So you want to see the Cherry Blossoms? Don't want to get lost? Need to know where the locals park? (Or, are you a local trying to impress your visiting friends who are using you for a hotel?) This tips page was prepare to help you get smart about enjoying the blossoms, the festival, and perhaps avoid some of the crowds.

Tips will launch April 1

But, some quick pointers:

There are not a lot of bathrooms around the areas of the best Cherry Blossom viewing. If you are walking from your hotel, go before you leave. And while it is healthy to drink plenty of fluids when you are outside and/or exercising, you may want to moderate the intake a little.

Parking: The crowds come during the mid-day, afternoon, and evening. The parking on the Potomac River is free, and you can park after 6:00am (no parking from 1:00am to 6:00am - to avoid using your car as a hotel, and late-night romantic sessions on the Potomac). By the end of March, the sun in Washington D.C. rises just before 6:00am, and can make for some interesting viewing without as many of the crowds. (But brrrr - it can be cold at that hour!).