Celebrate Independence Day! 7 Amazing Fourth of July Getaways Tali Love June 7, 2019 Travel Guide This post was last updated on June 22, 2023. It’s officially time to break out the U.S. flags, barbecue grills, and fireworks! The Fourth of July is upon us, and it’s time to get ready for some serious celebrating. Most cities in America have some sort of Independence Day festivities, whether it involves a parade, fireworks, a reenactment, or some other kind of patriotic tribute. While you can find a good Fourth of July party just about anywhere, we’ve put together a list of 7 great places that you can easily to and have an unforgettable time. Telluride, Colorado The city of Telluride has a full day of entertainment planned for you at the foot of the San Juan Mountains. If camping is one of your pastimes, then this is the place to be, especially over the holiday. Come to town early — or stay past the Fourth — to have enough time to explore the natural beauty of the area. You won’t have too much time for exploring on Independence Day because you’ll probably be swept up in all kinds of colorful events. Begin the day with the Telluride Foundation’s Rundola — a foot race where the proceeds go to the foundation — which runs from the Telluride gondola to the San Sophia gondola. Then it’s time for the Parade on Main Street with floats, costumes, and a Colorado National Guard fly-over. Join the firemen in Town Park for a barbecue with the whole town, and you can round out your evening by enjoying the unbelievable fireworks from anywhere in town — even the top of the gondola. Wisconsin Dells If you’re looking for a mixture of outdoor activities, entertainment centers, natural beauty, and waterparks, consider visiting the Wisconsin Dells on the Wisconsin River. Spend your day shopping and dining downtown in the Dells and then head over to the Municipal Pool for the city-sponsored fireworks show. If you’d rather spend the day at one of the local waterparks or resorts, many put on their own fireworks displays, so you won’t have to go far to see some beautiful lights. Lake Tahoe If you don’t mind celebrating Independence Day with hundreds of thousands of your fellow Americans, consider heading to Lake Tahoe. See the beautiful sandy beaches and the shimmering lake itself, and participate in some community events before one of the best firework shows in the nation. Spend your day on the beach, at a barbecue, or exploring the town, but whatever you do, make sure you’ve got a good seat on the South Shore before the fireworks start around 9:45 p.m.. You can even get a ticket with any of the cruises on the lake to see the fireworks from a boat! Elko, Nevada Looking for a more personal or solitary place to spend the nation’s birthday? Visit the small city of Elko, Nevada. You’ll have plenty of outdoor activities to choose from, whether you’re interested in horseback riding, mountain biking, or hiking. The Nevada wilderness is waiting for you, especially if you want to camp. Now, if you’d still like to have a “typical” Fourth of July celebration, the town does have fireworks, a parade, and some cookouts throughout the day. However, most people who visit Elko do so for the area’s serene natural beauty. But before you hit the trails, you might want to swing by the Marina for a special pancake breakfast to get the day started. Philadelphia No Independence Day list would be complete without Philadelphia. America’s birthplace throws a major birthday party for the country that gets a lot of attention. A city that’s full of history, Philadelphia is a great city to visit anyway, but on the Fourth of July, you’ll certainly have your fill of entertainment. In the week leading up to the Fourth, you’ll be able to take in two fireworks shows before the day itself. Plus, a few days before, you can visit the Historic District Block Party — a seven-hour street celebration with tons of performers, food trucks, history, and even a kids’ section. On the Fourth, you have plenty of activities to choose from, like the Birthday Party thrown by the Independence Visitor Center — with a five-tier cake and the Happy Birthday song led by Betsy Ross (or a reasonable facsimile) — and the Salute to America parade. There are plenty of other parties and barbecues you can be a part of throughout the day, but if you have time for just one, don’t miss out on the Wawa Welcome America concert and fireworks. Jackson Hole, Wyoming We’re heading West again for this idea. Jackson Hole has you covered if you’re looking for a full day of events, but maybe without the overwhelming bustle of Philly. You might not get much skiing in — this being summer and all — but you can certainly take advantage of the local wildlife and natural beauty. Kick-start your Fourth of July morning with breakfast with the community to raise money for the Jackson Hole Lions Club. Then, join the town for the parade with horses, classic cars, clowns, and much more. There’s music playing throughout the day and a frontier reenactment in the afternoon just before another highlight — the sunset rodeo! Close out the night by enjoying the city’s dynamic fireworks show. Mount Rushmore Another American patriotic staple, Mount Rushmore pulls out all the stops in celebrating America’s birthday. The festivities start early here in South Dakota, with a rodeo that starts a few days before the 4th. Get to town early to take advantage of as many special events as possible. You can also see the presidents come to life! That’s right — there’s a reenactment with the presidents whose faces are carved into the Black Hills. Listen to speeches or even get an autograph from your favorite! Or find a concert to hear before the fireworks on the evening of July 3. The Fourth of July itself brings memorials and activities at prominent locations, like the one at the Crazy Horse Memorial. There are also plenty of parades and a variety of firework displays that you can enjoy. Do you have a favorite July Fourth destination? Tell us about it in the comments below!
