Cherry Blossom Festival: 5 Tips from a Washington, DC Insider

The National Cherry Blossom Festival: Washington, D.C.'s most popular annual event has zip to do with politics and everything to do with celebrating the awesomeness of these special trees. The 1912 gift of the original Japanese cherry trees from the mayor of Tokyo sparked both a friendship between those two capital cities and the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which this year runs March 20 to April 13. Trees bloom for about 10 days, but activities of every description take place throughout.

Cherry Blossom Festival: 5 Easy iPhone Photography Tips

To get the most out of your visit, follow these best-of-the-fest tips.