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Tags: Celeb Travel / Fourth of July Travel / Jon Bon Jovi / The Hamptons / → All Tags

Bon Jovi Disses The Jersey Shore on Independence Day for The Hamptons

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.

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Tags: Fourth of July Travel / Mapquest / Fireworks / → All Tags

MapQuesting The Fourth: A Tool For Last-Minute Partiers

Anyone suffering from last-minute Fourth of July plans-making? We're raising our hands over here, and so to give everybody some assistance in making this weekend super festive, MapQuest has added a new feature to their maps: Independence Day events plotted just like the maps show gas stations and Best Westerns.

It's not totally comprehensive, but searching your city or destination and then applying the little fireworks icon will reveal events like outdoor symphony concerts, fireworks-viewing river cruises, or even daytime air shows (yay, Battle Creek, MI).

For example, the MapQuest tool turned up the "Red, White and Zoo" event at Cleveland's Zoo, the "Pied Piper Parade" in Atlanta, and a Pancake Breakfast in Boise, ID. Now you can have an answer ready for when your similarly-slacking friends ask, "hey, what are we doing this weekend?"

Related Stories:
· Fourth of July: MapQuest shows locations for fireworks events [LA Times]
· Fourth Of July Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

[Image: Mapquest]

Tags: Celeb Travel / Fourth Of July Travel / Beyonce / Miami / Viceroy Miami / Events / → All Tags

Beyonce Gets A Head Start On Fourth of July Weekend In Miami

Beyonce was spotted getting a head start on the Fourth of July weekend in Miami Beach yesterday, where she apparently went swimming with her clothes on. The singer does deserve a little R&R however, since it's been a busy week what with performing at the BET Awards and double dating with Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow in Beverly Hills.

According to the Miami-Herald, Beyonce isn’t the only one spending the holiday in Miami. Despite the economy, Miami’s hotels are filling up and are expected to be solidly booked for the weekend.

The Viceroy Hotel, a place to see and be seen in the city, is getting into the spirit of the weekend by offering a special package deal that includes a $100 spa credit, breakfast for two, preferred VIP seating for fireworks display, two free drink coupons, 10% off bottle service, VIP access to Club 50 and valet parking starting at $295 per night.

The hotel is also welcoming locals on Saturday by hosting the “Best 4th of July Fireworks Display in Miami”. The festivities include a pool party on their 2-acre pool deck featuring private cabanas and entertainment by top DJs, all beneath a canopy of the city’s best fireworks displays from Key Biscayne, Coral Gables, Miami Beach and Downtown Miami from 7 pm to 1 am. During the day, local families are welcome to enjoy the hotel’s pool from noon to 5pm. There will also a BBQ and drink specials, tickets start at $5.

Related Stories:
· Viceroy Miami To Debut on March 1st [HC]
· Gwyneth Paltrow & