By ShermansTravel editorial staff

updated 8:40 p.m. ET July 3, 2008

With its day-long beach parties, afternoon parades, nightly concerts and dazzling fireworks, July 4th isn't your everyday holiday — it's the birthday of the good ol’ U.S. of A., and everyone's invited to the countrywide party.

Whether you're into paying tribute to American history or just enjoying traditional American summer pastimes, our list of top places to celebrate July 4 has got you covered.

While we were tempted to include London — just to remind them who won! — we opted to stay domestic with our picks.

Accordingly, you’ll find the obvious places for saluting the nation — like D.C., Boston, and Philadelphia — as well as the unexpected. Look for coastal cities, offshore islands, an inland mountain, and ... one of the finest ships afloat.

Boston
A city that cradled the American Revolution and once threw wild tea parties, today Boston hosts a party of a different kind, as one of the nation’s premier July 4th destinations. More than 200 events make up a fun-filled six-day calendar during the annual Boston Harborfest, which kicks off on July 1st and continues through the Independence Day holiday. This patriotic celebration focuses on the city’s strong maritime and colonial heritage, and unfolds, as such, along the waterfront, on the Harbor Islands, and in the city's downtown.

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Expect a slew of events (many of them free), ranging from fireworks, concerts, kids’ days, cruises, tours, and more. Some of the festival’s highlights include Chowderfest, during which some 11,000 participants chow down to select the best chowder from Boston-area restaurants; the annual turnaround of the USS Constitution; and the reading of the Declaration of Independence from the balcony of the Old State House. The other major component of Beantown’s Independence Day festivities is the free Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular; arrive early with beach chairs or blankets to guarantee good seats.

Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard
With their sand dunes and salty air, lighthouses and quaint fishing villages, Cape Cod and its neighboring islands make superb Independence Day retreats, with dozens of parades, picnics and fairs that will have you humming the “Star Spangled Banner” all holiday long. Three of our favorite Independence Day events are the barbecue at the Old Whaling Church in Martha's Vineyard (in Edgartown), where you'll get a taste of New England cooking and a dose of nostalgia for the country's old maritime days; the Bike and Carriage Parade in Falmouth (on Cape Cod), where participants dress up as Uncle Sam and parade around in these decorated modes of transport; and Nantucket's Grucci fireworks display on Jetties Beach.

Chicago

From the archives: Earlier July 4 features Photos/audio:  Voices from Lady Liberty NBC:  How does it feel to be a new American?   Video:  Say, can you sing … the U.S. anthem? Your stories:  Tales of migration Vote:  Which song makes best U.S. anthem?

Chicagoans get so amped for the city’s annual Independence Day festivities that they actually kick off the revelry days in advance. Spectacular firework displays, fun festivals, rockin’ concerts and ballgames make the city an obvious choice for a holiday hurrah. Of course, no 4th of July would be complete without a colorful fireworks extravaganza — the most elaborate display is set to patriotic music and lights up the sky over the Navy Pier, a superb location with sweeping skyline views along Lake Michigan. Be sure to grab a seat at the Navy Pier Beer Garden before the show to listen to free performances by stellar Chicago-area bands, which jam to the blues, classic rock and pop; remarkable free concerts are also held at the Petrillo Music Shell.

2008 July 4 Special Section Liberty's crown may reopen to public The National Park Service is considering reopening Lady Liberty's crown for the first time since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, according to documents a congressman released on July Fourth. Americans mark an old-fashioned Fourth 37 hurt in Iowa town's fireworks display   Fourth of July Hassles, costs don’t stop travelers over Fourth The scientific flash behind the fireworks The inner workings of fireworks To see complete July 4 special section, click here

Mount Rushmore
Acclaimed as one of the ten man-made wonders of the world, Mount Rushmore is as grand a tribute to American history as one can get and, not surprisingly, a prime national monument for Independence Day celebrations. The imperial visages of four of the country’s most venerated leaders — George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt — are etched into the Black Hills of South Dakota, and visible from multiple spots in the Mount Rushmore National Memorial. You can follow the Avenue of Flags from the Concession Building to the Presidential Trail — a half-mile path that’ll get you up close to the mountain carvings. You can also head to the Grandview Terrace above the Lincoln Borglum Museum or the memorial’s amphitheater. July 3rd is the day to be there as a slew of commemorative events are scheduled — including a fireworks display that night.

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