Flowers and Friendship: The Perfect Spring Combo

In 1912, Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo, Japan gave the gift of 3,000 cherry trees to the city of Washington, DC to symbolize the friendship that evolved between the United States and Japan. Each year between March 20th and April 14th there is the National Cherry Blossom Festival held in Washington, DC as a way to celebrate the gift given and the long lasting friendship that the two countries continue to have today. More than 1.5 million people visit Washington, DC each year during this time to admire the thriving cherry trees and witness one of the most unique celebrations of spring. The Festival includes a parade and hundreds of other activities and performances that promote the arts and culture of Japan and the United States. Majority of the events are completely free and open to the public with the exception of a few! The following website can tell you everything you need to know about the history of this wonderful tradition and how to become a part of it! Learn about all the events that take place throughout these few weeks and book your stay! http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/about/history/.

Enjoy some of Washington’s monuments as well as the cherry trees.

The beautiful Cherry Blossom Path.

Spectacular Sequoia

Looking to see one of the greatest sights on earth? Literally, the GREATEST? The Sequoia tree, also known as the California Redwood is the tallest species of trees on earth. The tree, local to the northwestern part of the United States can grow up to 379 feet tall and 26 feet wide. To put that in comparison to your average oak tree, some of the oldest and largest oaks grow to an average of 65-85 feet. That makes the average sequoia almost five times taller than your average oak tree! WOW!

These massive trees attract people from all over the world. Once covering a vast part of the united states, these trees now are localized to a small area on the west coast. After the westerly movement of people in 1850 an estimated 95 percent of the virgin forest had been cut down due to the timber industry and their interest in the tree.

Wuksachi Lodge in Sequoia National Park is located in northwestern California. The park boasts a “do-it-yourself, up close and personal experience with nature.”  Hikers, climbers and outdoor enthusiasts are all welcome to this great national park. The Wuksachi Lodge stands for everything the park stands for. The lodge was built in 1999 at an elevation of 7,200 feet.  Check out the Sequoia National Park website and book your stay now!

http://www.visitsequoia.com/