The story

It's that time of year again, when the last snow storm has become a distant memory and the weather starts to turn a little warmer. Spring is in the air and that means one thing for Washington: cherry blossoms.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival kicked off on March 28 and runs through April 12, and more than a million people are expected flock to the nation's capital to visit the thousands of cherry trees and participate in the festival's activities.

The main attraction is the Tidal Basin, where thousands of pink flowers bloom alongside some of Washington's most picturesque monuments, such as the memorials to former Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Thomas Jefferson. The annual festival commemorates the gift of 3,000 cherry trees from the mayor of Tokyo to Washington in 1912. Read full article »

All About Travel and Tourism • Washington, DC