No other holiday sums up summer a bit like the Fourth of July, when people revel in outdoor barbecues and parades (and, in the case of Coney Island, New York, gorge on hot dogs at breakneck speed). Complete your festivities with a nightly fireworks display and you get a Independence Day Celebration it would make the founding fathers proud.
Giving us even more reason to celebrate, July 4th falls on a Thursday this year. So if you're lucky (or plan ahead) and can take Friday off, you can let the good times roll over over a four-day weekend.
Fancy a red, white and blue summer trip? Here are the best places to stay in the United States on July 4 that also make great weekend getaway destinations.
1. New York City, New York
You won't get much sleep with all those fireworks, so why not see them in the city that never sleeps? The largest fireworks display in the country is made by Macy'swhich launches fireworks from barges on the East River or the Hudson in New York (visit their website for the most up-to-date information on viewing locations). Since more than 3 million spectators come to see the fireworks, the best way to avoid the crowds is to find a restaurant or a friend's rooftop to watch the event. Alternatively, you can consider smaller shows like that of Coney Islandwhere you can enjoy nearly three miles of boardwalk and spend the day on the beach before the fireworks.
Daytime events also abound for Independence Day, including Nathan's Annual Hot Dog Eating Contestwhich is held in Coney Island every July 4th. Come to the Brooklyn neighborhood to see star player Joey Chestnut defend his title in the competition: in 2023, he managed to eliminate 62 of these dogs.
If you're coming to Bristol for Independence Day, expect a breathtaking parade, revolutionary outfit included.
Photo by James Kirkikis/Shutterstock
2. Bristol, Rhode Island
As major cities compete to see which place will have the most splashy celebration for the Fourth of July, this Rhode Island town has lasted the longest. The city of around 22,000 people began celebrating the nation's independence in 1785 with a parade, and it became the longest-running Independence Day celebration in the United States.
It's a title that the city fully embraces, with festivities that make Independence Day a weeks-long-term event. The festivities begin on June 14 with a Flag Day Ceremony-with a town crier- and conclude with the famous 4th of July parade. In between, celebrate events like a summer concert series And 4th of July ball. After Independence Day, enjoy the good weather and discover the The many beaches of the Ocean State.
3. San Francisco, California
San FranciscoLondon's Pier 39 hosts several citywide celebrations throughout the year: one of these is a fireworks display every Independence Day. (Pro tip: Avoid traffic at Fisherman's Wharf by choosing to come and go using public transportation.) For daytime events, look to smaller venues like Sonoma for hometown-style parades. Or cross the Oakland Bay Bridge to USS Hornet Sea, Air and Space Museum. Every Independence Day, the retired warship hosts a 4th of July BBQ on his cockpit.
If you can spend a weekend in San Francisco, there is lots of sightseeing to do, starting with a tour of Golden Gate Park and the Saturday Farmers Market at the Ferry Building. The city has been classified among the The best cities in the world of 2024 due to traffic on the streets without cars which has been happening since the COVID-19 pandemic, so definitely take a bike and bring your best walking shoes.
Concerts and fireworks are 4th of July must-dos in Washington, D.C.
Photos by Redswept/Shutterstock and Roberto Galan/Shutterstock
4. Washington, D.C.
This is a no-brainer when it comes to places to celebrate Independence Day, but if you're heading to this city for the first week of July, there are plenty of events to put on your calendar. There is the annual National Independence Day Parade on Constitution Avenue, where drum corps and bands parade alongside floats in front of hundreds of thousands of spectators. You can also go to the National Mall and see the best musicians performing at the A fourth Capitol, the celebration of the National Independence Day of the United States; The 2023 lineup included performances from Chicago and Boyz II Men.
The main fireworks display, organized by the National Park Service, draws hundreds of thousands of people to the heart of downtown. Want an alternative, less crowded viewpoint? Bring a blanket and go to Gravelly Point Park, a few miles away north of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. You will be able to see the fireworks from across the river, with the added bonus of seeing planes taking off from DCA. Then read tips from locals and find out what you can do here four days in Washington, DC
5.Nashville, Tennessee
You can count on music as an integral part of Nashville's Fourth of July celebrations, especially in its Let freedom sing! Music City on July 4 event. Last year's party featured Brad Paisley, as well as Ben Rector, The War and Treaty, Langhorne Slim and Tiera Kennedy. The annual spectacle ends with a fireworks display in downtown Nashville. Watch the event from the rooftops of hotels like Bobby Nashville (last year's tickets included a barbecue), The Virgin Hotel Pool ClubAnd W Nashville.
But while Fourth of July celebrations are great, you can't leave Nashville before enjoying its famous hot chicken or visiting a music museum. Take at least 48 hours to explore its distinct neighborhoods and outdoor spaces, including a replica of the Athens Palace Parthenon-to make the most of your stay in Tennessee.
More than 200 years after the Boston Tea Party, Boston Harbor is the site of Independence Day festivities.
Photo by Keith J. Finks/Shutterstock
6. Boston, Massachusetts
Since the whole Boston Tea Party incident hundreds of years ago, Boston has been linked to the country's independence. The city celebrates its history with Harbor Festivala week-long event that is one of the largest Fourth of July festivals in the country.
From July 1-7, enjoy live music at Downtown Crossing and try different renditions of clam chowder at Chowder Festival. At night, sit along the Inner Harbor to watch the Harborfest fireworks launch from a barge at Boston's Long Wharf. Spend the weekend discovering some of the new developments that have occurred in the historic citylike the MGM Music Hall at Fenway, opening in 2022.
7. St. Louis, Missouri
Travel to St. Louis on July 4 and celebrate the nation's independence at Gateway Arch National Park, the smallest national park in the country. The city celebrates with its America's Birthday Parade, which has been around since 1878 and is inspired by New Orleans' Mardi Gras celebration (floats from New Orleans were even shipped to St. Louis during the parade's early years). You can watch the 2024 parade along Market Street in downtown St. Louis and watch the nightly fireworks near the Gateway Arch.
After enjoying classic Independence Day burgers and hot dogs, take advantage of the weekend to discover Iconic St. Louis Restaurants— a gooey butter cake and a pork steak, what do you think?
