Top 10 places to celebrate July 4

Queen Mary 2
One of the best place to watch fireworks light up the sky on July 4 is from the decks of the illustrious Queen Mary 2, the Cunard line’s newest prestige cruise ship. The talk of the cruise world since her debut in 2004, this breathtaking mega-liner is the definition of luxury cruising, and the line's five-day Independence Day Sampler is an excellent excuse to sample her bounty. Departing from New York on July 3, you'll sail up the coast to Boston, where you'll be able to grab a spot on the deck, get a glass of champagne, and have a toast to America’s birthday as fireworks light up the sky over the Atlantic. Of course the irony of it all shouldn’t be lost – you’ll be standing on a ship bearing the name of a Queen of England while simultaneously celebrating America’s Independence from the British – at the site of the Boston Tea Party! With the festivities over, you'll sail onto Bar Harbour and Halifax before returning to New York on July 8. For more information on the Queen Mary 2 and to book this particular cruise, visit www.cunard.com.

San Diego
Barbecues, beer, bonfires, and fantastic fireworks – if there's one beach town that packs a party on July 4, it’s San Diego. The sprawling shores along Mission and Pacific beaches are crowded with merry sunbathers from dawn 'til dusk – some dedicated holiday celebrants even camp out overnight to ensure a prime spot on the sand. Plenty of oh-so-American activities will keep you occupied both on and around the holiday – like carnivals complete with Ferris wheels, the Freedom Days Parade, and San Diego County Fair on the Del Mar Fairgrounds, to name a few. But the real action starts after dark, when a no-holds-bar pyrotechnics show lights up the sky before fizzling into the ocean. You’ll hear the explosions all night long but the largest show (and our favorite) is the Big Bay celebration that starts at 9pm. It’ll be hard to miss the rockets’ red glare shooting up from barges off Harbor and Shelter Islands, but you’ll get the best views from San Diego Bay. For more information on firework shows and events, check out www.signonsandiego.com or www.sandiego.org.

San Juan Islands
Watching a Bald Eagle fly overhead is bound to get you into a stars-and-stripes state of mind and the San Juan Islands, off the coast of Washington State, are one of the few places in the US where such sightings are commonplace. Of the more than 700 islands that make up the chain, your best bet for July 4 is the eponymous San Juan Island, where you’ll find the aptly named Fourth of July Beach along Griffin Bay; claim your spot along the sand, and spend your day swimming, playing softball, and roasting marshmallows on bonfires below the tide line. Also don’t miss the annual Pig War Picnic, named for the so-called “Pig War” waged on the island between Brits and Americans in 1859. The commemorative picnic takes place on nearby Price Street, following the Fourth of July parade, and serves up equal parts burgers and hot dogs with good old-fashioned fun, like egg tosses, hay scrambles, pony rides, and musical entertainment. For more information on 4th of July events on the islands, check out www.guidetosanjuans.com.

US Virgin Islands
St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John are the only American-owned islands in the Caribbean and they pull out all the stops with two celebratory holidays: their own Emancipation Day, on July 3rd (to commemorate the end of the slave trade), and Independence Day, on July 4 (since joining the US in 1917), culminating with a parade on St. John, the tiniest, and, arguably, prettiest, of the islands. Not only is airfare to the isles cheaper in late June and July, but hotel rates are nearly half off their winter highs as well, making a visit here a cultural treat and a bona fide bargain. Imagine celebrating July 4 drinking a rum punch instead of beer and painting the town red, white, and blue at Caribbean-flavored bashes at night. Note that while St. John is the main focal point for Independence Day antics, all three of the islands have something to offer over the holiday. For more information visit www.usvitourism.vi.

Washington, DC
Of course the nation’s capital is going to rank as a top ten place to celebrate the nation’s birthday! Several exciting events lead up to the culmination of the July 4th festivities, one of which is the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, where everything American, from food, crafts, concerts, and more, is showcased along the National Mall. Discover all things American at this free festival, which typically lasts for about a week from late June through July 4, and strives to capture the varying customs and cultures found within all fifty United States. Next up is Constitution Avenue, where the massive National Independence Day Parade incorporates a stream of lavish floats, bands, giant balloons, and military groups and makes for an impressive spectacle against the backdrop of imposing national monuments. Finally, as night falls on July 4, the free A Capitol Fourth concert kicks off on the West Lawn of the Capitol Building, with special guest performances accompanied by the National Symphony Orchestra. As a grand finale, the concert is followed by one of the nation’s largest and most visually-impressive fireworks displays, illuminating the night sky above the Washington Monument. See www.washington.org for more information on the capital’s July 4th events.

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