The annual Cherry Blossom Festival in our nation's capital is not to be missed! Photo credit: Simon Williams
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Is your bucket list of travel destinations looking a littlebrthin? If you're like us, you've checked plenty of must-sees and must-dos thebrworld over, but take another look at these cities and their attractive events.brPerhaps it's time to rediscover the great food, arts and culture awaiting us inbrour own backyard.
National Cherry Blossom Festival
Washington, D.C.
March 20–April 14
There's no telling why founding father George Washington choppedbrdown a cherry tree as a child. Fitting then that his namesake capital city isbrawash in cherry blossoms every spring. Forget drab old monument tours and celebratebrthe arrival of spring from March 20 to April 14 — your inner child will thankbryou!
Over a hundred years ago, the people of Japan sent 3,020brcherry trees to the United States as a gift of friendship, which were plantedbraround the Tidal Basin and East Potomac Park. By 1934, a three-day festivalbrcelebrated the tree's spring blooms. In 1948, the first Cherry Blossom Queenbrwas “nominated. Actually, she was chosen by chance, through the spin of abr“wheel of fortune,” which is still used today. It expanded to the two-weekbrfestival we have today in the early 1990s.
Any visit to Washington, D.C., during this verdant time canbrbe filled with activity. Take in the glory of the Jefferson Memorial at sunsetbrfrom one of many Cherry Blossom Festival cruises. Plenty of cherry-blossombrrelated classes are offered, many of them free. You could return home with newbrphotography skills and mementos of the blossoms' beauty or new insight intobrtraditional Japanese garden design and cultivation. Other inspired inventsbrinclude paddle-boat tours, bicycle tours and art walks. Kids especially willbrenjoy time spent in Washington during the festival, which includes plenty ofbrchild-geared entertainment options that don't involve docents and nationalbrmuseums. The blossoms peak on average around April 4, but we recommend goingbrduring opening weekend. Not only are the opening ceremonies and parade heldbrthen, but so are a variety of kid-friendly events (like kite-building!). Bike-aficionadosbrwill certainly not want to miss the Bike Ride and Cycling Expo on March 25,brfeaturing workshops and four celebrity-led bike rides along the historicbrCapital Crescent Trail. If the weather doesn't suit you, you can head indoorsbrto enjoy the spirit of spring at Macy's Cherry Blossom festival at Macy's MetrobrCenter, where 30 cherry trees will bloom inside the story from March 27 to Aprilbr10.
See: Breathtaking and beautiful blossoms at sunset from anbrevening dinner cruise
Stay: Mandarin Oriental, Washington, D.C.
Play: Explore another culture during the Japanese StreetbrFestival on April 14
New Orleans Jazz and HeritagebrFestival
New Orleans, Louisiana
April 26–May 5
Music lovers of all stripes will find something to love atbrthis year's New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell, sobrstart planning early for the event, which kicks off on April 26.
The first event, held in 1970, attempted to bring attentionbrto New Orleans as the birthplace of jazz and the rightful claimant to thebrtradition's heritage. At the first Jazz Fest, legendary gospel singer MahaliabrJackson, who had returned home to New Orleans for an appearance at the event,brled an impromptu revelatory celebration with Duke Ellington and other musicians.brWith only 350 attendants in its first year, Jazz Fest, as it quickly becamebrknown, outgrew its initial Congo Square location and moved into the Fair GroundsbrRace Course in 1972, where it's still held today. By 1975, the five-day eventbrattracted 80,000 participants. Jazz Fest matured quickly into an important andbrvital cultural institution.
Today, Jazz Fest takes place over two weekends, April 26 to 28brand May 2 to 5. With 12 stages of musicians performing jazz, gospel, Cajun,brzydeco, blues, R&B, rock, funk, African, Latin, Caribbean, folk and more,brthe event caters to all kinds of different musical tastes. This yearsbrheadliners include Willie Nelson, B.B. King, Latin-fusion act Gipsy Kings,brsongwriter John Mayer, punk and folk legend Patti Smith, piano man Billy Joel, rockbrand roll icons Fleetwood Mac and many, more. Don't just go for the headliners,brJazz Fest features the sound of many up-and-comers, some of whom couldbrcertainly be the Next Big Thing. Food, art and culture lovers will find plentybrto love inside the Fair Grounds. In between acts, explore the craft and foodbrbooths to enjoy an in-depth education on all the facets of Louisiana culturebrand don't be afraid to wander into the folklife, Native American or grandstandbrtents.
You can still explore jazz outside of the Fair groundsbrthroughout the city, where many performance venues schedule acts in line withbrthe spirit of the official event. Certainly don't miss the fare of innovativebrchefs offering up new takes on traditional creole cuisine inside and outsidebrthe festival.
See: End a night spent catching the acts at club Blue Nilebrwith the legendary beignets of Café Du Monde
Stay: Hotel Monteleone, FrenchbrQuarter, New Orleans
Play: Support the Don Jamison Heritage School of Music atbrthe 15th Annual Jazz and Heritage Gala, April 25. Purchase ticketsbrat jazzandheritage.org
Savor Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Natives like us can sometimes take the vibrant andbrinnovative culinary scene in North Texas for granted. But that doesn't changebrthe fact that every day, chefs the Metroplex over are creating delectablebrdishes in new and exciting ways. Savor Dallas showcases the fare of these greatbrchefs and restaurants that create the signature food and wine North Texasbrdeserves.
This food- and wine-lover's extravaganza features over 65 ofbrthe nation's best chefs, all based in North Texas, and over 400 premium wines.brIt includes events held in Dallas, Las Colinas and the newly hot Bishop Arts.brThe focal point of Savor Dallas would have to be the International GrandbrTasting, showcasing a sampling of the signature fare of over 65 chefs andbrhundreds of fine wines. The tasting is held at the Irving Convention Center atbrLas Colinas on Saturday, March 16 from 7 to 10 p.m. The oenophile will not wantbrto miss the Reserve Tasting, held prior to the grand tasting, from 5 to 6:30brp.m., featuring ultra-premium wines and the presentation of the prestigious LonebrStar Awards.
However the most exciting night of this year's event will bebrheld at the newest addition to Dallas' cultural landscape: the Wine Stroll atbrthe Perot Museum of Natural Science, benefitting the museum's foundation, on Marchbr15 from 7 to 9 p.m. “We are thrilled and honored to showcase the new PerotbrMuseum,” says Savor Dallas founder Jim White. “Imagine tasting premium wines,brspirits and beers, while touring all five amazing, interactive levels ofbrDallas' fantastic new cultural and educational treasure!
Other don't-miss events include the wine-tasting seminar,brfeaturing winemakers of Savor Dallas, and the highly anticipated pairing ofbrwine and cheese event at the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek. You can onlybrpick one though, both are held on March 16 from 2 to 3 p.m. Want to get yourbrfoodie fix early? Explore an up-and-coming neighborhood through its bestbrrestaurants' cuisines at Savor Trinity Groves, March 14 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
See: An Upscale St. Patrick's Day Wine Stroll at the DallasbrArboretum, March 17, 6 p.m., benefitting the Arboretum's education department.
Stay: Adolphus Hotel, DowntownbrDallas
Play: Give back at the Savor Dallas Silent Auctionbrbenefitting the North Texas Food Bank, held at the International Grand Tasting,brMarch 17, 7 to 10 p.m.