Know what’s got a spring in our step? The cherry blossoms have officially begun to pop.
Peak bloom — which is considered to be when 70% of a tree’s blossoms have emerged — tends to be late March to mid-April.
Whenever the trees have hit this mark, they’ll stay bountiful of blooms for about two weeks — assuming no major storms roll through. So, it’s time to scope out the best places to view the cherry blossoms in Seattle.
These are some of the more popular spots, but you can check out the Seattle Department of Transportation’s interactive tree map (under the Explore Street Trees tab) to see what’s near you.
University of Washington Quad
The university’s collection of 29 cherry trees makes this a flower lover’s dream + a great Instagram location. The U District Cherry Blossom Festival runs from Saturday, March 16 to Monday, April 1, but you can also enjoy the beauty from your home with this livestream of its pink trees.
Washington Park Arboretum / Japanese Garden
You’ll find the cherry blossoms along the arboretum’s Azalea Way, which is free to walk through. However, if you want to use the opportunity to cruise the Japanese Garden, there are other beautiful displays.
Seattle Center
While you can find cherry trees scattered around this main tourist attraction, a large amount are located in the Seattle Center’s September 11 Memorial Garden. Here, there are two sets of trees (one made of Kwansan cherry trees and the other of Mt. Fuji cherry trees) that were donated by Japan. And don’t miss the Seattle Cherry Blossom + Japanese Cultural Festival April 12-14.
Even on the cloudier days, the pink cherry blossoms along Lake Washington Boulevard look quite cheery.
Photo by @tallcupofchocolatemilk
Lake Washington Boulevard
For this one, we suggest starting at the north end of Seward Park for a casual stroll along Lake Washington. Those pretty views become even more charming when they’re framed by pink blooms.
