How to Enjoy the National Cherry Blossm Festival Without Killing Anyone

Bright sunlight filters through a canopy of dark brown branches bursting with white and pink flowers. A gentle breeze runs through the shaded lawn in front of you, showering you with tiny delicate petals. It's not a dream or even a movie set. It's the annual event local residents yearn for during harsh winter storms. The National Cherry Blossom Festival kicks off with a kite festival and wraps up with a street fest the two weekends later. This year, Mother Nature was kind enough to supply warm weather and sunny skies.

In order to enjoy this botanical week, remember these three key points: do not drive, do not limit your walk to the north side of the Tidal Basin and do not expect to walk to a restaurant from downtown. Millions of visitors flood the National Mall area, park illegally and stop randomly for pictures without warning. If you don't have a schedule and you carry snack bars and bottled water, it is possible to enjoy the cherry blossoms without killing anyone. Walk slowly and keep your sugar levels high. I promise, it will be worth it.

Even if you don't drive, foot traffic is still highly congested in this area. D.C. folks know to avoid the Smithsonian metro stop and avoid changing lines at Metro Center. Instead, take the metro down to L'Enfant Plaza. You'll avoid massive crowds by cutting over through the Southeast area to get to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park on the south side of the Tidal Basin.

Here you'll find water fountains, restrooms, and as it turns out this year, some of the best peak blooms. We also caught up with local artist Maggie O'Neill who got down to the business of painting as if a huge crowd had not gathered to watch her transcribe her inspirations on to a small canvas. Her jeans were just as covered in paint as her palate and her acrylic works were on display nearby. Watching the artists and photographers during the festival is like watching magic happen right in front of you. And the cherry blossoms bring these magicians out in droves.

While the Jefferson Memorial is typically a popular photogenic destination due to its location on the basin, it is, unfortunately, sinking. A large yellow crane and huge fences now obscure an otherwise picturesque view of pink trees trimming the water. The 32,000-ton structure received about $10 million from an appropriations bill to shore up the "shovel ready project" in 2009. I decided to forgo any close up photographs of it this year.

By the time my Canon digital Rebel and I made our way clockwise around the Tidal Basin, the sun was at my back and dinner was in my future. At the end of the day it's nice to get away from the mall and head to the Georgetown waterfront. Take in the sunset view from Sequoia's outdoor seating area and be glad that spring has finally arrived.

If the perfect Beefeater martini and Blue Point Oysters aren't enough, the Firecracker Rolls with generous portions of Main Lobster dipped in sriracha salsa are also delicious. Sequoia is known for its sweeping views of the Potomac and generous outdoor seating. And now that I know they have a Brûlée Banana Split, it's also a great place for guilty pleasures. As the sun sets over the Key Bridge, my husband and I clink glasses in celebration of the warm spring weather.