cherry blossoms at the university of washington
Nothing says spring has sprung quite like the cherry blossoms at the University of Washington. I’ve lived in Seattle for almost 6 years now and this was my first time going to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom. I can’t believe it’s taken me so long! The cherry trees line the quad in the middle of the UW campus and when the blossoms fill the trees, it’s completely worth the trip.
Keep reading for tips on when to go, where to park, and how to get the most out of your trip! I also linked my full outfit details at the end of the post. Happy spring!
when to go
The trees typically bloom from Mid-March to early April, depending on how quickly the temps start to heat up. This year we had a record snowstorm in February, so they took a bit longer this year. They’re in peak bloom weekend (March 30-31) but they still be a sight to see for hopefully another 2-3 weeks!
Since the window to see the blossoms is short, the crowds can be absolutely insane. I highly recommend going early in the morning, right around sunrise for the least amount of crowds. Even on a weekday, lots of students on campus will be around, so early morning is your best bet. We arrived at the quad at 7am, just 15 minutes after sunrise, and there were at least 50 people who were already there.
how to get there & where to park
The cherry trees are right in the middle of UW’s campus, in the quad. There are lots of paid parking areas on campus, so depending on what time you go you may have to walk a bit. We parked in the Padelford parking lot , just a 5 minute walk to the quad and paid $5 for all day Saturday parking.
You can use this UW campus map to see all the parking options near the quad.
make the most of your trip
After your morning Instagram photo shoot with the cherry blossoms, fill up for brunch at Portage Bay Cafe (Roosevelt). They’re pretty popular and don’t take reservations, but if you go early enough on a weekend the wait isn’t too bad. The toppings bar that comes with any of their pancake or waffle dishes, is my favorite brunch indulgence.
Not hungry for brunch? University Village (or U Village) is right next to UW and has a great selection of stores for some afternoon shopping. They have pretty much every store I love: Anthropologie, Lululemon, American Eagle, Aritzia, Madewell, Bonobos (for my fiancé), and Amazon Books! It’s way too easy to spend an entire day here. For a mid-shopping snack, stop at Molly Moon’s (my absolute favorite ice cream shop) or Evergreens, a local super delicious salad chain.
If you go to see the cherry blossoms, let me know in the comments! As always, make sure you’re following along on Instagram (@being.brigitte) or Facebook (Being Brigitte) for notifications for new posts!
As you can see, we weren’t the only ones taking advantage of the morning light for some photos. ;)
outfit details
Lulus Floral Print High Low Dress - This dress just screams spring and the yellow flowers make me so happy! Lulus has a ton of similar dresses for spring with different floral prints and colors, I’m having a really hard time not buying them all. I got a medium in this dress & was happy with the sizing. This would be such a great dress to wear to a bridal shower or spring wedding!
Old Navy Denim Jacket - Every girl needs at least one (or three) denim jackets & this Old Navy one is such a great price. It’s super comfortable and has lots of stretch, which can sometime be hard to find with more affordable denim jackets. I put a little unicorn pin on this one over a year ago and just haven’t taken it off because it always makes me smile when I see it. I got a medium in this and I’m glad I did so that it’s a little extra roomy.
Bamboo Handbag - I’ve been super into structured purses this season and I love how fun this one is! The bamboo is so easy to pair with spring and summer looks and despite the non-traditional design, it’s a really roomy purse and holds quite a bit in it. There are two sizes available on Amazon and this one is the small.
