Things to Do for the Fourth of July in Washington, DC

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Everyone’s favorite summer holiday is quickly approaching! Nothing says July 4th like BBQs, pool days, parades, and fireworks! But with the country beginning to emerge from the worst of it, some celebrations are returning in the area. Read on to see what’s happening around Washington, DC this Independence Day and gather up some ideas for your Fourth of July weekend.

National Mall Fireworks

As the nation’s capital, Washington, DC is a great place to spend Independence Day! There are so many important cultural and historical sites in the area that you can visit to celebrate the holiday while keeping with the theme of its roots!

Spend your day wandering around the national mall visiting monuments and museums and then end the day by watching the fireworks displays. You can view the locations for fireworks here, which include Grant Memorial and the Capitol Building. For those who would rather not be in a crowd, you can watch the annual PBS broadcast, A Capitol Fourth.

Rock Creek Park

A laid-back day barbequing with family and friends is one of the best ways to spend the Fourth of July, and if you’re looking for a public park to host a BBQ, check out Rock Creek Park, which is managed by the National Parks Service. In fact, it was the 3rd National Park ever designated, back in 1890. The park has 8 different picnic shelters with grills and tables that you can reserve for large groups here. There are also additional places to grab a table or spread out a picnic blanket for smaller groups on a first-come-first-served basis.

The park is very large at almost 2,000 acres, so there’s plenty to do if you want to spend the whole day there. Here are some examples:

·   Go for a hike

·   Visit the Nature Center and Planetarium

·   Go horseback riding

·   Bring the kids to one of the many on-site playgrounds

·   Play golf

·   Learn history at Peirce Mill and Old Stone House

Colonial Beach

Cooling off at the beach is the perfect way to spend a sweltering Fourth of July, and luckily, Washington, DC isn’t too far from the water! For a perfect holiday weekend getaway, drive just about two hours to Colonial Beach, Virginia. This small town has a lovely stretch of sandy beach along the Potomac River as well as a long boardwalk on which you can stroll to find picnic areas, shopping, food vendors, and boat rentals.

If you get bored of the sand and surf, you can find plenty else to do in this adorable town, including:

·   Visit George Washington Birthplace National Monument

·   Monroe Bay Vineyard

·   Fishing, boating, and crabbing

·   Look for Bald Eagles, which nest in the area

While last year’s Fourth of July events were canceled, some might be back this year, so stay tuned! In previous years Colonial Beach has celebrated with auto races, a parade, children’s activities, and fireworks.

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