact is that 1.5 million visitors come each year to see the blossoms and that was pre-pandemic. This year, the weather has been quite nice so of course the traffic was a little crazy and the area and parking was horrendous. The best thing I could recommend is going during sunrise and parking either along Ohio Drive or parking lot A. I may have gotten stuck once in the traffic, but I will never do that again. If you're in the DC area during this time, please try and take the Metro to see the blossoms and walk around the entire basin. You get to see the Jefferson Memorial, the MLK Memorial, the Monument and the FDR memorial. The walk can be long only because you're taking it all in and trying to get the perfect shot, lighting and background. You'll be mesmerized by the various photo shoots happening all around you from engagements, family photos, maternity, wedding, babies, dogs, etc.

The most beautiful place to walk and see the monuments. The cherry blossom season is also gorgeous! If you are visiting DC, this is the perfect loop to experience the heart of the city.

Perfect timing...just 3 days before the Cherry Blossom Festival and the flowers are in bloom. This is just walking distance from Lincoln, Korean, Vietnam, WWII Memorials and the Washington Monument. If visiting the DC area, might as well go in March and be part of this historic event that commentates the friendship between US and Japan. The Jefferson Memorial can be seen in the background. It's worth visiting as well.

Beautiful beautiful beautiful area!! You know it's spring when the cherry blossoms come out!! Millions of folks come over just to see these beauties! Some facts - The Tidal Basin is a man-made reservoir located between the Potomac River and the Washington Channel in Washington, D.C. It is part of West Potomac Park near the National Mall and is a focal point of the National Cherry Blossom Festival held each spring. So fortunate that I was able for a few years to visit to see the cherry blossoms. Even if you don't get to see the cherry blooms, there is so much to see when coming here. It's so beautiful. The water, the monuments, and even the flowers that have as well. When you are around and if you go early, it's a great place to jog as well. All in all, I will continue to visit when I am in the area.

I've been fortunate to visit DC during cherry blossom season twice in my life. Spring is my favorite time of the year in DC, and the beauty of the cherry blossoms can be seen all over the city. The best place to see the cherry blossoms and take photos is at the Tidal Basin, and best of all, it is free. There will be many people, but plenty of opportunities to take iconic photos. Everyone tends to be in a cheery mood, with strangers taking pictures for each other. While in the area, you'll also see cherry blossoms down the road by the Washington Monument. The cherry blossoms usually bloom in late March, so plan your trip and book your flights and hotel early. Flights and hotels are fully booked, with visitors coming to DC to visit the Tidal Basin and see the cherry blossoms.

Be prepared to walk! I highly recommend wearing comfortable sneakers. The basin is only 2 miles but with the MLK/FDR monuments and the Jefferson memorial, you will most definitely get your steps in! This is also the place to visit during cherry blossom season. Everyone comes here to take pictures and enjoy the flowers. You can also go on a paddle boat which is pretty nice. This one of my favorite places on my trip. It was really beautiful.

Absolutely love walking around this area, especially during Cherry Blossom season! We walked about 2 miles, from the FDR and MLK Jr. memorials to the Washington Monument and back to our parked car just past the Jefferson Memorial. I was born in Washington, DC, and I have visited with Husband four times in the 41 years we've been married. He hates the traffic, but loves the attractions. This is one of our favorite places to visit. We enjoyed watching families walking & taking photos, young people pedal boating on the Potomac, and the wild life around the tidal basin (Canada geese, red robin's, seagulls). We know that the Cherry Blossom festival has many events planned, including live music, but we wanted to see the blossoms more than anything else. We came, we saw, and we enjoyed walking & taking pictures!

The tidal basin is easily my favorite part of DC and is gorgeous year round. But this time of the year, with the cherry blossoms in full bloom, is the BEST time to visit! Parking is a hassle most days, but I've found that weekdays around 9 am is a good time to find convenient street side parking. The blossoms make all the scheduling and parking inconveniences worth their while! :)

The Tidal Basin is a must do in DC. The Tidal Basin is most known for the cherry blossoms, which is a magical time to visit. Even when it is not cherry blossom bloom, I would recommend the tidal basin. There are a few memorials along the basin, the most popular being the MLK Jr memorial, FDR memorial, and the Thomas Jefferson memorial. The whole walk around the basin is about 2 miles, so keep that in mind if you are also visit the national mall. It will be a lot of walking. Parking and driving around the Tidal Basin is difficult, I would recommend taking the metro, the closest is the Smithsonian metro stop. If you want food, the wharf is a quick walk away with multiple food options.

