If you live near NYC and do not want to bother driving out to Washington DC, here are some local destinations where you can enjoy the cherry blossoms.

Branch Brook Park @ Newark, NJ

April 11-22, 2015
One of the most popular places for watching Cherry Blossom is the Branch Brook Park, Newark, NJ. Japanese cherry blossoms predominate among the more than 4000 cherry blossom trees in the park. Each year, thousands of people visit the park during the cherry blossom festival.
The 2015 Cherry Blossom Festival is from April 11 to April 22, 2015.
The Family Fun Day is scheduled for Saturday April 18 from 11am-3pm.
The Bloomfest is scheduled for Sunday April 19th from 11am - 5pm.
As the actual peak time of cherry blossom vary by year, please check their website for the latest updates. http://newark1.com/branchbrook

Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival @ Brooklyn Botanic Garden

April 25-26, 2015
This year, the weekend-long Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival takes place on Saturday, April 25-Sunday, April 26, 2015 from 10am to 6pm and includes Japanese cultural activities, music and art. Kids will enjoy sword fighting, Taiko drumming, manga artists, children's workshops, a puzzle plaza and all of the people dressed up in Japanese costumes. http://www.bbg.org/visit/event/sakura_matsuri_2015

Cherry Blossom Festival @ White Plains, NY

May 3, 2015

The 16th Annual White Plains Cherry Blossom Festival will be on Sunday May 3rd, 2015 @ Turnure Park! Turnure Park, located between Main Street and Lake Street, is home to dozens of gorgeous, blooming Cherry Blossom Trees and is the ideal setting to enjoy Japanese culture and art. The festival will include Taiko drumming, children's song and dance performances, games, crafts, Japanese classical dance and a tea ceremony. http://www.cityofwhiteplains.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=37

New York Botanic Garden @ Bronx, NY
Although NYBG's Cherry Valley doesn't have a festival, the blossoms are still sweet. There are more cherry blossoms scattered throughout the Ross Conifer Arboretum too. While you're there, you can catch the annual Orchid Show (Now through April 19, 2015).

Central Park @ NYC
There are several spots to find cherry blossoms in Central Park in Manhattan. Some of the best ones are on the bridal path at 90th Street, East Drive at 66th Street, the east side of the Boathouse at 74th Street and Cherry Hill mid-park at 72nd Street just west of Bethesda Terrace.