It was a rough start of the year after arriving in Washington DC in winter. While the snow was not that thick, the thin, cold air was as harsh as fire. In the month of April, spring is coming they say. While warmer weather was much anticipated, the temperature still fluctuated from chilly to warm.
They say 2018 is the slowest start of spring. Finally, it's here. Winter did not stop me from going out to explore this lovely place. Here are some activities that spring let me enjoy Washington DC. And as a forever budget traveler, most of these activities are free (except for the misconception about food trucks; they are expensive!).
- Stroll along Tidal Basin
Before World War II happened, Japan and the US had an amicable relationship. In fact, in 1912, Japan gave 3,000 cherry trees as gifts to Washington, DC to honor close and lasting relationships between them.
Today, the National Cherry Blossom Festival becomes a national springtime celebration. It features activities and events that promote creativity, culture, the beauty of nature, and community spirit. Events such as live performances, traditional dance performances, arts and crafts, and live bands are open to the public.
One of the most iconic scenes in the springtime along Tidal Basin features the Thomas Jefferson Memorial.
Renting a paddle boat looks fun but it comes with a price - at least $18 per hour for two people. It saves you from the crowd during the cherry blossom peak and a unique way to have an up-close view of the surrounding monuments.
Aside from the swan paddle boats that you can hop on to cruise the Tidal Basin, real swans also swim in the area.
- Visit the embassies during the International Embassies Open House
Washington, DC is a culturally diverse city - a melting pot of different nationalities and cultures. Every year, participating embassies located in Washington, D.C. open their doors to the public to showcase and celebrate the uniqueness of each country. This event is held every May as part of the month-long Passport DC celebration during the International Cultural Awareness month.
Our first stop during the Around the World Embassy Tour was no other than my home country, the Philippines. They featured Filipino cuisines, beautiful islands, and live folk dance performances.
Selfie with an alpaca, the most common animals in Peru.
Estonian Embassy
Irish girls performing traditional Irish dance at the Embassy of Ireland
Embassy of Latvia featuring traditional Latvian dance
- Walk aimlessly on the DC Streets
The beautiful neighborhood of Washington DC is surrounded by national monuments, museums, restaurants, bars, and vibrant houses. During the spring, you can see parents strolling with their toddlers on the streets. There are a lot of pedestrians and pavements that make strolling convenient and fun.
Spring forward! This photo was taken when the daylight savings time began in the US.
'A friend in need is a friend indeed!' While strolling along the National Mall, a friendly squirrel approached me and asked a share of my trail mix. Cuteness overload!
Colorful houses become more vibrant as trees bloom.
Promising musicians on the streets.
I never thought food trucks can be as expensive as $20 for 2 small tacos!
- Bike around the city
Capital Bikeshare is a great way to get around DC. It is a bicycle sharing system with more than 4,000 bicycles and 500 stations. It has a short-term pass for tourists or a membership pass for residents.
- Explore off-beaten paths
After months of hiatus during the winter, spend some time out once it's over. Springtime is a perfect breather from city life. Explore off-beaten paths such as gardens and zoos. The neighboring states, Virginia and Maryland, offer a lot of trails where you can reconnect with nature, workout, and have fun.
The off-beaten path might also be lying around your corner. This is a jogging trail at the research center where I spend most of my days this year. These lush greens were quick to grow in spring.
On our random fitness walk after lunch, we took an off-beaten path. It was a forest with a possibility of deer lurking around...
After a 10-minute forest walk, we found a dead end: a university golf course.
