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Spring Blooms in and Around the Nation’s Capital
 Without a doubt, spring is one of the most beautiful seasons in the Washington D.C. area. Nothing marks spring in the Nation’s Capital like the appearance of the cherry blossoms. This year marks the 95th celebration of the gift of 3,000 cherry trees from the city of Tokyo to the people of Washington D.C.
The 2007 National Cherry Blossom Festival is March 31-April 15. If you plan a trip to D.C. to see the cherry blossoms, don’t miss the National Cherry Blossom Parade on Saturday, April 14, along Washington’s historic Constitution Avenue (between 7th and 17th Streets NW).
Today, more than 3,700 cherry trees encircle the Tidal Basin and grow in abundance on the Washington Monument Grounds. Most of those cherry blossom trees are the Yoshino variety, Japan’s cultivated cherry tree developed in 1870. First Lady Mrs. William Howard Taft and the Viscountess Chinda of Japan planted the original trees in 1912.
While you’re in Washington D.C. immerse yourself in the city’s rich political and cultural heritage. Take the family to visit landmarks including the U.S. Capitol, the Smithsonian Museums (National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of American History, National Museum of Natural History, and the National Zoo, to name a few of the most popular), Union Station, the Jefferson Memorial, the FDR Memorial, and the Lincoln Memorial.
 “View spring, the cherry blossoms and the sights of Washington D.C., then return to a quiet retreat along the Chesapeake Bay,” suggests HomeAway homeowner, Sharon Frolick. Indeed, located about seventy-five minutes outside of D.C., you will find a quiet respite – a perfect getaway for you and your family - along Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
“Many have dubbed this area the ‘Hamptons on the Chesapeake." says Debbie Lipscomb, a representative of several HomeAway homes in Talbot County, Maryland. "What draws people here is the privacy, the old town charm and the feeling of being away from it all, although you are only an hour and fifteen minutes to Washington D.C., and under an hour to Baltimore Washington International Airport.”
HomeAway property owner, Michelle Louis, calls her waterfront horse farm estate “A slice of heaven on earth.” Here you can “enjoy watching the horses frolic in the fields, while listening to the waterfall outside your bedroom window,” says Louis about her property located in Talbot County, five miles from the historic town of St. Michaels.
Nearby sits Nourse Farm, a working farm with its own private road and Manor House, property of HomeAway homeowner Zev Cohen. “At Nourse Farm, you will most likely see extended families of deer, and depending on the season, ducks, geese, and even wild turkeys.”
If you feel like wandering along the Eastern Shore, take a drive from Talbot County to Annapolis - Maryland’s capital city. “You are only forty-five minutes from Annapolis, where you can investigate the Naval Academy, the beautiful village, and perhaps take a boat ride or have lunch on the harbor,” suggests Zev Cohen.
If you want to see watermen at work, a short jaunt to Dogwood Harbor on Tilgman Island is in order. “The harbor is the original ‘waterman’s’ habor, which means that even today, skipjacks go out to dredge for oysters during the season, while the smaller craft go out to tong for oysters or trotline for crabs,” writes HomeAway property owner, Jackie Kessler.
Spring is a beautiful time of year, both in, and around, the Nation’s Capital. “The blossoms are coming out, the boats are going back in the water, and the anticipation of the summer season has everyone in a good mood,” says Debbie Lipscomb. A sojourn along the Eastern Shore makes any family’s visit to Washington D.C. that much more memorable.
• View An Interactive Map of D.C.
• View a Map of Maryland's Eastern Shore
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