The Top Five Places in the US to Watch July 4th Fireworks

Virtually every city and town in the United States marks Independence Day, July 4th, with a fireworks display. Some, however, are grander than others and worthy of a special trip just to be a part of the celebration. It's no surprise that four of our five picks are on the east coast, in towns with special ties to America's history.

Washington DC
America's Capital throws a party every year on July 4th. Thomas Jefferson started the tradition more than 200 years ago and the July 4th fireworks display and concert on the Washington Mall is arguably the best in the nation. Get there early if you're planning to attend. The event draws more than 100,000 viewers each year. The mall opens at 10:00 a.m. and the West Lawn of the Capitol Building, where the concert is held, opens at 3:00 p.m. The concert begins at 8:00 p.m. and concludes at dusk with the fireworks display over the Washington Monument accompanied by music from the National Symphony Orchestra.

New York City
New York's July 4th extravaganza is put on each year by the Macy's Department Store people. What the celebration lacks in history (it began in 1976), it makes up for in over-the-top brilliance. For 2011, the display will again be over the Hudson River in Manhattan and organizers boast that they use more than three times the shells as any other fireworks display in the United States. The 26-minute display begins at 9:20 p.m. Good viewing spots include the West Side Highway and any place below W. 59th Street with a good view of the Hudson River.

Boston
More than 200,000 people attend the annual Boston July 4th fireworks display that sets up along the Charles River each year. The festivities include a concert by the Boston Pops Orchestra that begins at 8:30 p.m. and concludes with the 20-minute fireworks display at dusk. Good viewing include spots all along the Charles River on both the Cambridge and Boston sides of the river as well as from the Longfellow Bridge.

Philadelphia
No discussion of July 4th fireworks would be complete without mentioning Philadelphia, the birthplace of American Independence and the site of the country's first July 4th celebration. Today, the city celebrates with a concert and massive fireworks display in downtown over the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The festivities begin at 5:00p.m. with the concert starting at 8:00 p.m., followed by the fireworks. Good viewing spots include the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Lemon Hill and Schuylkill River Park.

Mount Rushmore
Our lone pick west of the Mississippi is a majestic one. Mount Rushmore, in the Black Hills of South Dakota, is the site of Gutzon Borglum's dramatic carving of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt into the face of a mountain. This event is held on July 3rd each year and the fireworks are sent up behind the monument for a spectacular effect. A variety of musical and other patriotic events are scheduled, beginning at 9:00 a.m. The fireworks begin at dusk. Admission is free, but there is an $11 per vehicle parking fee.

Other Travel Articles by Sandy Mitchell
Where to Stay in Northeast Ohio's Wine Country
Five Things to Do on Block Island
A Visitors' Guide to Port Everglades

Sources:
Travel + Leisure Magazine: Best July 4th Fireworks
ABC News: Top 10 Places to Watch July 4th Fireworks
About.com Washington: July 4th Fireworks
GoPhilly.com: July 4th Fireworks
NPS: Mount Rushmore Independence Day Events