Sakura Matsuri 2026

Sakura Matsuri is a Japanese Street Festival held in Washington D.C. every Spring. It’s held on a portion of Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues near the Federal Trade Commission Building. I attended for the first time last year and had a good time so I decided to go back again this year. If you like traditional Japanese crafts and street food it is definitely worth the trip. The closest Metro stop to where Sakura Matsuri is held is the Archives Station.

Cherry Blossom Festival 2026

This past Sunday, 3/29/2026, I visited the Tidal Basin in Washington D.C. for my yearly trip to see the Japanese Cherry Trees that were gifted by the mayor of Tokyo, Japan to Washington D.C. in 1912. I timed the trip so that I could see the trees full bloom which can be a bit tricky at times. The Winter and early Spring weather can cause the period of time that the trees reach full bloom to vary wildly. The crowds weren’t too bad when I first arrived and steadily increased over the morning and into the early afternoon and the weather was just about perfect.

One tip that I’ve learned over the years for photographing the blossoms is to be sure to use the flash on your camera. Even if it’s bright and sunny. The flash will help light the blossoms that would normally be silhouetted against the brighter background.

Abandoned Turnpike

If you have never visited the Abandoned Turnpike in Pennsylvania you are missing out. I try and visit there at least once in the Spring and once in the Fall every year. The Abandoned Turnpike consists of 13 miles of highway and two tunnels that were once a portion of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. When traffic increased to the point that the tunnels could no longer support it, the Turnpike Commission decided it would be more cost effective to bypass the tunnels. In 1968 the section was closed to traffic and became what is now known as the Abandoned Turnpike. Biking or hiking through Sidling Hill Tunnel (1.3 miles long) and the Rays Tunnel (0.7 miles long) are one of the biggest highlights of visiting the area.

I recommend starting on the Sidling Hill side of the Abandoned Turnpike and biking to the Breezewood side and back. The longer Sidling Hill Tunnel is only 1 mile from the parking area.