A trip to see the cherry blossoms is one of the prettiest ways to welcome spring. Each year, web cameras are trained on these fantastic flowers so that you can head out to see them when they’re at peak bloom. Read on for some of the best places to see them, whether you feel like traveling or staying closer to home.
Branch Brook Park
Park Avenue and Lake Street, Newark
Belleville
With 5,200 cherry blossom trees in 18 varieties, this is the largest collection of cherry blossoms in the United States, rivaling the ever-popular Washington, D.C. Don’t miss the annual Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival from April 6-14 which has different days of family-friendly activities, a 10K and fun run/walk, and Bloomfest, their biggest celebration of the season.
Cape Cottage Garden
Princeton
Look for the trees inside this private garden from the street, or contact owner Heather Thomas for a tour.
Chapel Avenue
Cherry Hill
Drive or walk along the 2-mile stretch of trees that beautify both sides of the street. The area is known for its Cherry Blossom Parade that took place from the 1970s-’90s.
David C. Shaw Arboretum
44 Longstreet Rd., Holmdel
Inside Holmdel Park is a beautiful arboretum with lots of different trees, including cherry blossoms.
Divine Park
801 W. Lake Dr., Spring Lake
The cherry blossoms bloom at the end of the footbridges.
Frelinghuysen Arboretum
353 E. Hanover Avenue, Morristown
The cherry blossom will be in full bloom at this special arboretum that features 120 acres of land. Enjoy a picnic on the Great Lawn and take some family photos while you’re there.
Holmdel Park
44 Longstreet Rd., Holmdel
The blossoms peak along the pond at the David C. Shaw Arboretum. There are 22 acres in the park, which was started in 1963 with plantings of crabapples, cherries and hollies, and has expanded from 87 to nearly 3,000 trees.
Hurd Park
West Blackwell Street and Park Heights Avenue, Dover
Head to the gazebo, the footbridge or the war memorial to snap amazing pics of the cherry blossoms at this park. The beautiful pink colors dotting the park will make winter a distant memory.
Margate’s Cherry Blossom Festival
Ventnor Avenue, between Sumner and Union avenues, MargateÂ
During the free, family-friendly festival on April 14, wear your funkiest tie-dyed T-shirt to welcome spring, and bop along to the sounds of The Grateful Dead tribute band Dead Reckoning. There will be kids’ games and activities (egg, spoon, potato sack and three-legged races), cornhole boards, a petting zoo, Tai Chi demos, food, wine and beer, arts and crafts, a vendor market, a “grooviest dog” contest, and lots of environmental exhibitors.
New Jersey Botanical Gardens
2 Morris Road, Ringwood
Check out the cherry blossoms in the Perennial Garden when you visit NJBG. Located in Passaic County, this garden is beautiful in all seasons, but especially spring.
Rahway River Park
St. Georges Avenue, Rahway
Early spring is picturesque in this lovely park. Located in Union County, there’s a playground and track for kids to enjoy.
Reeves-Reed ArboretumÂ
165 Hobart Ave, Summit
The arboretum is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, making it the perfect time to see not only cherry blossoms, daffodils, roses, but also its history center and the hiking trails.
Sayen Gardens
155 Hughes Dr., Hamilton
There is a gazebo here, a bridge, and a pond that highlight the cherry blossom trees and other beautiful gardens.
Verona Park
Bloomfield Avenue and Lakeside Avenue, Verona
This park with a lovely lake is a great spot to see the cherry blossoms. Take some Insta-worthy pics with the fam when they are in full bloom.
Warinanco Park
Warinanco Park Roadway, Elizabeth
Locals love running amongst the beautiful cherry blossoms at this park. This 205-acre park also has a playground and splash area, plus the charming Chatfield Garden.
Outside New Jersey:
Brooklyn Botanic Garden – Don’t miss the gorgeous blooms here in spring. You can check their website to keep an eye on what stage they’re at.
Central Park – New York City is a great spot to see the flowering trees. Check the cherry blossom tracker to see where the best spots are in the park, and whether they are in peak or pre-peak bloom.
Randall’s Island – Off of Manhattan is a private, quaint area that has landscapes, native plant meadows, themed gardens and woodland areas that include towering cherry blossom trees.
Washington, D.C. – Perhaps the most well-known place to view the cherry blossoms, the Tidal Basin is a popular spot for tourists.
Fairmount Park – There are plenty of places to see the blossoms in Philly, and this park is definitely a favorite.
Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival – From March 24 to April 14 there are a variety of programs, with the highlight being Sakura Weekend on April 13 and 14 at the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center and the Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center.
Peekskill, NY – Take the drive for the Peekskill Rotary’s 7th annual Cherry Blossom Festival & Plant Sale on May 4 in Peekskill Riverfront Green Park.
Macon, GA – See over 350,000 Yoshino cherry trees in full bloom when you head down south.
Nashville, TN – The Cherry Blossom Festival here is a big event filled with entertainment, food and of course, flowers.
Boston, MA – See the beautiful cherry blossoms along the esplanade and in Back Bay.
See the stunning blooms from Branch Brook Park in Newark and Belleville via a reel on our Instagram page.
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Read More:
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