My favorite time of year in this area is when the cherry blossoms come out.  The “guests of honor”  are not always here in time for the Cherry Blossom Festival.   Many activities are planned during the two week period of the festival including the  SushiMasters competition which debuted in 2010.  The area around the Tidal Basin and East Potomac Park is the most popular place to visit and you can even rent a paddle boat to get out on the water and enjoy them there.  But if you don’t want to fight the crowds at the Tidal Basin, try the National Arboretum which offers a self-guided tour or visit  the  Kenwood neighborhood near River Road and Brookside Drive in Bethesda/Chevy Chase which offers a seasonal walk.  Blooms in Kenwood should peak a few days later than the ones in DC because of cooler temperatures.