Easter is just two weeks… do you know where you’ll be spending your spring break? If you don’t have the time or money to escape the winter blues in tropical locales such as Hawaii, Cabo or the Caribbean you might consider taking advantage of some affordable options closer to home.
For example, we are just a few weeks away from the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. The annual event takes place this year from March 29-April 13.
If you have never been you don’t know what you are missing. It is truly amazing to see the city’s cherry trees in full bloom. The trees are clustered around the Tidal Basin and offer a spectacular backdrop to family photos. The very first cherry trees were given to the U.S. by Japan in 1912 as a token of friendship. These days the annual festival draws millions of spectators from around the world. Events include a parade and the Smithsonian’s annual Kite Festival, during which handmade kites flutter over the National Mall. If you want to learn more about the event while you’re in town look for the cherry blossom information trailer, which sits near the intersection of Independence Avenue and 17th Street.
Because the festival is such a huge event several local hotels offer discounted rates or packages during the months of March and April. Keep in mind that the cheapest rates tend to be for hotels in outlying areas of Virginia and Maryland, which will likely require renting a car.
However, if you have the means I would suggest staying at the Mandarin Oriental, the only D.C. hotel that overlooks the Tidal Basin. It has a special Cherry Blossoms Bloom package with accommodations in a water-view room, a trio of cherry-flavored treats (including a dessert made in the hotel’s pastry kitchen), free breakfast, and valet parking. The package starts at $335 per room per night.
Another family-friendly spring fling option is being offered in Virginia. Historic Garden Week is a statewide celebration that runs from April 19-27. It features more than 250 historic attractions, including Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and George Washington’s Mount Vernon and numerous private homes whose gardens are opened to the public. Tickets range from $10 to $35 per person. And as an added bonus if you purchase tickets to Old Town Alexandria’s local tour, admission to Mount Vernon is included.
To help visitors save money hotels throughout the state are offering special travel packages. For example, the Stonewall Jackson, a historic hotel in the Shenandoah Valley, the Garden Week package includes a one-night stay, breakfast, and two tickets to a tour of five local gardens, from $175 per room per night.
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