How Can the Disabled See the Cherry Blossoms in Washington DC?

It’s 2024, and the Cherry Blossoms will soon be in full bloom in Washington, DC. Thousands of people will descend upon the Tidal Basin on the National Mall to enjoy the Cherry Blossom Festival. It’s pretty easy for the fit and healthy. You drive in and park a mile away and walk. Or, you get on the Metro and get off and walk. But, what about those with limited mobility? How can the disabled see the cherry blossoms in Washington DC? 

How can the disabled see the cherry blossoms in Washington DC?

There is a solution, and it’s simple. The easiest way to visit the Tidal Basin, see the cherry trees in full bloom, and visit all the national memorials and monuments is to take a private tour by pedicab. 

Nonpartisan Pedicab will:

• Pick you up from any downtown location to start your tour
• Get much closer to the monuments than you will be able to by car or bus
• Stop at all the monuments and memorials and allow you to get off to go inside. Alternatively, you might prefer to or just enjoy the view from the pedicab
• You can see many of the monuments without getting off the pedicab
• Stop at any location for best photo opportunities
• We will be happy to help push your wheelchair if necessary
• We will give you an interesting and entertaining historical tour narrative.
• You will have a knowledgeable and friendly tour guide
• We will drop you off again at any downtown location of your choice

Are your private tours handicap accessible?

In most cases, the answer is yes.  We can accommodate one folding travel wheelchair on board the pedicab with you. And, we will load and unload the wheelchair as many times as you wish to use it during the course of the tour. Walkers, canes and oxygen tanks are no problem. We cannot take on board electric mobility scooters. We certainly would if we could, but unfortunately, there is not any available room for them.  

 

Is it easy to reserve a private tour during cherry blossom season?

Yes. Call or text us at 7032319882 or else click onto our Reservations page to send in a tour request. We handle all calls, messages and emails personally and quickly. If you are unable to pick up immediately, just leave a message or send a text to the same number, and I will get back to you quickly. The best part is that this is a private tour, so you can customize it to whatever time and locations you like. Don’t hesitate to call and ask us for more information. Also, check out our main Cherry Blossom Tour description.

Is it easy for disabled people to visit the memorials?

In general, yes, it is easy for you to visit most of the memorials. Those memorials which have steps, like the Lincoln Memorial and the Jefferson Memorial, also have an elevator to take you into the inner chamber. Other memorials have no steps at all like the FDR Memorial, the WWII Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial and the MLK Memorial. At each of these memorials, we can stop and help you in and out of the pedicab if you choose to go inside for a closer look. 

What will I see on a Washington DC Cherry Blossom Tour?

There are thousands of Cherry Trees surrounding the Tidal Basin. If you are in Washington DC when they come into full bloom, it is truly a delight. Around the Tidal Basin are several major memorials, including the Jefferson Memorial, the FDR Memorial, and the MLK Memorial. Nearby, are the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the Vietnam War Memorial and the White House. Slightly further afield is the US Capitol. We can stop at all these locations and many others for photos. Even if you come a little late, there are several stands of Kwanzaa cherry trees just off the Tidal Basin. These trees typically stay in bloom 2-3 weeks after the main Yoshino cherry bloom around the Tidal Basin. Here is a longer post on our Washington DC Cherry Blossom Tour.

When will the Cherry Trees go into full bloom?

This changes every year depending on how cold and wet the winter has been.  The blossoms come into full bloom anytime between March 20 and April 10 each year, with the average being about April 4.  The trees will be partially in bloom for a week before full bloom, and then will stay in full bloom for about a week or 10 days. A final week will have still have plenty of blossoms on the trees. And, if you come too late, the National Park Service maintains several stands of late-blooming Kwanzaan cherry trees just off the Tidal Basin, so you will still get a chance to see some trees in bloom even two or even three weeks after the main bloom. Full bloom is notoriously hard to predict more than a week or two out. The National Park Service Bloom Watch gives their predictions each year.  They are usually wrong, so take any predictions with a grain of salt.  The National Cherry Blossom Festival Bloom Watch is another good source if you want to choose the wrong date to arrive for full bloom.

Nonpartisan Pedicab is the top tour option for private Washington DC tours for disabled and handicapped visitors.  We have hundreds of five star reviews, and many of our guests with mobility issues tell us that our tour was the highlight of their visit to Washington DC.

What are handicapped and disabled people saying about Nonpartisan Pedicab:

COULDN’T HAVE HAD A BETTER EXPERIENCE SEEING D.C.!!!

I am a full-time wheelchair user, so accessibility was a priority! I was unable to find exactly what I wanted for my husband and I to really experience D.C. in a do-able way! UNTIL my search “landed” on Nonpartisan Pedicab! . . . My chair folded and stored easily and off we went! Oh my goodness, there aren’t enough words to express what a terrific 3 1/2 hours we had as Alex pedaled and talked (didn’t even breathe heavy up and down, in and around the hills and streets)! We saw all the monuments, the memorials and the offices/museums that comprise the National Mall and a bit beyond! If we wanted to get out and see things closer, Alex unloaded my chair, waited for us and we resumed the tour!

Donna W, Kansas City, TripAdvisor review 10/6/17

 

Centenarian Tour

Robert met my 100 year old mother & me at Union Station, strapped on her wheelchair & took us on a fabulous tour of the mall. He has pictures of how things looked in Washington DC years ago before the Memorials were built. His knowledge of the history of D.C. is vast! All this and he’s so enthusiastic & helpful! This is a must-do tour for anyone and for someone who is disabled, it’s the only way to go.

Kathleen, Missouri TripAdvisor review 6/9/17

What a way to see our Nation’s Capitol!!

I am disabled, and use a wheelchair to get around for any distance. I had researched how to sightsee in DC for the disabled, and somewhere Nonpartisan pedicab popped up. I had not even thought of this as an option until I looked at his website and read the reviews posted there. After then looking at several other options, I returned and sent Robert (owner) an email. He called me right away and assured me he would be able to meet our needs. How right he was! He picked us up at the historic Wilard Hotel and spent the next six hours showing us his city. He was very knowledgeable and personable and energetic. His supplemental information about all things DC gave us insight that you don’t get in the history books. We were able to go at our own pace and I forgot I was handicapped for a while. It would be safe to say, his tour was the highlight of our trip. It was perfect for our first day and gave us a lay of the land. Very worth the cost and I would recommend anyone that wants a personal and fun history lesson and tour to book with Robert. So impressed!!

Xanasher, Sacramento, California TripAdvisor review 4/18/17

 

Great tour!

. . .My husband has MS and has a hard time with walking long distances and after researching tours and finding Nonpartisian Pedicab, I knew it would be a great option for us. Robert and Alex were our guides. . . Both guides were very knowledgable and also did a great explaining the history in a way that three kids could understand. I would highly recommend them for any family with mobility issues.

Amy, Madison, Wisconsin, 9/25/16