Spring in D.C. has become famous for the yearly Cherry Blossom Festival, which typically happens around peak bloom for the cherry blossoms. People wait eagerly to book trips to D.C. to catch a peek at the blossoms during their fortnight showcase, before they fall to the ground and the trees rest for another year.

Yet, it already seems as though spring has sprung in D.C., with warm weather on the weekends coaxing people outside, bright sunshine tempting folks away from their fluorescent-lit offices, and the quiet arrival of greenery encouraging a bike ride to work. It’s the time of year when people start to unwrap themselves from their bulky winter wardrobe and enjoy the city once again.

And with spring arriving early, so have the cherry blossoms. The National Park Service announced this week the cherry blooms will hit peak bloom on March 17 (the average peak bloom date is April 4), just in time for this year’s Cherry Blossom Festival happening from March 20-April 15. 

If you’re not looking to fight tourists near the Tidal Basin, here are five alternative places where you can spot some cherry blossoms. Your Instagram posts will make folks just as jealous without running the risk of walking into a selfie stick — or 10.

Hains Point Loop Trail - East Potomac Park

The Hains Point Loop Trail surrounds East Potomac Park, which extends south from the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. The 4.1-mile loop is best traversed by bike, and offers a stunning view of the cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin from a much less crowded vantage.

Along the way, you can take some pit stops at interesting site such as the Cuban Friendship Urn, the George Mason Memorial, and the survivors of the burn: a group of gnarly cherry trees that are speculated to be the only survivors from the original 1910 gift from Japan, which was found to be infested with root disease and possibly harmful insects. The trees were immediately burned by the USDA, though some speculate that a few were kept to study.

National Arboretum - Carver / Langston

Photo courtesy of Mike Myers

One of many of D.C.’s completely Instagramable sites, the National Arboretum north of Carver/Langston has a collection of its own cherry blossoms you can enjoy in the spring. Tucked around the well-known capitol columns are 40 varieties of flowering cherry trees to enjoy. While you’re there, check out the the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum, which houses around 150 teeny-tiny masterpieces.

Glover Archbold Park - Foxhall Village 

Photo courtesy of Glover Archbold Park

Just a hop, skip, and jump east from Burleith on the other side of Glover Archbold Park is Foxhall Village, a suburban-feeling community fully within District limits. Cherry trees in this neighborhood redefine what it means to walk down a tree-lined street. Rather than towering trunks or evergreen needles, cherry blossoms surround passers-by in beautiful, airy white plumes that mimic clouds. Suddenly they feel almost cozy, taken away from the regal backdrop of monuments on the National Mall and popped in the middle of kids playing ball and everyday folks running errands.

Stanton Park - Capitol Hill

Photo courtesy of Eat Run Read

One of the smaller rec areas in Capitol Hill is Stanton Park. However, don’t let its size deceive you. This park offers the same gorgeous blossoms you’ll find around the Tidal Basin, without anywhere near the amount of foot traffic and hassle. Bring your kids along to climb around on the modest playground and pack a picnic to enjoy in a cozy, grassy corner.

Meadowlark Botanical Garden - Vienna

Meadowlark Botanical Garden in Vienna, Virginia is a 95-acre stretch of land with countless flora and fauna represented in its three garden collections. In the winter you can enjoy a cup of hot cocoa and a walking holiday light show. In the spring, flowers bloom and cherry blossoms can be found right as you walk in, and a short walk away at Caroline Lake, where about 60 of the nearly 100 cherry trees on premises line its banks. Sit for a while, explore the other ornamental plants, and (an important feature for city-dwellers) enjoy a free, spacious parking lot.