Best time to visit VA? (Fredericksburg, Washington: trees, famous, summer)

[ARAH]

We are planning a visit out to Fredericksburg and DC this spring or early summer, coming out from CA. I am wondering what your opinions are on the best time to visit in terms of blooming and foliage and best temperature. Would early or late May be good?
Thanks a bunch!

[popalnet]

Originally Posted by ARAH

We are planning a visit out to Fredericksburg and DC this spring or early summer, coming out from CA. I am wondering what your opinions are on the best time to visit in terms of blooming and foliage and best temperature. Would early or late May be good?
Thanks a bunch!

Early or late May is perfect in terms of weather since it won't be too hot. But you won't find any blooms or spring foilage at that time. Best time for spring foilage is late March to early April. I think the Cherry Blossom in the Tidal Basin in DC are supposed to peak between April 1 - 4. Official Website of the National Cherry Blossom Festival - Washington, DC

[ChristineVA]

Yes, May is a good time although popalnet is correct about the blooms. Cherry Blossoms, which we are famous for will be over with. There are still a lot of pretty flowers and greenery in DC though.

People I know from Southern CA always remark on how "green" it is here, year round. So maybe you'll be please anyway.

[Denton56]

Cherry blossoms are early. The rest of the flowers are a little later, I love the end of April, through May, in DC.

[EricD]

All the cherry blossoms and pear trees have been blooming for about a week now in Fredericksburg, and will last another 1-2 weeks. All fo the daffodiles are out, along with other early bloomers. Tulips, dogwoods, and other flowers will come out in another month or so. A lot of the bushy flowering plants will flower in about 2 weeks.

I'd say that by the end of May, all of the flowers will be gone. There are not many plants that can flower in the summer heat here.

Besides there not being many flowers, May is a good time to visit. (weather-wise)

[Richmonder27]

Originally Posted by ARAH

We are planning a visit out to Fredericksburg and DC this spring or early summer, coming out from CA. I am wondering what your opinions are on the best time to visit in terms of blooming and foliage and best temperature. Would early or late May be good?
Thanks a bunch!

Fall Foliage reaches its peak around late October/Early November time.

Spring like weather can come as early as late February or early March, but most years its about late March/April before the trees start to show their buds.

[leighland]

I'm from San Diego. It doesn't seem like spring has hit here yet at all but this is my first year here. Fall was nice, very pretty and the weather was great (October)

[popalnet]

Originally Posted by leighland

I'm from San Diego. It doesn't seem like spring has hit here yet at all but this is my first year here. Fall was nice, very pretty and the weather was great (October)

This winter was a colder winter than many years past. It looks like this year's spring may also be one of the colder springs.

[Flamingo13]

I hope we get a Spring this year - that's beautiful here. Sometimes, though, we seem to go directly from Winter to Summer

It really does seem colder to me also this Spring.

[Mearth]

Too bad you can't come in the next week or so to see the cherry blossoms AND the magnolias!

But, the earlier the better in terms of weather. It gets HOT in the summer. And humid.