The Tidal Basin is the perfect place to see the Cherry Blossoms!!! Went early this morning (March 26th) to enjoy the views and blossoms before the large crowds. It was simply wonderful.

This is by far my most favorite place around national mall. The cherry blossom festival which usually happens in March end is the perfect time to visit the basin and enjoy the beautiful and color display of cherry blossoms. Don't forget to bring some water and snacks to enjoy as you stroll around. Street side Parking can definitely a hassle but get there early or park in a lit and walk to the basin. Honestly the beauty will make you forget all the larking hassle.

The Tidal Basin is probably one of the most popular spots to go see Cherry Blossoms in DC, and it is generally okay. There are indeed plenty of cherry blossom trees, but there are no cherries because the tree makes flowers instead of fruit. These blossoms only last a few weeks so if you are looking to go to the Cherry Blossom Festival it has to be within those few weeks while they bloom. First off, the Basin itself is nasty as anything. I joked around about bringing swim trunks next year when we go see the cherry blossoms but #1 we probably won't be there because it was in the 40s this year and #2 I would never swim in that water on my own accord. That being said, most people don't really care if the water is dirty or not, they just enjoy being around the Basin for the vibes. Secondly, the parking situation during the Cherry Blossom Festival is pretty horrendous. As bad as DC parking/driving already is, they make the roads around the Basin a one way and your best bet is to park on the side where its not overly obvious whether or not you have to pay for it. What's funny to me is that they close the parking lot directly adjacent to the Basin which would be useful to have filled especially at this time of year, but instead they have it blocked off and there isn't even any alternate use for the parking lot. The cherry blossoms themselves are pretty nice and there are a lot of them around the entire area, making it a decent photo op. A note of caution, the Basin overflows and can make your trip around the body of water an amphibious operation if it rains the day/night before. I'm not sure how the drainage system of the Basin works or if there is any, but a good chunk of the sidewalk around the Basin was underwater since the water level was so high. I tried to walk on the water but it turns out I'm not the second coming of Christ so it didn't work.

Went to the Basin a little early this year. Busy time with blossoms just starting, so managed to get a few good selfie shots. Walked six miles from Union Station to National Gallery to Tidal Basin with Mom and back--with No rideshare use!

The Cherry Blossom festival is a must see when you live here or are visiting. Unfortunately this year we had some bad weather than stunned the blossoms, so peak bloom has come and gone. There are still blossoms to be seen and some trees/branches will bloom later, but check out the park service website or social media for status updates. As a local, I can say I regret not coming many years ago when I had the chance. I think when you live nearby you assume it's not a big deal, and you can go whenever you want. Then you see it for the first time and it's life changing. I now go every year if I have the chance. This year for the first time we made it exactly during peak bloom. It's breathtaking!

As we strolled around the Tidal Basin, the colors of the cherry blossoms seemed to dance in the gentle breeze, creating a magical atmosphere. The soft petals fell like snow around us, a beautiful reminder of the fleeting beauty of nature. It was a moment of pure joy and wonder, shared between generations. The sight of families and friends gathered under the cherry blossom trees, laughing and taking pictures, filled my heart with warmth. It was a reminder of the simple joys of life, of taking a moment to stop and admire the beauty around us. Surrounded by the beauty of the cherry blossoms and the grandeur of the Jefferson Memorial, I felt a deep sense of gratitude. Gratitude for the beauty of nature, for the love of family, and for the simple pleasures of life. It was a moment of connection, of being present and fully alive in the moment. Despite living in Northern Virginia, we had always avoided the crowds that came to see the Cherry Blossoms at the Tidal Basin. However, this year we decided to brave the crowds and bring our 9-month-old grandson along. It was a bit of a hassle finding parking amidst the sea of people, but with a little patience, we were able to find a spot and enjoy our time there. We leisurely walked along the path towards the Jefferson Memorial, admiring the natural beauty that surrounded us. It was a wonderful experience being in the presence of such breathtaking scenery. The beauty of the cherry blossoms had left an imprint on my heart, a reminder of the beauty and resilience of nature. It was a day to remember, a day filled with love, joy, and the simple beauty of life.

I'm so glad to have been able to see the cherry blossoms last month. Last year I didn't feel comfortable going to see them because the pandemic had just started getting pretty bad. This year I was still a bit worried about being able to socially distance, but overall people were pretty good about wearing masks. It was a little bit crowded especially at crosswalks but compared to pictures I've seen during normal times it was relatively less busy. The parking situation was a little bit weird. I parked about a 15 minutes walk away in an underground garage that cost about 20 bucks. It looked like it may have been valet parking but there weren't many people so I guess the attendant let me park on my own. The double parking spaces made me nervous so I just found a normal spot in the corner. Not sure how street parking works but the nearby garages seem to close pretty early, I think around 7 pm so it wouldn't really work well if we wanted to enjoy the sunset or dinner. During normal times I would have preferred to metro into the city.

