2026 can’t be a more exciting year for me, travel-wise. After a stressful start, the excitement of is finally beginning to take shape. Have you ever caught yourself speaking highly of destinations you speak often about? Have you ever spoken about taking part in occasions in cities which they are known for? Imagine those opportunities finally arising. For me, the time has finally arisen. When it comes to taking the train, the reality of finally getting the chance to experience those occasions can’t be more bittersweet. When it comes to having a major Amtrak terminal near home, the feeling is beyond bittersweet. All there is to say is, “Have Amtrak, will travel”.
My first long-anticipated trip comes on Friday, April 10th. April 10th, I will be taking Amtrak down to one of my favorite destination cities, Washington, DC. April 11th is the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade. It is the event which concludes the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The National Cherry Blossom Festival is one of the most iconic celebrations. It festival celebrates the gift of 3,000 Sakura trees to the United States by Japan, in 1912. Cherry blossoms, or Sakura, are delicate pink and white flowers of ornamental cherry trees, celebrated in Japan and worldwide as a symbol of spring, beauty, and the fleeting nature of life. They typically bloom for only a couple of weeks in spring (March/April in many places) and are the focus of festivals, most famously the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C., which commemorates a gift of trees from Japan.
The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade may be the encore, but it is the rest of the events that visitors would truly appreciate. The festival unofficially begins mid-March with the Pink Tie Party. The Pink Tie Party takes place one of the most majestic Washington, DC landmarks; Union Station. At $275.00 per person, guests are encouraged to dress in their best pink and white, signifying the iconic whitish pink of the Cherry Blossom trees. The food, the beverages, and the activities throughout the night can’t be more inviting. From live music, to dignitaries, to colorful decorations, the event starts the festival off with a bang. The following events include a theatrical show at the Warner Theatre, the Blossom Kite Festival, and “Petalpalooza”. This day-long all-ages spring streety party brings art, music, and play to multiple outdoor stages, interactive art installations, a cashless beverage garden, family-friendly hands-on activities, roaming entertainers, and more, all along the banks of the Anacostia River.
The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade brings down the curtain on the whole month-long celebration. No matter which events one wishes to attend, being there and cherishing the moment is what makes the trip all the more special. Not only will I be attending the parade, I will be doing a reflective story on the festival for VIE Magazine. I will also be interviewing members of the National Cherry Blossom Festival leadership team, learning much about the planning behind the festival and their overall impressions of the event. Undoubtedly, I intend to walk around the National Mall and the Tidal Basin where the Cherry Blossoms will be in full bloom. If in luck, I wish to go paddle boating on the Tidal Basin. In addition to the parade, I will be visiting the United States Botanical Garden, and doing a feature story for Original Living Magazine. When it comes to Cherry Blossoms and botany, the occasion can’t be more worthwhile.
Sunday, June 7th is a day which has me feeling esthetic. The week of June 7th-15th is my primetime vacation week at work. Remember the destination story I wrote about Amtrak’s Palmetto to Savannah, GA? Trains Magazine commissioned me once again to do a full-length feature story on Amtrak’s Silver Meteor (New York-Miami). It will be a railroad-related story, focusing on the advantages and disadvantages of the Silver Meteor route, comparing to that of its counterpart, Floridian (Chicago-Miami, via Tampa). I will be boarding the Silver Meteor in Newark, NJ, and getting off in Hollywood, the second-to-last station stop. Aboard the Silver Meteor, I will be riding in a roomette. The roomette is built to carry two passengers. It’s not terribly big, in contrast to the bedroom suite. The Silver Meteor will be my first overnight train journey in forty-two years. Presently, I’m shopping for a portable DVD player, to keep myself entertained. I’ve also taken the time to look at the dining car menu, which looks inviting, and promising. The last time I was on an overnight train, I was the fussiest eater on earth. My family and I were traveling on board Amtrak’s Broadway Limited, from Chicago to Newark, NJ. I cannot recall what I ate or what I didn’t eat. Now that I am a grown adult, and having come full-circle, I’m looking to the experience of a lifetime.
Hollywood will be my station stop. Since Hollywood is closest to the many Miami area attractions I’ll be visiting, I will be staying at a hotel in Hollywood Beach. While in the Miami area, I will be doing a South Florida highlights overview story for VIE Magazine, and a potential trailblazer’s story on Amtrak’s Silver Meteor for whichever magazine that may be interested. Further, I will be visiting a well-known beach in the area, Haulover Beach. Candidly, South Beach is overrated. South Beach is highly spoken of by spring breakers. Who said Haulover Beach can’t be an outspoken favorite? Haulover Beach deserves just as much credit as its counterpart. Haulover Beach is family-oriented, and visited by the millions, from all over the world. Haulover Beach is a local tourism phenomenon which makes north Miami Beach so well visited, so well respected, and beloved by visitors of all ages. Aside from Haulover Beach, I’m looking forward to attending a Miami Marlins home game at Loan Depot Park. Next, I wish to experience an air boat excursion in the Everglades. Having attended the holiday train show at the New York Botanical Garden, I want to experience the Miami Beach Botanical Garden. I may even consider taking a tour of the Miami Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium. What vacation could be more exciting, more educational, and all the more exhilarating?
April 10th is only a month away. June 7th may sound like light years away. The warm weather will be here soon enough. The fun part now is the growing anticipation. For the first time, I will be attending some aspect of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. For the first time, other than working at the South Florida cruise terminals, I will have the golden opportunity to experience the highlights of the Miami area. In November 2019, my brother and I took the Tri-Rail commuter train from Miami International Airport to Hollywood. We visited the Margaritaville Resort in Hollywood Beach. We also took the time to stroll along the Beachwalk. Hollywood became my inspiration for my upcoming vacation. It will be more than just a week of writing projects. It will be a week of soaking up the likes of an area so well-known and so well-liked by travelers from far and wide.
Washington, DC is my third most favorite city in the United States to visit. Miami will fit somewhere on my “once or twice my lifetime” list. Who said you can only experience a new destination once? I do agree with the acronym, YOLO (You Only Live Once). The Miami area could be calling my name again in the near future, depending on how this trip turn out. The best part of all is that Amtrak will be my mode of transportation getting me to both places. As they say, “Getting there is half the fun”. There’s Amtrak’s old commercial jingle, “There’s something about a train that’s magic”. However, it’s how you get there is what makes the vacation all the more purposeful. Taking Amtrak to Washington, DC and Hollywood, FL is beyond purposeful. The thrill of riding Amtrak this year will make my travels all the more extraordinary.