Last Minute Fourth of July Travel Ideas
Fourth of July is on a Friday this year, and for most of us that means a three day weekend. While many July 4th celebrations include barbeques and pool parties, this is the opportunity to go on a road trip and see America.
There are certain American icons that we all should make the goal to visit at some point in our lifetime. No matter how many you see the pictures, it's quite the experience to witness it in person. They appeal to our patriotism, love of liberty, and remind us what it means to be an American.
I sat down to chat with Travel Girl Magazine editor-in-chief, Stephanie Oswald about some travel destinations to take for Fourth of July weekend.
So Stephanie with Fourth of July right around the corner and on a Friday, a lot of people want to turn it into a holiday weekend. So whether it's doing something on Fourth of July or that weekend, what are some of top ideas for celebration?
Well Brynn, it is an exciting weekend because AAA says that more than 41 million Americans are planning to take an independent flight getaway this year. That number is up. It's the highest we've had in several years. So people are getting out there and taking off. I have some great ideas for you on where to go for that patriotic celebration and also how to get there.
You are around Philly and there is so much happening right there. It's one of the most historic cities in the country. One thing I think that is really exciting to know about is the Mummer's. Everyone knows about the stuff they do for New Year's, but they also come out on the Fourth of July too. I think it's a must-see if you haven't been out to see the Mummer's and the Fourth of July parade.
That's definitely a great idea for Fourth of July weekend and I like the idea of looking into the cities that are pretty much the backbone of the country. The cities that have that history of the country being built. And you're right, Philadelphia has a lot of history as well as many other places across the country.
Absolutely. I think what you need to do is build a bucket list for your Fourth of July celebration because even if you live in a historic place like Philly, heading out to New York and visiting the memorials there for 9/11, or going to Baltimore and seeing Fort McHenry, or even Boston to go on the Freedom Trail. There's so many different types of history, it can really broaden your horizon and I always say that travel is the greatest educator. I highly recommend checking out those big cities for Fourth of July. Then you have to think about fireworks on the beach. That can be a lot of fun too especially for families.
And Fireworks are so big around this time of year and something for those hometown celebrators to look forward to that you typically don't think of going to the beach to see them. Actually many people try to stay away from the beach to avoid the crowd, but experiencing fireworks on the beach can definitely draw them there.
Yes and as you pointed out earlier, Fourth of July on a Friday is perfect for a long weekend getaway and heading to a destination where you can enjoy the holiday. Now a lot of places have community celebrations on the 3rd then you can take off on the 4th to get there in time for a celebration and then you have all weekend to relax at the beach.
Here are some ideas for places to go to that are a little further away.
San Diego has plenty going on
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina has a lot happening.
They are doing something really fun in the state of South Carolina actually. There will be a military flyover on July 4th at 1pm, and it will go along the entire coast of South Carolina. It will take them about 15 minutes, but imagine the impact. They're saying to let freedom roar instead of let freedom ring. So there are going to be these F15 fighters and they're asking people to salute the troops and salute from the shore. I think this is a great concept because we need to remember that's what this holiday is really about.
That's so cool that they are placing that big of an emphasis on the troops. And a great idea for those who want to travel even further, maybe even a nice road trip with this three day weekend.
Absolutely. And speaking of road trips, I have a little insider information for you. There is actually a new way to travel that isn't actually new but is growing. City to city bus service. Megabus.com has just expanded its service. I did some researching this morning and you can still get a great deal this weekend, even last minute. Plane tickets might cost a fortune, so why not get on a bus? From Philadelphia to New York round trip you can get it for $28 this weekend. Then to D.C round trip it's $39.
So it's fairly cheap to go to some bigger cities and make the most of your weekend and really enjoying yourself.
Yes! And most people think they can't go anywhere because it is last minute, but they can still have a chance to take a road trip via bus. The nice thing about megabus.com is that you get free wifi, so it's like being on a plane on the highway, but there's no middle seats. Other than that it's comfortable, and also for Philly in particular, there are shuttle destinations where you can reserve seats specifically. It's really fun for the kids and mom and dad. Just to look out and see what's going on. Nobody has to be a distracted driver, no one has to worry about who has the GPS and whether it's working or not. They can just let someone else do the driving and save a ton of money.
And to know you can reserve your seat is very comforting for those people who get a little more motion sick in a certain seat on that bus so they won't be quite as sick and can enjoy the trip.
Absolutely. That is very very important. On that note too, when you are packing for a holiday weekend, this is a good time with a couple days to make sure you have motion sickness pills if you need them and any medication you need. If you are going to be going through airport security with anything that looks questionable, make sure you have actual pill bottles with your name on it so they know it is a prescription because you don't want to be held up at security for any reason.
I can imagine that is something that slips a lot of people's mind, and then if it's an important medicine, they may not be able to bring it with them because it might be considered suspicious looking.
Exactly. It's really important to dress for success when you have to go through a security screening, especially on a holiday weekend. I would like to remind everyone that these weekends are a time when all the travelers are out in full force. So just because you are a frequent traveler, doesn't mean the person in front of you is. So you need to make sure you pack your patience and your common sense. They don't take up any room in your suitcase and are really helpful to give you a high quality trip.
That's true. Because the busier times always seem to be more stressful and people seem to be more hectic, so that's more of a reason to just take a breath and realize that everyone has a place they want to get to.
Absolutely. And you know this weekend in particular it's really the time to find some of the exciting different things that are out there. Maybe it's that you're going to go to the beach, for example Myrtle Beach has a Vietnam war veteran who will be performing at the Carolina Opry. He's a motivational speaker, Lt. Cleave McCleary. He was critically wounded in Vietnam and given the silver and bronze stars for bravery.
If you happen to be in D.C, they're going to have so much happening around the mall at the different memorials. There are speeches happening and different bands playing in the national mall.
Here's another tip for you, get to your hotel concierge if you're going to be going out of town and staying somewhere, and find out if there's something you need to know about for any idea you're with a date or the family. The hotel concierge is your ticket to getting specific information that will be right in the area where you are staying.
And of course Travel Girl Magazine is also a great source for that. Not just for the packing tips and travel destinations but what to do in the destination they choose.
Absolutely. Thank you for saying that. Our website is TravelGirlInc.com. And another source is to make sure you follow everyone, everything, and every place on Twitter. I know it might sound overwhelming, but if you just take a few minutes then following different places on Twitter and Facebook will help you to know what's going on.
Every place from a bus company to a destination is on Twitter and Facebook and can help you get some great deals. Megabus has a Twitter handle, Myrtle Beach is @mymyrtlebeach, and my Twitter handle is @TravelGirlSteph. If you follow us on Twitter your will get tips faster than everyone else. It's like seeing a travel agent, you get to find out about things a little bit ahead of time, which can save you a lot of money.
So whether you're going to a barbeque, pool party, or traveling this holiday weekend, make sure you're well prepared. Have a Happy 4th of July!
