We hope everyone is enjoying peak bloom for one of springtime’s most incredible spectacles: NYC’s cherry blossoms!
This time of year is as fleeting as it is beautiful. Because the blossoms only hold their peak for a few precious days, we highly recommend heading out this week to catch them before the “sakura snow” begins to fall.
Across the river, there’s an excursion that invites you to slow down and truly savor the season.
The journey begins with a breezy ferry ride and ends in a 172-acre oasis where the city noise fades, replaced by the rustle of petals and the cry of gulls.
🛳️ How To Get There
Governors Island is a car-free paradise accessible only by boat. You have two main options for your spring pilgrimage:
- The Governors Island Ferry: Departs daily from the Battery Maritime Building (10 South Street) in Lower Manhattan. On weekends, additional service typically runs from Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park.
- NYC Ferry: The South Brooklyn and Rockaway routes stop at Governors Island (Yankee Pier) daily, connecting you from Wall Street, DUMBO, or the Lower East Side.
- Pro Tip: Use the 8-minute crossing to put your phone down and watch the Manhattan skyline shrink—it’s the perfect “reset” before you hit the trails.
🌸 What You’ll See
Unlike the dense crowds of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Governors Island offers wide-open vistas and a “choose your own adventure” blossom experience.
- Historic Alleys: Wander through Nolan Park and Colonels Row, where pink petals frame the sweeping porches of 19th-century Victorian houses.
- The Hills: Head south to The Hills for a 360-degree view of the Statue of Liberty and New York Harbor, framed by the white and pink clusters of younger trees.
- Liggett Terrace: This area is a sun-drenched floral hotspot, featuring early-blooming varieties and comfortable seating for a mid-walk break.
💐 What’s In Bloom
Governors Island is home to several distinct varieties, ensuring a longer “bloom window” than other parks:
- Snow Goose Cherries: These are the island’s early birds. Found in Liggett Terrace, they boast bright white flowers that provide a vital early-spring snack for the island’s local pollinators.
- Kwanzan Cherries: The “showstoppers.” These trees explode with heavy, double-pink blooms that look like fluffy carnations. Look for the iconic Kwanzan across from Building 309 (the former chapel) and scattered through Nolan Park.
- Companion Blooms: It’s not just about the cherries! Keep an eye out for the Saucer Magnolias near Castle Williams and the Eastern Redbuds along the edge of Hammock Grove, which add deep purples and fuchsias to the palette.
🗓️ Bloom Timelines
Nature is unpredictable, but you can generally follow this schedule:
- Late April / Early May: The Kwanzan trees take center stage with their deep pink, pom-pom blooms, often lasting a week or two after the lighter varieties have faded.
- Early April: Yoshino & Snow Goose trees begin the show with delicate white and pale pink clouds.
- Mid-April (Peak): Most varieties hit full saturation. This is the “magic week” where the island feels completely transformed.
