Round-Up: Fourth of July
AP Photo
Below, the Daily Traveler (aided by Conde Nast Traveler's Megan Montenaro) samples U.S. cities and their 4th of July goings-on for your firework-watching, hot dog-noshing pleasure. Don't forget the sparklers.
San Francisco, CA
The city by the bay is perfectly poised for fireworks: There's the Fisherman's Wharf celebration, Big Bang Beat at Pier 39, free sailboat rides at the Berkeley Marina, and live music at Jack London Square in Oakland. Want to be in the middle of the action? Take a ferry ride to Tiburon, ogle the fireworks overhead, and then watch the sun set over Mt. Tam. If crowds and communal grills aren't your thing, reserve a table at Spruce, a slick new Presidio spot from Chef Mark Sullivan (and it made our 2008 Hot List). He serves a fat, juicy burger with top-notch fries that can make you see stars and stripes.
Denver, CO
What better way to celebrate our country's independence than America's favorite pastime: baseball? The Rockies will take Coors field against the NY Mets this 4th. (Expect fireworks no matter who wins.) There's also a free concert by the Colorado Symphony Orchestra in City Park and an old-fashioned celebration at the Four Mile Historic Park that includes a reading of the Declaration of Independence. For those who haven't been, the Denver Art Museum has a new wing designed by world-renowned architect Daniel Libskind. The hard-edged titanium extension was inspired by the Rockies landscape (not to mention it's Libskind's first realized project in the States).
Minneapolis, MN
Home to the 2008 Republican National Convention, this city is streaming with patriotism
(especially since this year is the state's 150th anniversary). On the
4th of July, fireworks, live music and picnics will dot the city's
Mississippi riverside. There are also some great restaurants in town: Heidi's made Conde Nast Traveler's 2008 Hot List, and nothing on the menu is over $20, to boot.
Washington, DC
The good news: Almost everything fun to do in Washington is free. One of our favorites is the National Gallery. Huge and diverse, it boasts highly focused exhibits that really let you sink your teeth into their artists. The basement café is worth a visit--even if just for a glass of wine--for its kinetic water sculpture, the only piece on display that's splashable. For eats: Colorado Kitchen is a quirky joint whose garlic cheese grits are worth poetry. The homemade donuts, too, warrant sonnets. And there are several places around the National Mall for prime fireworks viewing with a U.S. Capitol-backdrop.
Williamsburg, VA
Colonial Williamsburg's Fifes and Drums
will celebrate their 50th anniversary as the city's musical
ambassadors. Alumni from the corps, which will perform throughout the
Independence Day weekend, will join them. Guests can enjoy
storytellers, balladeers, games, and a buffet-style picnic on the
grounds of the restored Governor's Palace. After you get your history fix, be sure to check out the Prime Outlets.
From July 1-6, the annual Red, White & Blue Sidewalk Sales Event
will be booming. And after youre all shopped out, head over to the Spa of Colonial Williamsburg--brand new and named to the 2008 Hot List--for healing rituals from the past performed with up-to-date ingredients.
Philadelphia, PA
From June 28 to July 4, Philadelphia will
call upon its rich history as our nation's first capital (in the 1790s)
with one of the biggest
celebrations in the nation. The Sunoco Welcome America! Festival
offers seven days of family-oriented entertainment with great food,
music, and parades. While in Philadelphia, visitors can stay at the Rittenhouse Hotel, a Conde Nast Traveler 2008 Gold Lister. A stop at Rae will delight any discerning palate; Daniel Sterns take on the classic Philly Cheese Steak is worth the trip alone.
New York City, NY
The Big Apple boasts no less than three different fireworks displays.
Beginning at 9 p.m., Macy's will blast off from Midtown, South Street
Seaport, and Liberty State Park. (And there will be a patriotic flyover
at 8 p.m., courtesy of the U.S. Air Force.) No friends with rooftop
access? From Roosevelt Island, in
the East River, you can watch while you down some Dinosaur BBQ. Chairs will be provided for ticket
holders, so no need to lug your own. Also, check out Nathan's
on Coney Island around noon, when hot dog lovers will compete to
consume the most. Arrive by 11 a.m., though; this place gets packed.
Boston, MA
Albeit crowded, Boston's annual celebration is truly amazing. The 2008 show,
complete with a concert by the Boston Pops, will be the largest and
most complex Boston Fourth of July pyrotechnic display to date. More
than 20 thousand pounds of explosives will be used for the display. (We
hear this year's fireworks have international flair as well, with
gadgets and gizmos imported from Portugal, Spain, China, Japan, and
Italy.) The docks at Community Boating
have great unobstructed waterfront views, so you can watch the 'works
while you take part in the summer cookout. For those wanting something
off the beaten path: the little-known Boston Harbor Islands are just a seven-mile ferryboat ride across the Boston Harbor--a great day trip.
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