When it comes to holiday weekends, it's hard to think past almost-here Memorial Day. But if you plan on getting out of town for the Fourth of July, the time is now to start planning your trip. There are a number of patriotic packages ready for the picking.
Check out some July Fourth deals after the jump.]]>
Picnics are almost as synonymous with the Fourth of July as fireworks. If you plan on spending the Fourth along the river with a basket full of goodies, let us help you out. We dug around for some picnic-ready food that you can easily pack and bring to your Fourth of July shindig.
· Fried chicken
The beauty of fried chicken is that it’s a delicious finger food whether it's hot or cold. But don’t do KFC; go gourmet with Fulton Valley buttermilk fried chicken from soul food spot Brown Sugar Kitchen ($6.50 for two pieces) in Oakland. Chicago’s upscale deli Goddess and Grocer offers a picnic menu that includes fried chicken and buttermilk dressing ($21 per person). If there are vegheads in your party, bring festive red pepper hummus and vegetables.]]>
There’s plenty of options for checking out fireworks this holiday weekend, but if awesome waterfront locations aren’t your thing, there’s always a more far out option. The citizens of Roswell, New Mexico just can’t give up on that whole UFO thing, and our nation’s birthday is a chance for them to celebrate both independence and intergalactic invaders.
This year’s festival runs from July 1 through July 5. There are daily seminars and discussions about all things outer space at the Goddard Planetarium and International UFO Museum and music every night to give you a break from all the science fiction. Plus they usually sneak in a couple laser shows set to the tunes of Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. ]]>
Boston fireworks
Nothing pairs better with fireworks—other than booze and barbecue, of course—than a riverfront view. Let's face it, anything is better with a vista of the water. But there's something special about seeing the exploding colorful lights illuminated on the water. To help you get the most bang out of your Fourth of July, we narrowed down the top five riverfront spots for fireworks.
Check out our riverfront picks after the jump.]]>
Going away next weekend? Perhaps on one of these last-minute Fourth of July escapes? Since the goal of the Fourth of July is just to relax and enjoy the balmy temperatures and lazy nights of summer, our biggest advice to you is not to overpack.
We fancy ourselves quite the expert packers; two weeks in Hong Kong on a single carry-on suitcase is de rigeur for us, and so we'd thought we'd share our own packing list for next weekend—with a few revisions allowing for your flexibility, of course...
The Complete Fourth of July Long Weekend Packing List: ]]>
Where the heck has the summer gone? It's hard to believe that next weekend is the Fourth of July. But you procrastinators still have some time to plan a kick-butt Fourth of July holiday weekend, so book your travel now...
· Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
If fireworks and barbecue aren't your thing, escape the Fourth of July chaos with a trip to Punta Cana. This package includes four nights on the island as well as airfare starting at $585. Your beachfront vacay will be free of hot dogs and loud fireworks, but you'll want to sip a cocktail or two from your chaise lounge. We were just there ourselves recently, so be sure to check out all those special stories loaded with tips here.]]>
While most celebs were either prancing around on the beaches of Malibu this Fourth of July weekend or hitting the nightclubs in the Hamptons, Jon Bon Jovi was doing something a little more low-key, eating Mexican Food in East Hampton at The Blue Parrot. We're shocked that this "hometown boy" from New Jersey wasn't spending time down at "the shore" but we'll forgive him that because apparently, he decided to give the place a little show.
"He just took a guitar off the wall and started playing," said one lucky eater. The New Jersey rock legend opened with "Who Says You Can't Go Home" before playing "Free Bird." Then, "He tried to get back to his table, but everyone was screaming for him to play one more song," laughs our source. He obliged them with "Dead or Alive."
Man, we wish all celebrities would do this when they dine at restaurants. Except you know, Paris Hilton. ]]>