I thought there would be more businesses and like things to buy and do at the tidal basin, but it's really just a big park around a "lake". I love it. It reminds me of big parks in other cities that encourage people to take walks or ride bikes or have picnics. I'll be honest. I flew 5,000 miles partially to see DC's famous cherry blossoms. Turns out I'm like 1-2 weeks too early. But it's ok! I'll just have to come back sometime. The walk around the tidal basin was still pleasant. I started at the MLK monument and walked around toward the Jefferson monument. I was surprised there is no guard rail, but I like that it felt more natural I guess. The monuments are pretty cool to check out, but also just taking in the views of the lake, the Washington monument and the capitol building is neat. Marine one flew by several times. Also cool. I'm interested in finding out more about how to get on one of those ranger led tours. Apparently, the tidal basin is a national park? I learned all about it on a PBS program I happened to catch in my hotel room. Hahah the Cherry Blossoms in DC have such an interesting history!

Visited right before peak bloom so I don't have the iconic cherry blossom photos this year, but even not during CB season I love hanging out by the tidal basin. It's so calming! I generally like to do a huge walking loop from the Washington monument and all the way around to Jefferson, FDR, MLK, and then finishing at Lincoln. When the weather is nice there's nowhere better to be!

A popular area to come any time is this big lake, but it's especially awesome when the cherry trees blossom. It basically is a big lake. The Tidal Basin is a place for a nice long walk. Getting here is the worst thing about it. You'll have to walk a long way but it deserves a visit. Every spring the cherry trees lining it blossom. It gets the most visitors then but any other time it's still an impressive sight. This is just an inconvenient location for walking to. It's surrounding by several popular memorials. The Jefferson Memorial is on the south side and gets many of the visitors. Around the rest of it you can find a path that takes you up towards the Lincoln Memorial and that area. This offers some good views of the skyline including the Washington Monument. If you're here in the spring it will be the busiest. It's the best time to come. This is still a beautiful sight at other times.

I visited Tidal Basin for Hanami( cherry flowers viewing) on April 4th, 2022 The peak was over a week ago. But I still could see some of the die-hard flowers. The weather was awesome. I walked around and took a lot of pictures. There were many memorials and cherry blowers. It is hard to predict the peak of cherry flowers. We need to ask Google before a trip. And we are concerned about the weather. If we luckily have a pleasant day, we can take great pictures!

I've been jogging around here for years and between the sunsets, monuments and overall serenity, this is easily one of my favorite places in DC. It seems to look different almost every day, capturing a different mood and beauty each time. The walking paths around the Tidal Basin are also an awesome way to see the Thomas Jefferson, FDR and MLK Memorials up close. It greatens my appreciation for our city and country's history on a regular basis. Many people tend to gravitate towards the Tidal Basin to see the Cherry Blossoms during the springtime. While typically, crowds gather from sunrise to sunset (I've even been on a nightime lantern tour) you can beat the crowds by visiting just a little before or after peak bloom. While I've been jogging here 3-4x a week as soon as the weather gets warm, I definitely suspended my visits while approaching peak bloom due to the importance of social distancing. Apparently, others did not because once I returned after the weekend, there were so many areas around the Tidal Basin that were taped off. The good news is, you can always enjoy them from your car (there is a stop light at the top of the basin) or you can walk over to the entry point near the MLK Memorial and access the walking paths on that side, through the FDR Memorial. Yesterday when I went, there were less than a dozen people enjoying them, incredibly spread out so that you felt like you had the basin all to yourself. If you haven't been over here in awhile, I'd definitely recommend that you pay it a visit soon!

Beautiful place, Nice views. Good place to walk. However, sometimes challenging to park. 80-90% good.

Bucket list item checked off. We had plans to attend the Cherry Blossom Festival in April of 2020, but the pandemic had other ideas in mind. This year, I finally made my sakura dreams come true. Flying into to D.C. for a quick two night stay, I got up at zero dark thirty on April 2nd so I could catch sunrise at the Basin.  Arriving there about 20 minutes before the sun rose, I had time to walk from my drop-off point at the Jefferson Memorial over to the MLK, Jr. Memorial where I joined several others who had also gotten up early. There were professional photographers with huge cameras and huge lenses, couples doing wedding photos, and amateurs like me. From the MLK, Jr. Memorial, you have a great view of the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, the sun as it rises, and the cherry blossoms to your left.  It was an awesome scene to experience.  I was so happy to have this dream finally come true especially after the year we've had and I'll never forget it. The annual Cherry Blossom Festival has been canceled two years in a row now, but if you can go in 2022, the Tidal Basin will once again be the center of activity.

