NATIONAL HARBOR, Md., Feb. 28, 2018— In celebration of National Harbor’s tenth anniversary, Peterson Companies (developer and management company for National Harbor) has planted 100 cherry trees along the National Harbor waterfront.  These trees, Okame cherry trees, join more than 100 cherry trees located throughout the property. Although they won’t bloom this season, the Okame cherry trees are promising a spectacular display next year.  As fast growers, they’re also known as early spring bloomers with “show stopping blooms.”

“The trees have been planted in mass around the waterfront so that visitors arriving to National Harbor by car, bus or boat will be dazzled by the site when they bloom next year,” said Deborah Topcik, director of marketing at National Harbor.  “The trees will also provide spectacular fall foliage.  Okame are known for their orange-red fall foliage and reddish brown glossy bark.”

In celebration of the anniversary and the cherry trees, locations throughout National Harbor will have specials and displays. Gaylord National Resort’s Relache Spa is offering special cherry blossom spa treatments including a massage, body scrub, pedicure, manicure and Hydrafacial with a cherry blossom enhancement from March 1 through April 30. These 30 to 50-minute services provide a moment to nourish and reenergize the mind, body and soul and range in cost from $50 to $210. For the ultimate cherry blossom spa experience, Relache Spa also offers a package combining three of its treatments including a Cherry Blossom Massage, Hydrafacial and Cherry Blossom Pedicure. This package costs $374 on Mondays through Thursdays and $395 on Fridays through Sundays.

Gaylord National Resort will also feature cherry blossom-themed cocktails at its lobby bar and signature restaurant, Old Hickory Steakhouse. Each outlet offers its own unique twist on the famed blossom through color and flavors that are just as brilliant as the blooms. The cocktails will be available throughout the Cherry Blossom Festival season from March 20 through April 15.

In the AC Lounge at the AC Hotel National Harbor, expert bartenders will be serving up a signature cocktail, the Cherry Blossom Sour, throughout the Cherry Blossom Festival season from March 20 through April 15. The cocktail combines a selection of premium liquors including Sloop Betty Vodka, St. Germain and Oloroso Sherry – to name a few. Rimmed with a vanilla sugar, this beautiful pink cocktail can be enjoyed at the bar or on the hotel’s terrace overlooking the National Harbor waterfront.

In celebration the Cherry Blossom Festival season, MGM National Harbor will, once again, feature a spectacular display in its Conservatory.  Situated just outside of the theater and hotel lobby, the Conservatory celebrates seasons through a highly talented horticultural team that creates magnificent displays. This display, with more than 80,000 cherry blossoms is not to be missed and runs from March X to XXX.

“Not only is National Harbor the perfect place for visitors to stay when coming to D.C. to see the Tidal Basin cherry trees,” Topcik said, “This year, we have more than 100 cherry trees at National Harbor that will be in bloom and, next year, we’ll have more than 200 on display.”

For more information on National Harbor, go to www.NationalHarbor.com.

About National Harbor

National Harbor is a community unlike any other.  Situated close to the nation’s capital, National Harbor takes full advantage of one of the country’s most historic rivers. Rising from the banks of the Potomac River, just south of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in Prince George’s County, Md., National Harbor is a 350-acre mixed use development with eight hotels (including the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center and MGM National Harbor), offices, residential, tree-lined streets with more than 160 shops including Tanger Outlet with 85 premium brands, more than 40 restaurants, iconic attractions such as the Capital Wheel and National Harbor Carousel, and much more. The community provides easy access to Washington, D.C. and Alexandria, Va. and features an array of waterfront activities, events, and spectacular sunsets. For more information, www.NationalHarbor.com.