Every year, my family celebrates the 4th of July in San Diego.  This yearly tradition has grown out of San Diego’s awesome climate, location, and incredible lineup of all things 4th of July.  Snag cheap flights to San Diego and celebrate our nation’s independence the SoCal way!

Downtown San Diego

San Diego offers quite a few locations for fireworks, including those listed below, but one of the city’s big draws for the 4th is their annual Big Bay Boom July 4 Fireworks Show that synchronizes the largest fireworks display in the county to music from 105.7 FM radio.  With very little exceptions, visitors can snag a piece of sand along the bay or on a pier at Imperial Beach, Ocean Beach, or Pacific Beach, and you’ll be in prime viewing location for synchronized launching of patriotism from four different bay launching locations.

Coronado

I might be a bit partial to Coronado since I have spent many summers on their sandy shores, but this is our go-to spot for the 4th of July.  The small-town community feel of this city within a city offers an added level of quaint charm to your festivities. Don’t miss the parade down Orange Avenue toward the Hotel Del at 10am (arrive early or you’ll have a hard time getting around the island), enjoy live concerts in Spreckels Park at 4pm, and enjoy the fireworks display over Glorietta Bay at 9pm.  Another perk of being on the island is that you can see fireworks from all over the city!

Del Mar

Toward the northern edge of town, head to the Del Mar Fairgrounds for a day of patriotic festivities with a Hometown Heroes Parade, a concert from “Weird” Al Yankovic, and a crowning fireworks display accompanied by the Navy Band Southwest.  Activities start at 9:30am and the fireworks kick off that night at 9pm.

La Jolla

Spend your day of leisure relaxing on the beaches or searching for shells at the La Jolla Cove tide pools, then head to the waterfront Ellen Browning Scripps Park for fireworks over one of my favorite landscapes in town. 9pm.

National City

To the south, National City offers six whole days of family fun leading up to the fourth of July.  From Friday, June 29 through the 4th, head to Kimball Park for the National City Carnival full of games, rides, food, and drink.  9pm fireworks over National City cap the fun-filled lineup.

Do any of you have a favorite place to catch the fireworks in San Diego? Let us know on our Facebook page!

Photo Credit: Katie Bodell