Perfect spot to get your own view of the Cherry Blossoms and take all your photo ops, selfies included. Peak bloom of course is the best time to come to gt the full experience! If you can help it come during the week instead of the weekend. The path along the basin is not as congested and you are not stumbling over people. Do not let the crowds deter you. There is enough space and scenery for everyone to enjoy! There are sooo many spots for photo ops and the views are breathtaking to say the least. Parking is scarce because most of the lots around the basin are closed off for crowd control. Best bet is to park elsewhere and walk in or uber/lyft/cab your way to the basin. No matter how you decide to get here, once you are here and emerged in the moment, you will be glad you came!!

This place is the most spectacular when the cherry blossoms are in bloom. Either way it's a great place to walk around, take pictures, and. enjoy the scenery. If you feel extra adventurous, you can rent one of their swan paddle boats and paddle your way around the basin.

You might expect that - with us being the home of the federal government and all - our parks might get some preferential treatment. The infrastructure surrounding the Tidal Basin would seem to contradict this notion, with degrading paths that'll have you looking down at your footing and then looking up at the branch your face is about to run into (which you don't want to do, because it's one of those extra special cherry trees). The paddle boats have been closed for the pandemic, but in any case the dock looks like it was built in 1970. The Tidal Basin is at least walkable, unlike the disintegrating paths of East Potomac Park immediately nearby. Don't get me wrong, fixing up our parks while maintaining ecological standards and preserving their history and aesthetics is not going to be cheap; I understand why the bean counters keep putting it off, but I am a bit sad that visitors don't get a better experience. Nonetheless, a walk around the Tidal Basin will yield plenty of great views, even during the 95% of the year when the cherry blossoms are not out. You're unlikely to run into Captain America, but the famous scene that was shot here captures the area much better than most DC cinema. Most of us just casually walk or around here for exercise and sort of passively take in the scenery, oblivious to the fact that for many visitors, it will quite reasonably be the time of a life.

nice area to walk. lovely views. lots of attractions & monuments. could use more seating but I know that's time consuming & expensive to maintain. always a nice visit, especially at cherry blossom time.

The view from this lake was beautiful! It was a serene walk around the lake. You get an amazing view of cherry blossom trees blooming above you during its peak season. There are a vast amount of cherry blossoms planted around the sidewalk. As you are walking, you can spot out the Washington monument and Thomas Jefferson Memorial. Walking further will lead you to the Jefferson Memorial. Many colors of the cherry blossom trees were there for your view. There's even a garden of different color of tulips nearby. Reaching over to the bridge gives you a better view of the Washington monument standing tall behind the cherry blossoms. This area is where the National Cherry Blossom Festival happen every year.

I enjoyed walking around here! I was surprised by the Tulip Library. Tulips are my favorite and I'm so excited about it to have read a book by a tree and watch kids and families play! Perfect place for picnics!

Always a great place to visit and walk or run. Visited during the Cherry Blossom blooming time. Yes it was crowded and the streets were closed to vehicles. Such a great sight to see all the trees in bloom and to overlook the basin with the glowing sun along with the Jefferson Memorial and the MLK, Jr. Memorial.

This is a very nice place to take photos of cherry blossom trees, and although there are already many cherry blossom trees, I still think there could be more... a lot more. You can never have too many cherry blossom trees! I also think this area gets too overcrowded with tourists, too overcrowded, but I guess that is inevitable. It would be so much more charming if it was less crowded and had even more cherry blossoms!

At first when I looked and saw that the Tidal Basin on Yelp had 4.5 stars. I was like... what monster could possibly give the Tidal Basin 4 stars?! Who in their right mind would judge one of the most beautiful places in D.C. at lower than 5 stars. But then... I read the first 4-star review... and it mentioned parking... And the harsh unforgiving repressed memories set in, like punches to a leather belt. Oh yes... it took us about 35 minutes to find parking... and once we did... it was like a mile away. I mean... I love D.C. and all, but if you're trying to come to the mall to see the Tidal Basin. It's like the motorcyclists say, "Ride or Die." That day we went to see the cherry blossoms too, they had the Cherry Blossom 10K or something... which was also a pain to navigate around. But then you get to the Tidal Basin filled with BEAUTIFUL eye-lighting-up cherry blossoms and before you know it, your phone memory is half full and you have 300 likes on Instagram. I mean... I always have been one of those... "Oh, there are Cherry blossom trees all over the place" sort of guys. And yes... there are. That's true. But the real magic of seeing them encircle the tidal basin from the Jefferson Memorial. Well... that's America's Cherry Blossom park. But... man... the parking. 4 stars.

