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Here are some of our favorite Washington, D.C. travel guides for tourists:
	Frommer's Washington, D.C. 2006 by Elise Hartman Ford
	The Unofficial Guide to Washington, D.C. by Joe Surkiewicz, Eve Zibart
	Fodor's Washington DC 2006 Fodor's Gold Guides
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Washington DC's Cherry Blossom Festival

Information Center

The 2007 Festival was March 31 - April 15, 2007, with the Parade on Saturday, April 14. 2007 celebrated the 95th anniversary of "The Gift of Trees."

Getting Around

PARKING: Parking spaces are difficult to find in Washington, D.C. On week days, parking is available on city streets during non-rush hour (9:00 AM until 4:00 PM). If you are driving, try the parking lots located on the north side of the Tidal Basin, southeast of the Jefferson Memorial or the lots in East Potomac Park. Traffic will be heavier during the peak blooming period and parking will be at a premium.

METRORAIL STOP: Take Metro to the Smithsonian Station on the Blue or Orange lines. Walk west on Independence Avenue to 15th Street. Turn left and head south along 15th Street.

SHUTTLE BUS: The Old Town Trolley is a great way to get from one Washington, DC attraction to the next. As you tour the nation’s capital you will have the opportunity to get off the trolley and visit memorials, museums, and historical points of interest; as well as opportunities for shopping and dining throughout the city. Trolleys will come by each stop at least every 30 minutes. Your Boarding Pass is your ticket to rejoin the tour at any designated stop.

Visit the Cherry Blossom Festival

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is Washington, DC's biggest event every Spring. The festival celebrates the gift of the 3,000 cherry trees from Tokyo, Japan in 1912. Each Spring, the cherry trees bloom and a fluffy cloud of pink cherry blossoms encircle the Tidal Basin, creating one of the most picturesque images in Washington, D.C.

Highlights of the festival include cultural performances, art exhibits, special events, and a parade timed to coincide with the blooming of the trees. Peak Bloom Date of the Yoshino cherry blossoms varies each year. The blossoms typically arrive around April 4, and stay in bloom for up to 14 days. Cold weather or high winds can shorten this timeframe.

If you are visiting Washington, DC during the Cherry Blossom Festival, be prepared for heavy crowds on weekends and when the trees reach their peak blooming period. A good time to visit the Tidal Basin, when there are fewer crowds is on weekdays, especially early in the morning and late afternoon.

Be sure to plan your trip well in advance since hotel rooms can be hard to find during the Cherry Blossom Festival.

Visit the official web site for the Cherry Blossom Festival.

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