Overview:

One of the biggest delights of moving to Seattle is finding out about cherry blossoms here in the city. Each year, the city’s trees bloom between late March and early April. This year, I went to the University of Washington (UW) campus during peak season.

Planning to see cherry blossoms in Seattle? Here is my guide to seeing them:

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My Experience:

I took the bus to the UW campus in the afternoon and was shocked at how many people were already on the campus. This is the most people I have ever seen in one spot in Seattle since moving from New York City.

A gift from Japan in 1939 and 1976, the city’s cherry blossoms are magical with thick trunks and green moss on the tree’s base. Visiting marks the start of spring and is quickly becoming one of my favorite annual Seattle traditions.

The main quad of the campus has brick buildings surrounding a large courtyard. The space has grass lawns, zig-zagged with pathways and surrounded by two dozen old cherry blossom trees. People were having picnics, taking family photos, engagement photos, graduation photos, and hanging out with friends. The flowers were in perfect bloom, making all the trees look covered in fluffy pink frosting.

I spent an hour walking among the trees, taking aesthetic photos and listening to music. This is the perfect place to get new profile pictures or have a solo morning/afternoon. If you’re taking pictures, try to arrive early so you can get photos without huge crowds in the background.

If you want to extend the trip, I recommend stopping at Cafe Allegro and Magnus Books afterwards for a bit of caffeine and a browse through a secondhand bookstore (I walked away with a new book for $9). 

At-A-Glance:

• Main Location: “The Quad” at the University of Washington’s main campus
• Best Viewing Time: Early morning (peak bloom: late March–early April)
• Time Spent: 1–3 hours
• Recommendations: Grab a matcha, coffee, or pastry from a nearby coffee shop before heading over to take pictures.
• Pro Tip: If you live locally, try taking public transit instead of driving, the parking lots fill up very quickly.
• Other Locations:
  • Washington Arboretum
  • Seward Park
  • Queen Anne neighborhood

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