Five best places to see the Fourth of July fireworks in Washington, D.C.

Every year Washington, D.C. hosts the nation's biggest birthday bash, combining events like the Smithsonian Folklife Festival with one of the country's finest Fourth of July fireworks displays; that party draws over half a million people to the National Mall. Watching the fireworks at such classic locations as underneath the Washington Monument entails staking out a spot in the morning and suffering through the brutal heat and humidity of Washington's summer. After the show is over, long lines at the Metro and traffic jams make getting home a slow, agonizing process. Fortunately, there are some places where you can go to see the fireworks, enjoy a pleasant evening, and avoid the crush of 500,000 people trying to leave at once.

1. U.S. Marine Corps Memorial
Better known as the Iwo Jima Memorial, this fixture of Arlington National Cemetery commands a clear view of the fireworks and features easy transportation through its own Metro stop. Don't dawdle after the show. If you linger too long, the crowd from the Mall will pack the Metro cars like sardines, and you will need to walk out of the cemetery and hail a cab.

2. Gravelly Point Park
Many Washingtonians know this place simply as "that park by the airport." The main advantages of Gravelly Point is the parking lot. You need to arrive early, but not as early as the morning, so plan on a picnic or barbecue dinner as part of the evening. After the fireworks, the drive home is greatly eased because the park is right off the George Washington Parkway.

3. The Jefferson Memorial
To get as close to the action as possible and still beat the crowds, head for the Jefferson Memorial. You can usually arrive in the early evening and still find a place to sit on the Memorial's steps, and the fireworks' reflection off the Tidal Basin adds to their luster. You will need to drive to and park in Southwest D.C., and then walk to and from the Memorial.

4. Cruise on the Potomac
If you don't mind spending some money, a dinner cruise on the Potomac aboard the Spirit of Washington and the Odyssey offer ways to enjoy the fireworks in air conditioned comfort. After the display, patrons can enjoy dancing and an open bar.

5. The P.O.V. Roof Terrace Party
If you don't mind spending a lot of money, you can attend the Fourth of July party at the W Hotel's P.O.V. Roof Terrace Bar, a swanky joint with one of the city's best views of the Mall. Admission includes an open bar with exotic cocktails, and the party goes on until 2 a.m.