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Where to see cherry blossoms in Seattle

Spend time with the trees

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In early spring, Seattle—like many other cities—comes alive with cherry blossoms. The pink blooms usher in an end to winter gloom, and it’s a kind of springtime ritual to get out and experience them.

Fortunately, we have plenty of places to see them. The first-best option isn’t mappable, though: Your neighborhood. When we asked for recommendations on Twitter, the number-one response was some stretch of street, neighborhood corner, or hidden-away block. Wander around your neighborhood, or perhaps along a neighborhood greenway, and see what you can find.

Seattle has plenty of opportunities for experiencing a bunch of cherry blossoms in public space, though—some through sibling-city and other partnerships with Japan. (We were gifted a whopping 1,000 of them in 1976!) We have plenty of different varieties, too, so one dismal corner might be bright and fluffy the next week.

Between parks, campuses, and your backyard, there are so many opportunities to witness the arrival of spring.

Just want to see some flowers? We have a whole map of gorgeous botanical gardens.

Map points are ordered north to south.

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Green Lake Park

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The tree-lined path around the lake includes some cherry trees—so a walk or ride is a great time to experience an emerging spring. Alternatively, just find a good patch and relax underneath them.

University of Washington

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This is the classic place to see cherry blossoms in Seattle. The UW campus, especially the quad, takes great care to be the ultimate destination for pink snow—and it’s a big enough deal that there’s a whole slate of event programming around them. They even have their own Twitter account. (If you want to get away from the crowds, though, try our list of hidden campus spots.)

Washington Park Arboretum UW Botanic Gardens

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In the springtime, Azalea Way is one of the Washington Park Arboretum’s most popular locations. There’s a veritable cornucopia of spring blossoms along this path, including those namesake azaleas, dogwoods, and, yes, cherries.

Seattle Center

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The Seattle Center’s campus is dotted with cherry blossoms—and also offers a chance to celebrate them in late April with the Seattle Cherry Blossom and Japanese Cultural Festival, a celebration of Japanese heritage stemming back to a gift of 1,000 trees to Seattle from then-Prime Minister of Japan Takeo Miki in 1976.

Kobe Terrace

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The Mt. Fuji cherry trees and stone lantern adorning this hillside park were a gift from Seattle sister city Kobe, Japan. The pathway winding up last the freeway makes for a nice stroll, and there’s a view of Mount Rainier to the south.

Lake Washington Boulevard

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There are several parks dotting Lake Washington Boulevard in South Seattle, and a stroll between Mount Baker Park and Seward Park (more on that below) will offer plenty of lakeside views of the blossoms.

Jefferson Park

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Jefferson Park got a new collection of cherry blossom trees in 2012, when the Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival Committee presented 25 young cherry trees at the park’s centennial.

Seward Park

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Seward Park has some of the first cherry blossoms to ever grace Seattle—planted in 1929. Now, it’s a beautiful destination for blossom-viewing, and has plenty of paths for walking or riding among them.

Green Lake Park

The tree-lined path around the lake includes some cherry trees—so a walk or ride is a great time to experience an emerging spring. Alternatively, just find a good patch and relax underneath them.

University of Washington

This is the classic place to see cherry blossoms in Seattle. The UW campus, especially the quad, takes great care to be the ultimate destination for pink snow—and it’s a big enough deal that there’s a whole slate of event programming around them. They even have their own Twitter account. (If you want to get away from the crowds, though, try our list of hidden campus spots.)

Washington Park Arboretum UW Botanic Gardens

In the springtime, Azalea Way is one of the Washington Park Arboretum’s most popular locations. There’s a veritable cornucopia of spring blossoms along this path, including those namesake azaleas, dogwoods, and, yes, cherries.

Seattle Center

The Seattle Center’s campus is dotted with cherry blossoms—and also offers a chance to celebrate them in late April with the Seattle Cherry Blossom and Japanese Cultural Festival, a celebration of Japanese heritage stemming back to a gift of 1,000 trees to Seattle from then-Prime Minister of Japan Takeo Miki in 1976.

Kobe Terrace

The Mt. Fuji cherry trees and stone lantern adorning this hillside park were a gift from Seattle sister city Kobe, Japan. The pathway winding up last the freeway makes for a nice stroll, and there’s a view of Mount Rainier to the south.

Lake Washington Boulevard

There are several parks dotting Lake Washington Boulevard in South Seattle, and a stroll between Mount Baker Park and Seward Park (more on that below) will offer plenty of lakeside views of the blossoms.

Jefferson Park

Jefferson Park got a new collection of cherry blossom trees in 2012, when the Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival Committee presented 25 young cherry trees at the park’s centennial.

Seward Park

Seward Park has some of the first cherry blossoms to ever grace Seattle—planted in 1929. Now, it’s a beautiful destination for blossom-viewing, and has plenty of paths for walking or riding among them.