Relax by the water and see some of America's proudest monuments at Tidal Basin. This man-made inlet was created in the 19th century as a means to control the high tides of the Potomac River. Today, along the banks you can visit some of Washington D.C.’s famous memorials honoring historic figures, including Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The scenic basin, with approximately 3,750 cherry trees in its vicinity, is also noted as the venue for the National Cherry Blossom Festival at the start of spring each year. If you'd like to do your sightseeing from the water, you can rent a paddle boat. The basin is also a great spot to take an aimless stroll or have a picnic. From the area, you have easy access to the National Mall and its many sites. To visit Tidal Basin and other attractions in Washington DC, use our Washington DC trip maker website.
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Tidal Basin reviews
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In contrast to the crowd and bust at the National Mall, Tidal Basin is a peaceful area with serenity. The small reservoir offers a perfect respite from the city. A stroll along the waterfront is...
In contrast to the crowd and bust at the National Mall, Tidal Basin is a peaceful area with serenity. The small reservoir offers a perfect respite from the city. A stroll along the waterfront is... more »
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This is a lively and bustling area with plenty of places to enjoy your leisure time. There are some good places for food and drink as well as areas where you can just sit and watch the world go by...
This is a lively and bustling area with plenty of places to enjoy your leisure time. There are some good places for food and drink as well as areas where you can just sit and watch the world go by... more »
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The Tidal Basin is one of the best walks in all of DC. If you happen to visit during the Cherry Blossoms, you'll enjoy the added bonus of dozens of beautiful pink cherry blossoms hanging over the basin as you walk. If you're not one of the lucky ones to visit during the cherry blossom peak season (it's literally just a week or less), it's still worth adding it to your DC short list. The tidal basin leads you to some of DC's best monuments and memorials while enjoying great photo opportunities of the National Mall. As you walk alongside the basin, you'll run into the Jefferson Memorial, FDR Memorial, and then the MLK Memorial. All three are worth stopping at especially the FDR and MLK Memorials. If you want a little adventure, you can rent a paddle boat or a Capital Bikeshare along the way. Enjoy!
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We came here for the cherry blossom. We arrived before 9:30am, and there were some people but not too crowded; however, when we were about to leave around noon, it was already pretty crowded. It’s difficult to park here, so probably booking a parking space in downtown and walking here is a better option. Beautiful views of both Jefferson Memorial and Washington Monuments!
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