My daughter is dying to head outdoors and break in her new Razor scooter. She was fortunate to spend the month of January in Hawaii where she could scoot outside to her heart’s content (while giving my dad a heart attack in the process), but now she’s back to reality, dealing with the snow and cold that blankets the state of Wisconsin from October to June.
Spring is officially here, though you’d never know it by stepping outside and feeling the chokehold Mother Nature has on our state. Still, if you are looking for ways to make the most of this time of new birth then consider attending a springtime tradition—cherry blossom festivals. Popular to contrary belief, the popular spring floral festivals aren’t exclusive to Washington, D.C.
New York
The Big Apple goes big with its own version of the cherry blossom celebration at the 101-year-old Brooklyn Botanic Garden. The popular tourist attraction is home to more than 60 performances and exhibits during the last weekend in April. Most of the activities take place among the peaceful ponds and serene greenery in the Japanese Garden. Visitors of all ages can learn about ikebana (the Japanese art of flower arranging), origami, and view Japanese comics. Also on hand for the event are exhibitors that conduct workshops on Japanese painting and folk dance. There is also a chance for kids to try on kimonos and twirl colorful paper parasols.
Georgia
Believe it or not, one of the most popular cherry blossom festivals in the United States is held in the southern state of Georgia. The city of Macon bills its event as “the pinkest party on Earth.” Most people don’t realize that the city is home to more than 300,000 Yoshino cherry trees, which are spread throughout Macon. The mass tree planting took place following a 1952 trip Macon realtor William A. Fickling Sr. made to Washington, D.C. While there Fickling was enraptured by the pretty pink blossoms, so he got a slew of friends and neighbors to plant cuttings from his backyard cherry tree. Today, those trees serve as the backdrop to the annual 10-day cherry blossom festival, which takes place in April. The event includes a massive street party, fireworks show, and a nighttime display of illuminated hot-air balloons.
San Francisco
The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival takes place each year in San Francisco’s Japantown where cherry trees brighten up the urban landscape. During the first two weekends in April visitors can get a taste of traditional Japanese dancing, taiko drumming and view a grand parade. Dozens of vendors also crowd the streets, peddling Japanese delicacies, such as octopus balls and sweet azuki bean paste cakes.
Related Articles:
Kid-Friendly Vacation Destinations with Meaning
More Educational Vacation Destinations
Educational Vacation Destinations