Best time to visit Washington DC?

[stepcutgirl]

The boyfriend and I are going in either March or April. We live in Florida so by March and April it is gross hot here. I don''t want to go to DC and be walking all over creation in gross hot. I''m told the weather there is nowhere near as hot as it is here but I''d like to hear when would be a better time to go with nice cool weather. Thoughts?

 

[princesss]

April! Spring is beautiful, and you can see the cherry blossoms!

 

[vc10um]

Date: 1/21/2010 9:53:45 PM
Author: princesss
April! Spring is beautiful, and you can see the cherry blossoms!

Ditto. It''s GORGEOUS here in April. The National Cherry Blossom Festival runs through nearly the first half of April and the Tidal Basin is just brimming with blossoms (and tourists)!!!

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 1/21/2010 10:02:29 PM
Author: vc10um

Date: 1/21/2010 9:53:45 PM
Author: princesss
April! Spring is beautiful, and you can see the cherry blossoms!

Ditto. It''s GORGEOUS here in April. The National Cherry Blossom Festival runs through nearly the first half of April and the Tidal Basin is just brimming with blossoms (and tourists)!!!

Ditto. The Cherry blossoms are gorgeous in April.

 

[movie zombie]

another plus one for april: try to time it before it heats up and the humidity hits......which i found happens very shortly after the first real "spring" weekend........

mz

 

[Clio]

Definitely April! March weather can still be iffy and is often chilly and wet. April will be nicer, and more flower will be out.

 

[yssie]

Yet another vote for the cherry blossom season - it truly is spectacular

 

[stepcutgirl]

Thanks everyone!

 

[marcy]

I so agree. The Cherry Blossoms are amazing.

 

[treefrog]

March can be a little blah and cold here (especially for somebody from FL). I agree with the others - April should be a great time to visit.

Treefrog

 

[karee888]

another vote for april! the cherry blossoms are amazing!

 

[AGBF]

Cherry blossom festival (despite the crowds). Be sure to book early, though!

AGBF

 

[whitby_2773]

hi stepcut



here's a link to the national cherry blossom festival site.

on this page along the top, you'll see the option to go to a page called 'bloom watch' (bloomergate, anyone? i mean, it *is* DC...) click on this and when it gets closer to the date, it'll tell you when the absolute peak for the blossoms will be. this makes a difference; a few days, or a week either side, and it can be surprisingly 'over'. it says here that the normal peak is about april 4th, which, this year, is a sunday.

i used to go to DC a lot and i used to stay here. advance purchase basic rooms are $129/night, but all the rooms are spacious and nicely appointed; the cheap price is because it doesnt have a lot of amenities like a big bar, or restaurants. but it's across the road from the hilton (where reagan was shot), and i used to use their hotel if i wanted somewhere easy for dinner, or to go get a drink etc. i used to always stay in the same room - on the 8th floor, on the corner. it's a nice, spacious room, and had a pretty view - kinda nice in cherry blossom time.

would love to hear if you decide to go!

 

[cellentani]

Like everyone said, April is beautiful, but if you have seasonal allergies, be prepared. I''m usually taking a full arsenal of prescription antihistamines by then.

But yes, the cherry blossoms are jaw-droppingly gorgeous.

 

[Smurfysmiles]

ditto tritto manitto in the spring, the cherry blossoms are BEAUTIFUL plus it always smells so yummy outside around that time

 

[shertz1981]

April is beautiful, but honestly, cherry blossom season makes everything so ridiculously crowded ... come in May! It''s gorgeous and warm -- but not hot -- and the summer tourists haven''t arrived yet

 

[stepcutgirl]

Thank you all for the replies. Whitby, that hotel seems pretty cool. What room did you stay in, maybe I can request it.

 

[charbie]

Date: 1/22/2010 9:57:53 AM
Author: AGBF


Cherry blossom festival (despite the crowds). Be sure to book early, though!

AGBF

that was going to be my suggestion. you''ll have to be quick to find a place to stay- it will be all booked up soon! and the prices will get jacked.

 

[whitby_2773]

Date: 1/22/2010 10:52:44 AM
Author: stepcutgirl
Thank you all for the replies. Whitby, that hotel seems pretty cool. What room did you stay in, maybe I can request it.

lol stepcut!

i've been trying to think! it was the corner room on the 8th floor, which faced out to the hilton. it was down the far end of the hall when you came off the elevator, so it was nice and quiet. i think there's only one room that fitted that description - altho i recall it was a suite and had a separate office area. i would stay there for up to a week at a time, so i always wanted a little extra space. i dont *think* they had a restaurant, tho they did, of course, do breakfast. and they also did nice room service, so perhaps there *was* a restaurant, and i'm just not remembering it cause i used to go out all the time. there's great restaurants all around the hotel tho, so it didn't matter one way or the other.

i totally loved that hotel and would stay there again if i went. i also loved the area it was in - and i really just enjoy DC in general. they also have parking, so if you take or rent a car there, you'll have somewhere to leave it when not driving.

** ok - just checked they *do* have a restaurant. i remember the lounge, which was lovely and cosy, but i'm pulling a complete blank on the restaurant. they do have one tho and it looks nice.

wow - i just checked their rates for the weekend of the 2-4th of april, and they have an internet special on their premiere king room of $92.65/night for that period. that's a great deal!

anyhoo, will love hearing all about your trip if you end up going

 

[vespergirl]

Date: 1/21/2010 10:08:01 PM
Author: Kaleigh

Date: 1/21/2010 10:02:29 PM
Author: vc10um

Date: 1/21/2010 9:53:45 PM
Author: princesss
April! Spring is beautiful, and you can see the cherry blossoms!

Ditto. It''s GORGEOUS here in April. The National Cherry Blossom Festival runs through nearly the first half of April and the Tidal Basin is just brimming with blossoms (and tourists)!!!

Ditto. The Cherry blossoms are gorgeous in April.

Ditto. The Cherry Blossom Festival is the best time to come.

 

[fleur-de-lis]

***EARLY*** April.

When I lived in DC, I used to joke that there were only four beautiful days per year: it was a hot/sticky mess requiring giant dry cleaning bills for 180 days, and a cold/grey mess requiring wearing layer on top of layer the other 180. But hey, there were 2 or 3 days each spring and another couple in autumn that were spectacular! You could wear short sleeved shirts, bare legs, and silken dresses!

Okay, I kid a little. DC truly is beautiful in the transition, but in the years I spent there the end of April was already pretty muggy. Go early.

 

[Irishgrrrl]

I live just a little to the north and west of DC, in the Hagerstown, MD area. It''s still pretty cold and nasty here in March, so DEFINITELY come in April! And yes, the Cherry Blossom Festival draws an annoyingly huge crowd, but it is SOOOO worth it, especially if you''ve never been to DC before and you really want to "experience" DC as opposed to just visiting. Have fun!