Making Memories

One of the most popular Spring outdoor activities is to “see the cherry blossoms”, according to Real Simple magazine. Being the national flower, Japan is the most famous cherry blossoms sighting location in the world. Each Spring in Japan, cherry trees of different subspecies bloom to showcase blossoms with bursts of colors ranging from white, to dusty pink to hot pink, even those with hints of yellow. More specifically, Yoshinoyama – the mountain home to about 30 thousand cherry trees – is the most famous spot for viewing cherry blossoms over many centuries.

Besides Japan, South Korea ranks second as the most ideal place for cherry blossom sighting. Thanks to the Hallyu movement, many beautiful and romantic sceneries filled with cherry blossoms in bloom are showcased on screen. In Europe, the United Kingdom and Spain top the list as the most visited locations for cherry blossoms sighting. In the United States, no other place could surpass the popularity of Washington, D.C. Nevertheless, due to its popularity, the sighting locations are always overcrowded. It is almost impossible to capture a nice photo of the cherry trees, even if arriving very early in the morning. For this reason, I want to introduce to you, not an alternative, but to me a better location for viewing cherry blossoms, which is New York City!!

If you’re not a local, then New York City (NYC) is the perfect place to visit in the Spring because besides cherry blossoms sighting, there are so many places to visit and so many activities for all ages. The most ideal time to visit NYC is the first week of April or the first week of May. There are several subspecies of cherry trees in NYC: Okame usually blooms between mid to end of March; Yoshino is predicted to peak at the beginning of April; Weeping Higan often blooms in mid-April, and Kwanzan is expected to bloom at the end of April or beginning of May. Cherry trees are scattered along the streets of NYC, as well as in the parks and gardens from Manhattan to Brooklyn to Queens.

Brooklyn Botanical Garden

I visited NYC during the Easter holiday weekend with my family, which happened to land on the first week of April. Constrained by time, we chose to visit Brooklyn Botanical Garden and Central Park only. Every year, Brooklyn Botanical Garden holds a cherry blossom festival called Sakura Matsuri. However, this year’s event was cancelled, and replaced with small weekend programs from mid-April to mid-May. In addition to cherry tree tours, there are live music concerts, Japanese traditional dancing shows, and lots of workshops and activities for all ages. To further enrich the experience, Hanami Nights are held on Tuesdays for 2 weeks. Sakura Hanami is the Japanese tradition of enjoying blooming of the beautiful but ephemeral cherry blossoms and in English, it translates to “cherry flower viewing”. Attending Hanami Nights, you will be able to enjoy the live concerts while admiring the flowers and having a picnic under the cherry trees.

It is advised to follow the updates on Cherry Watch site, a page dedicated especially for the cherry blossoms season, where experts predict the blooming of the cherry trees at different locations in the garden.

There are 3 main gates in Brooklyn Botanical Garden. The gate nearest to cherry blossoms sighting spots is at 990 Washington Ave. Only a short walk from this gate will take you to Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, where there is a beautiful collection of cherry blossoms, especially the Weeping Higan blossoms that drape over the lake/pond. The red Torii gate in the middle of the pond adds a nice touch of Japan. The Torii gates represent the border between the secular world and the sacred worlds of the Shinto religion. The gates act as a passageway into a shrine’s sacred space. This hill-and-pond garden is not a sacred spot; therefore, the Torii gate here only acts as a typical representation of Japan.

The next not-to-miss spots would be taking a stroll down the Cherry Walk towards Cherry Esplanade, where you will be surrounded by magnificent flowering cherry trees. While here, don’t limit yourself with just viewing the cherry trees. In early Spring, the garden is also filled with magnolias of all kinds and colors at Magnolia Plaza. The bright field of daffodils at Daffodil Hill is also a site to be taken! Also check out the multi-color tulips field at the Lily Pool Terrace. With very reasonable pricing for adults and seniors, and free for children under 12, you can spend the entire day admiring the Spring blooms. Picnic on the grass is ideal for a lunch break. You can bring your own food, or purchase sandwiches and chips at the Yellow Magnolia Canteen. Or if you prefer a full-service restaurant, then the Yellow Magnolia Cafe is available. The prices at the cafe are on the high-end for the portion, and service can be slow. The food was good and healthy, but we had to wait over an hour for our meal.

