Tidal Basin Boat House   

1501 Maine Ave SW
Washington, DC 20024
202-479-2426

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Spring in Washington, DC, is a popular destination as the cherry blossoms make their appearance around the Tidal Basin. This momentous event, which usually occurs in late March or early April, draws people from across the nation as well as visitors from around the world. Surrounded by these famed cherry trees, the pedestrian promenade which loops around the Basin can't be beat, with its sea of pink above and a sea of fallen blossoms underfoot. The new season is celebrated with the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, which, depending on the year's weather, may or may not coincide with the actual appearance of the blossoms. As the weather gets warmer, the Tidal Basin is often full of paddleboats, which can be rented at a boathouse on the east side; this is a nice physical release for the museum-weary. Also on the east side are formal flower beds, which are particularly noted for their glory during the tulip season. The Tidal Basin is an artificial inlet created in the late 19th century. Sections of the Potomac were filled in to improve navigation and extend the area's parkland. Hot Washingtonians swam in the basin until about mid-century when concerns about water pollution drove them out. On one bank of the Tidal Basin, The Jefferson Memorial was built. The area is now an established part of the Mall experience. The basin is connected to the Potomac by a narrow neck of water over which spans the Inlet Bridge. This bridge is adorned with several grotesque sculpted heads and some human-headed fish (don't worry, also sculpted) which spout water. -- Gwendolyn Bradley