Relax by the water and see some of America's proudest monuments at Tidal Basin. This man-made inlet was created in the 19th century as a means to control the high tides of the Potomac River. Today, along the banks you can visit some of Washington D.C.’s famous memorials honoring historic figures, including Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The scenic basin, with approximately 3,750 cherry trees in its vicinity, is also noted as the venue for the National Cherry Blossom Festival at the start of spring each year. If you'd like to do your sightseeing from the water, you can rent a paddle boat. The basin is also a great spot to take an aimless stroll or have a picnic. From the area, you have easy access to the National Mall and its many sites. To visit Tidal Basin and other attractions in Washington DC, use our Washington DC trip maker website.
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Tidal Basin reviews
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It 's nice to see the famous Tidal Basin, but quite frankly with so many other wonderful sights to see, like the various monuments and memorials, I didn't spend much time. Its nice but not worth...
It 's nice to see the famous Tidal Basin, but quite frankly with so many other wonderful sights to see, like the various monuments and memorials, I didn't spend much time. Its nice but not worth... more »
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I had specially come to DC to see the cherry blossoms at the tidal basin, but they were all gone during the city's "Cherry Blossom Festival" that was happening when I got there. It seems that they...
I had specially come to DC to see the cherry blossoms at the tidal basin, but they were all gone during the city's "Cherry Blossom Festival" that was happening when I got there. It seems that they... more »
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Come for all 4 seasons to see the leaves change
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It's magical. Too crowded for the cherry blossom fest on weekends.
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