Mauro_Repossini/Getty Images
Is it cliché to say that? Washington DC, is the most patriotic place in the country to celebrate our nation? Eh, maybe, but we still love it! While you're in the area, you can also step back in time to the days of George Washington at Mount Vernon, buy tickets to a baseball game at Nationals Park, and visit numerous museums, from the Smithsonian to the National Portrait Gallery.
Don't miss: Watch fireworks explode over the National Mall, light up the Lincoln Memorial and Capitol Building, and add a glow to the Washington Monument. There really is no such thing.
Where to stay: You can't go wrong with sleek and contemporary Conrad Hotel, which is right next to the city center and a short walk from the metro lines. The big Fourth of July event at the Conrad will take place at its recently reopened Summit, a rooftop restaurant and bar nicknamed “America's Backyard Patio” for its stunning views of the White House and the Mall. In addition to a garden-to-glass summer cocktail menu, you'll love the regional “elevated” picnic fare cooked in the rooftop solar oven.
Monica Murphy/Getty Images
Save the city for another time and head east to Long Island instead for the ultimate New York City retreat. The beach communities that line the Long Island Sound, known collectively as the Hamptons, all have their own way of celebrating the holiday weekend. You might be able to see several parades and events in a single day, between lying on the beach and diving in the Atlantic Ocean, of course.
Don't miss: Some favorites include parades in Southampton Village, New Suffolk and Southold Village; the annual North Sea Firefighters' Carnival; and fireworks in Westhampton, Sag Harbor and Stars Over Montauk at Umbrella Beach.
Where to stay: Ruschmeyers in Montauk is the perfect location, with 19 cabin-style rooms and a plethora of outdoor spaces on the hotel property. Located less than a mile from the town of Montauk and the Long Island Railroad station, Ruschmeyers is easily accessible for a weekend getaway. It's also close to Montauk's most popular attractions, including the world-famous surfing destination Ditch Plains Beach and the Umbrella Beach fireworks.
Matt Anderson/Getty Images
One of the most astonishing lake destinations in the countryside, Lake Geneva is only 80 miles from Chicago and 40 miles from Milwaukee, but it feels like a million miles from the traffic, parking and noise of these big urban destinations. The area's natural beauty and small-town charm make it a perfect option for the Fourth of July weekend.
Don't miss: Experience the Independence Day weekend event at Old World Wisconsin, a historic site that covers nearly 100 years of rural Wisconsin life. You'll find costumed staff providing history lessons about life in days gone by, as well as quaint stores that will make you feel like you're shopping in the late 1800s. The site will feature patriotic decorations, music live and food.
Where to stay: Situated on 1,300 acres in the woods of Lake Geneva, Grand Genève Resort & Spa is a destination in itself, with lake access, water park, fire pits and swimming pools. And its annual Fourth of July fireworks display is a local highlight. Guests who stay in a lake view room can enjoy the spectacle from their private balcony or patio, while all guests can view it from the resort's hillside.
