The Cherry Blossom Festival 2009 in Washington, DC has yet to start, but the whole city is abuzz about the blossoms that have started to bloom. All around the District businesses are offering cherry creations and packages to celebrate these majestic pink and white flowers.
Bike the Blossoms
Biking the Blossoms is a great way to skip the traffic jams around the Tidal Basin during the Cherry Blossom Festival, plus you get a nice workout. This bike tour, with its “easy” level of difficulty, is two hours long and about 5-6 miles. Cost: $32/adults and $22/children (12 and under) – price includes bike rental, helmet, bottled water, and snack. Reserve your tickets online.
Blossom Bliss at the Spa at the Mandarin Oriental
Experience cherry blossom euphoria with the Cherry Blossom Bliss package from the Spa at Mandarin Oriental (1330 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20024; 202- 554-8588). What could be more relaxing than sipping a steaming cup of soothing cherry tea followed by a cherry scrub applied to the back to exfoliate followed by a hydrating marine mud to warm and soothe tired muscles? And this 80 minutes of relaxation continues with a lower leg and foot massage and finishes with a relaxing back massage. The Cherry Blossom Bliss package is available through April 30, 2009.
Savour a Sweet Treat with a Cherry Blossom on Top
Georgetown Cupcake will be celebrating the annual Cherry Blossom festival with a limited edition Cherry Blossom Cupcake available March 28, 2009 to April 12, 2009. The Cherry Blossom Cupcake is a moist, vanilla cake with chunks of fresh cherries mixed right into the batter, then topped with Georgetown Cupcake's signature vanilla cream cheese icing and adorned with an adorable fondant cherry blossom. And as an added bonus on April 4th, the day of the Cherry Blossom Festival Parade, stop by the shop to purchase three cupcakes, get one free.
Cherry up at Equinox with a Cherry Cocktail
Equinox Restaurant (818 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20006, 202-331-8118) celebrates the Cherry Blossom season with Cherry Up! Happy Hour. Cherry-themed cocktails will be budding from every glass along with free hors d’oeuvres. All cocktails are $10 and will include such concoctions as a cherry rum-and-cola with macerated cherries; Cherry Pie-- a vanilla-infused vodka, white chocolate liqueur, and maraschino cherry juice; and the Cherry Sphere, with cherry-infused vodka and sweet vermouth. This special event will take place every Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. through June 5, 2009.