Stroll through the gardens of Portland, Oregon<\/h2>\n
If you can\u2019t make it out to Japan, you can always visit the Portland Japanese Garden<\/a>, located within the city’s Washington Park, which is splashed in pink between the end of March and the beginning of April (the view is especially lovely from the Moon Bridge, hovering above the Strolling Pond Garden). The springtime spirit also comes alive at the Japanese American Historical Plaza, at downtown Tom McCall Waterfront Park. A stay at The Hoxton, Portland<\/a>, will put you less than a 10-minute walk away from the waterfront\u2014be sure to take advantage of the free Hox Bikes available during your stay and plan a ride along the scenic Willamette River<\/a>, where over a hundred cherry blossom trees line the banks. Or, get a little collegiate and stroll around the campuses of Reed College or the University of Portland, where you\u2019ll spot even more blossoming beauties.<\/p>\n The city of Macon pulls out all the stops for its annual cherry blossom festival.<\/p>\n <\/span>Getty<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Did you know that the cherry blossom capital of the world\u2014yes, the world\u2014is Macon, Georgia? It all began in 1949, when local real estate magnate William A. Fickling (regarded as \u201cMacon\u2019s Johnny Appleseed\u201d) discovered a Yoshino cherry tree in his backyard and matched it to those he encountered on a business trip to DC a few years later, eventually donating 150,000 trees to the sleepy Southern town. The pretty tree eventually became synonymous with Macon, and in 1982, the Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful Commission decided to celebrate with a festival. The celebration still goes strong today, in that delightful small town way, with annual events like a Pink Pancake Breakfast, a pageant with a chosen royal court, and a hot air balloon finale (this year’s festival ran from March 20\u201329, 2026).<\/p>\n If you\u2019re in town to see the trees, book a stay at the 1842 Inn<\/a>, a Greek Revival mansion promising an old-fashioned stay in Macon\u2019s Historic District. During your visit, be sure to hop in a car and drive from Carolyn Crayton Park to Bass Road, where you\u2019ll have the best views of the town\u2019s famous blossoms.<\/p>\nVisit the cherry blossom capital of the world: Macon, Georgia<\/h2>\n
![\"Image](\"https:\/\/media.cntraveler.com\/photos\/699dd3e1ed29e228909fa428\/master\/w_1600%2Cc_limit\/GettyImages-2148444592.jpg\"\/)
<\/picture><\/span><\/div>\n