Fourth of July Celebration Photos to Get You Planning a Patriotic Summer Vacation

By Erika Owen
April 29, 2016
Getty Images/Moment RF

Some might say that the best holidays come during the summer (the ability to eat potato salad on a blanket in the park is key), and it doesn't get much more festive stateside than during Fourth of July weekend. Come Independence Day, fireworks stands, watermelon slices, and bunting are ubiquitous. Parades blare through the streets, day-drinking is standard, and the hot dogs are plentiful. July 4 events span family-friendly fare (bike parades! fireworks displays!) and good old-fashioned debauchery.

While it's great to spend the holiday in your hometown, there's plenty of reasons to consider a full-fledged July 4 vacation. Washington, D.C., for instance, has a string patriotic celebrations to make our Founding Fathers proud. New York hosts the largest fireworks show in the continental U.S., as well as a hot dog-eating contest on the beach.

We've already shared the must-see parades and events around the country—if that wasn't enough to kick your summertime wanderlust into high gear, these images certainly will. 

Erika Owen is the Audience Engagement Editor at Travel + Leisure. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @erikaraeowen.

Start Slideshow

1 of 30

Fireworks at San Diego Del Mar Park

Daniel Knighton/Getty Images
Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 30

Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images

4th of July Parade in Washington, D.C.

3 of 30

MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images

The Licoln Memorial Fourth of July Fireworks

Advertisement

4 of 30

Visions of America/UIG via Getty Images

Fireworks Stand on Route 29 in Virginia

5 of 30

Vladimer Shioshvilli/Flickr

The Washington, D.C. Capitol Building

6 of 30

VisionsofAmerica/Joe Sohm/Getty Images

Balloons Around the U.S. Capitol Building

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 30

Getty Images

Enjoying a Sunset Fireworks Show

8 of 30

John Foust

Skydiving with the American Flag 

9 of 30

Visions of America/UIG via Getty Images

The July 4th Rock Hall Parade in Maryland

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 30

Scott Dunn/Getty Images/Flickr RF

A Fourth of July Evening in Ocean City

11 of 30

Steve Ruark via Fort George G. Meade Public Affairs Office

The Fort Meade Independence Celebration

12 of 30

U.S. Army Photo by Sgt 1st Class Jeff Troth

The Camp Casey Fireworks in South Korea

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 30

Getty Images

14 of 30

Getty Images/iStockphoto

The Statue of Liberty on Independence Day

15 of 30

Jeff Pang

A New York City Sunset on the Fourth of July

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 30

Steven L. Shepard, Presidio of Monterey Public Affairs

Seaside's 65th Independence Day Parade of Champions

17 of 30

Getty Images

A 4th of July Scene in Maine, 1979

18 of 30

Dan Nguyen

The Brooklyn Bridge During a Fireworks Show

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 30

Don Sullivan

Disney World Fourth of July Fireworks Show

20 of 30

Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images

The Independence Day Celebration at Gasworks Park in Seattle

21 of 30

Getty Images/Flickr Select

Fireworks on the Beach

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 30

Getty Images/Aurora Creative

Fourth of July Dog Parade

23 of 30

Kazuend

Fireworks Show Finale

24 of 30

Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images

A Scene from Dale City, Virginia's July 4th Parade

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 30

Getty Images/iStockphoto

America in Sparklers Independence Day Celebration

26 of 30

Fourth of July Children Parade

Cyndy Sims Parr

27 of 30

Chalk Illustrations on the Fourth of July

Getty Images/Blend Images
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 30

American Flags in Boston

Ludovic Gauthier

29 of 30

Getty Images/Moment RF

American Flag Fruit Cake

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next

Advertisement
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.travelandleisure.com