If you are as obsessed with the Washington D.C.’s famous cherry blossoms as we are, then you are probably looking for even more ways to experience (OK, stalk) these delicate blooms as winter turns to spring in the United States.
While the Nation’s Capital boosts one of the best annual cherry blossom festivals in the world, we all know that the Yoshino cherry trees are the real star of the show (along with the other varieties of cherry trees surrounding the Jefferson Memorial and across the District).
You can take a virtual tour through a beautiful bloom camera set up in the city, getting a digital view of the Tidal Basin. It’s not the same, but there are several reasons to check out this camera feed that heralds in the arrival of spring for many in the Mid-Atlantic and southern states.
For anyone who wants a live look at the Tidal Basin, you can turn to the Bloom Cam for video footage that is constantly rolling 365 days a year. While the view isn’t that close up (or always clear depending on your computer screen and the weather), there are other cameras in the area and viewpoints that will get you closer to the action as full bloom hits.
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Earth Cam
Up on the roof the Mandarin Oriental, Washington DC, one of our favorite cherry blossom hotels in D.C., is an Earth Cam pointed right at the Tidal Basin. Year round you can check out the weather and scenery around D.C., but this particular camera gets the most action when there are cherry blooms to be seen.
Keep an eye on the first Yoshino cherry tree buds through peak bloom before these white blossoms give way to endless branches of greenery. It’s the best way to see the D.C. Cherry Blossoms, according to the National Park Service, if you can’t get to the nation’s capitol or if you want to see where the buds are at on the cherry blossom trees before you head into the District.
Bud-to-Blossom Time-Lapse from Trust for the National Mall on Vimeo.
Bloom Cam
While the Trust for the National Mall gets its live cherry blossom camera feed from Earth Cam, it’s a bit more organized and prettier to look at when you want a view of the cherry trees.
The Trust website also has live camera feeds of the monuments and a “Bud Cam” that gives you a close up look at a cherry blossom tree limb in advance of peak bloom.
The view of the cherry tree will change daily, as cherry blossom season progresses through March and April, the best time to see the blooms each year (at least historically that has been the best time of year to visit this iconic symbol of Washington D.C.
Your Own Cherry Blossom Camera
One of the best ways to see what is happening across Washington, D.C. when it comes to blossoms, including the live events that take place as part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, is to keep an eye on the #BloomCam hashtag and similar #DCcherryblossoms tags on Instagram, TikTok or your preferred social media.
A mosaic of pinks and whites takes over, as amateur and professional photographers try to capture all of the angles of the Tidal Basin for virtual visitors to enjoy.
Looking for a Washington DC Hotel?
- Hotel Hive – Affordable, trendy, pet-friendly hotel
- Eaton Hotel – Stay in the heart of DC
- Four Seasons Hotel Washington DC – DC luxury at it’s best
- Kimpton Hotel George – Great for families and pets
- Willard InterContinental Washington – Historic hotel right near the White House