Central Park

Another cherry blossom viewing spot not-to-be-missed is Central Park. According to many charts and reviews, Central Park is listed as the number one must-visit spot in NYC. With an area of about 843 acres and located between the Upper West and Upper East sides of Manhattan, Central Park is an urban oasis, featuring rolling meadows, peaceful bodies of water and stunning vistas, bringing a sense of calm to the otherwise one of the busiest cities in the world. Being so massive, inside Central Park, there’s a zoo, a museum, 2 ice-skating rinks, concert venues, soccer field, tennis court, etc.

To view the cherry blossoms, you can refer to the map and list of best viewing spots in Central Park. Central Park‘s homepage also has predictions of when the cherry trees peak-bloom. I visited a few spots in Central Park and found that Cherry Hill and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir have the most beautiful collections of cherry trees. The lake nearby creates a magnificent view with the cherry blossoms and the cityscape in one frame. From Cherry Hill, cross Bow Bridge and proceed to Shakespeare Garden, and then climb up the Belvedere Castle, you will have the view of the entire Manhattan. If walking is too much, you can rent a bike, or even consider using a pedicab tour. Entering Central Park is free; therefore, you can leisurely stroll to any part of the park that appeals to you.

Having lunch on The Great Lawn is an ideal way to take a break from long walks. Bring lunch sacs and a picnic blanket. There are also food stands scattered throughout the park. Consider bringing a soccer ball, a frisbee, or any outdoor game, it is an ideal place for kids to run around and burn off some energy. Near the Great Lawn, there are very few cherry trees, but there were a lot of magnolia trees of pink and white, making it a great spot for a picnic before heading to the next destination.

What to wear?

April in NYC is still quite cold with temperatures between 45 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Consider dressing in layers to accommodate cloudy days or when you’re lucky enough to see the sun out. Since this is cherry-blossom-viewing trip, ladies should opt to dress more girly with either a cute dress or leggings with a cute sweater. To keep warm, wear a thermal shirt underneath, fleece leggings and boots. A warm hat and scarf add a nice fashionable touch while keeping you warm. Since you will most likely be wearing a coat all day, invest in a nice colorful coat to wear in early days of Spring when the weather is still chilly. Since the background would be filled with flowers, it is best to wear solid colors. In early April, the cherry blossoms are in white or dusty pink, opt for more vibrant-color outfits to avoid drowning in with the background. Colors such as purple, red, or blue would contrast nicely with flowers in shades of white, pink, or yellow. If you plan to go on the Liberty cruise or Staten Island ferry, then bring an additional sweater. It is very windy and much colder than on land. Wear a comfortable pair of flat boots to keep warm while providing enough comfort for walking all day.

Summary

There are plenty more places in NYC to visit for viewing cherry blossoms such as Flushing Meadows Corona Park, New York Botanical Garden, Union Square, Riverside Park, Washington Square Park, Sakura Park, Prospect Park, Roosevelt Island. If your trip is longer than a weekend, consider driving to Newark, New Jersey where there’s Branch Brook Park with about 4000 cherry trees. Besides sighting cherry blossoms, you can visit many famous landmarks and monuments, making the trip to NYC much more worthwhile. You can search for must-see places and must-do activities in NYC, or I can share my recommendations in another article very soon. If the purpose of your trip is solely for cherry blossoms, then NYC is the ideal place to visit where you don’t have to share the beautiful sceneries with a sea of people like in Washington, D.C., or weathering the rain like in Seattle, or getting lost while searching for cherry blossoms in Michigan. Another advantage is the Kwanzan cherry trees bloom quite late, so you would have more time to plan your visit. If you would like to visit NYC this year, there’s still time. Otherwise, for next year, instead of heading to Washington, D.C. like the rest of the crowds, plan a visit to New York City for your next adventures!