The 4th of July is exactly one month away, and if you haven’t celebrated the holiday in a major city before, we have a list of a few cities that can make the experience one to remember. Here, we list a few cities worth checking out and a few you’re better off skipping:
Go
Boston
Boston is well known for its American history, and what better time to celebrate it than the 4th of July? During this time of year, the city hosts its six-day Harborfest filled with more than 200 events around the entire city that celebrate and commemorate Boston’s heritage. The holiday and the festival attract around half a million people every year, so make your reservations soon!
Mount Rushmore
What’s more patriotic than a celebration with huge presidential faces in the background? Every year at the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in Keystone, South Dakota, people from all over the country gather for ceremonies that honor military veterans as well as cultural celebrations that showcase American heritage.
Washington D.C.
Every year, America’s capital puts on a pretty good 4th of July show with a huge parade down the National Mall (complete with floats, military units, marching bands, and more), a free performance by the National Symphony Orchestra, and fireworks over the National Monument. During all of this, you can visit the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, which runs from late June to early July.
Philadelphia
As the city of our nation’s birth, Philadelphia is a great place to spend the 4th of July. The city is rich with history and the 4th of July celebrations begin a week before the day of the holiday. In between the free music concerts, parade, and fireworks, you can celebrate America by visiting iconic symbols like the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall.
New York City
If you’re all about the fireworks on the 4th of July, New York City puts on an impressive display over the Hudson River (they fire off 40,000 fireworks), and with so many tall buildings in the city, you can easily find a great place to watch them. In addition, you’ll find holiday walking tours, concerts, and boat/yacht rides.
Don’t Go
At our EWR Airport parking company, we know budgets are important, and if you’re looking for the most bang for your buck, you may want to skip these cities. According to a study by financial research firm Wallet Hub, these cities not only lack in entertainment and food options, they also lack in attractions and outdoor activities. (Anchorage was even on the top-5 list of most expensive 3-star hotels.) Here are the lowest five cities on the 4th of July list:
