Portland Waterfront Cherry Blossoms

Steve, my daughter, and I went to see the cherry blossoms down at the Waterfront. The cherry trees were a gift from Japan, and they blossom once a year around March or April, lasting only a couple of weeks. Portlanders absolutely lose our shit about them. We stalk news sources and Facebook groups to know when they’re blooming, and we show out in droves to frolic under the pink blossoms and take our fair share of Instagram-worthy photos.

Normally, we walk the full loop from the east side, over the Hawthorne Bridge, up the Westbank Waterfront, past the Morrison and Burnside Bridges. We frolic and pose with the cherry blossoms, then walk over the Steel Bridge, down the Eastbank Esplanade, past the Burnside and Morrison Bridges, and back to the car.

We did a shorter version of that this year. We parked on the east side near Burnside, walked over the Burnside Bridge, and it was a shorter walk up to the Waterfront where we had our moments with the cherry trees. Then we walked over the Steel Bridge and a short walk down the Eastbank Esplanade to the car.

Portland, you’re adorable and I love you.

Walking up to the Waterfront from the Burnside Bridge, you can see the cherry trees with the Steel Bridge behind it.

Steve, me, my daughter, with the cherry trees and a billion Portlanders.

My daughter with the cherry trees.

I liked how this lamppost looked with the cherry blossoms.

The view looking back from the Steel Bridge.