Canadians are eager to put a spring in their step after a long winter. These seven locations’ stunning cherry blossom displays will accomplish that. Here are seven stunning locations to see cherry blossoms that you should include in your holiday itinerary.
1. Vancouver, British Columbia
Everyone who adores cherry blossoms should visit Vancouver. As a token of appreciation for the Japanese Canadians who fought in World War I, the city was given hundreds of trees in the early 1930s. At this time, Vancouver is home to an astounding 40,000 trees!
The city’s various parks and gardens are home to cherry blossoms, and the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival, which takes place this year from April 1 to 23, is a celebration of the blooms.
2. Burlington, Ontario
Three excellent locations to view cherry blossoms may be found in Burlington. Itabashi, Burlington’s sister city in Japan, gave 50 trees to Spencer Smith Park (above). The trees are positioned around the walking path to create a tunnel. One of the most captivating locations in the city is made even more captivating by the fact that it is directly adjacent to Lake Ontario.
Additional must-see locations are the Royal Botanical Gardens, which are home to cherry trees, crabapples, lilacs, and magnolias, and Itabashi Road, a suburban lane lined with cherry trees and gorgeous private gardens.
3. Hamilton, Ontario
Burlington and Hamilton both have access to the Royal Botanical Gardens, in addition to a number of other cherry blossom locations. A promenade in Bayfront Park is lined with cherry trees, a 2002 gift from Japan.
Gage Park is a lovely location for anyone who enjoys flowers. It has rose gardens, tropical greenhouses, and old-growth cherry trees. Last but not least, the Toyo Eiwa Jogakuin School in Japan, whose founder, Martha Cartmell, was a Canadian missionary, gave 37 cherry trees to Centennial Park, close to Dundas.
4. Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is one of the most beautiful cities in Canada, and its springtime blooms are equally alluring. Visitors interested in cherry blossoms should visit James Bay, Beacon Hill Park, and South Turner Street (among other gorgeous destinations).
Another outstanding location is the Butchart Gardens, which spans 55 acres and features more than 900 different plant species, including a lavish Japanese garden with blue poppies, rhododendrons, azaleas, and maple trees. Visitors are greeted with cherry blossoms as they approach the majestic Craigdarroch Castle, which is thought to be one of Canada’s most haunted locations.
5. Toronto, Ontario
Toronto is totally covered in pink blossoms in the spring. One of the most well-liked places to view the flowering trees in High Park. Even a webpage for following their development exists. The website’s “Sakura Watch,” which tracks every stage of the trees’ development, from early buds to falling petals, has become a cult following in Toronto. As the first tree was a gift from the citizens of Tokyo in 1959, these particular trees hold a special place in the hearts of the locals.
More than 2,000 trees have been donated to Toronto throughout the years as a token of gratitude for welcoming Japanese Canadians who had to relocate after World War II. Birkdale Ravine and Centennial Park, which has approximately 500 trees, are two further breathtaking Toronto locations.
6. Montreal, Quebec
It’s possible that Montrealers appreciate April cherry blossoms more than anyone else after a brutal Quebec winter. If you like blossoms, your first trip should be to the Montreal Botanical Garden. It celebrates an annual O-Hanami, a traditional Japanese festival that involves picnics and gatherings to mark the arrival of spring. It takes place beneath the cherry trees. However, occasionally if the cherries don’t blossom in time, it switches to the crabapple trees.
The L’Homme statue beside the water in Parc Jean Drapeau, the Nature Park of Île-de-la-Visitation, Avenue McGill College (where pink tulips are typically planted, making this an exceptionally attractive sight), and Westmount Park are some terrific places to enjoy the blooming.
7. Mississauga, Ontario
Kariya Park in Mississauga honors the bond between the Canadian city and its Japanese twin city. The Japanese-style garden highlights the 65 trees in the park’s stunning blossoms. Red Japanese maples, a marsh with Japanese irises, and a wide variety of rhododendron, pine, ginkgo, and sweetgum trees are among the further attractions.
The intricately carved friendship bell, the mosaic-style wall painting, and the stone basin carved by Kariya sculptor Fumio Naito will appeal to art lovers. A webcam had already been installed so that virtual guests may take in the blossoms.
8. Ottawa, Ontario
Every spring, pink blossoms cover the Dominion Arboretum, which is a component of the Central Experimental National Historic Park. Yet, not every tree that is pink is a cherry tree. A stunning collection of “Rosybloom” crabapple blooms, which are sometimes mistaken for cherries, may be found on this 35-acre property.
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