I went here on a hot summer day in June 2019, after visiting the Money Museum, very fascinating to learn how money is made!! I enjoyed the summer heat, as I savored the deliciousness of the ice cream sandwich I was eating. I purchased that ice cream sandwich at the Tidal Basin snack stand!! I sat with my grandmother and we were enjoying the beautiful views of all the people on the boats, having a blast, in the Potomac River!! It is here where the cherry blossom festival is celebrated and it's literally across the basin from the Lincoln Memorial, one of best tourist attractions in the nation's capital!!! I will come again, after COVID, to enjoy the summer in the capital city!!!!!

Tidal Basin was packed for the National Cherry Blossom Festival events happening city-wide. We really lucked out during our recent trip to DC. It was still within peak bloom; check out our photos for those fluffy blossoms! I had friends visiting DC the following weekend and most were gone, leaves came through. As our accommodations were closed by, we decided to walk to the basin. Walking around the basin is about 2 miles. If you're able, avoid driving here. Traffic was extremely heavy during peak hours, but it's worth it! :)

I love coming here every year! I always try to make it for the peak bloom. To get good photos without anyone around be here at 7 in the morning. Trains don't run this early on the weekends so take a cab or uber. It gets packed! So be ready with lots of patience. Everyone is trying to take photos at the same time but as long as you wait your turn you will get that photo I promise!

Despite the 2020 Cherry Blossom Festival being cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, social distancing was practiced as residents, visitors, and tourists admire the beauty of the cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin. To see video of Washington, DC's 2020 cherry blossoms, see AvionnaDesh on Instagram.

I would love, love to visit the Tidal Basin during Cherry Blossom season because there are cherry blossom trees every where here. I unfortunately just missed the cherry blossom season when I came here but never the less, the Tidal Basin gives quite a spectacular view of several Washington D.C sights. You get quite an amazing view of the Washington Monument as well as Jeffrerson Memorial and it's great spot to walk around. I walked along the pathway to get to the Franklin Roosevelt memorial. It is a great walkway and nice place to stroll.

Breathtakingly beautiful! Wow, make sure to make a visit during cherry blossom season! I've always thought that the only way I would see the beautiful cherry blossom trees is by going to Japan. Wrong! You wouldn't believe how elated I was when an opportunity to go to DC during this season came up. This was going to be my first trip to DC, I walked and ubered my way around. Although there were cherry blossoms all around the city, when I asked around to find out where the best place to see the blossoms are, I was recommended this park. Tidal basin is a beautiful park with a view of the lake. There were a couple of activities you could pay to do but I opted to walk around and enjoy the beautiful cherry blossoms. I couldn't believe how many colors they came in. This was just one of our stops when we went to DC. From here, it's easy to get to the other monuments, or vice versa.

This is the premiere "national monuments" walk, with a lot of photogenic views, to recommend to D.C. visitors. So it beggars the question why there are no benches to rest weary walking feet along the entire eastern side of the Tidal Basin (the side where the paddle boat rental dock is located). The few benches are clustered around a government-issue snack kiosk and literally face the traffic, 180 degrees turned away from the water! Also, they are next to trash cans. I asked a hapless, but pleasant, government functionary wearing a National Park Service badge. Poor fella had scant explanation for bureaucratic incompetence, chuckled a lot, and so I put him out of his misery quickly and let him go on his way. As far as the benches along the western section of the Tidal basin, most are decrepit and rotting due to high tide water damage. They're also right next to trash cans. So, like most monuments in D.C. that suffer the neglect of a dysfunctional federal government, this fabled scenic attraction in the capital city remains a bit of an illusion, marred by the reality that it's actually not well thought-out, nor maintained, nor designed and built for real families with older people and children. You can, still, snap some amazing pictures! Just watch out for the clusterfcuk of joggers who insist on competing for space with cyclists and baby carriages at the peak season around cherry blossoms on a very dodgy, narrow path. One major improvement recently has been widening of the pedestrian walkway on the bridge along Independence Avenue.

The tidal basin area of DC is a beautiful area to take a walk in and relax. During the spring, the many Cherry Blossom trees (gifts from Japan) bloom beautifully. Alas I did not come during that season but still again it's a nice area to unplug if you live in the area or like me you took a vacation and just need a breather.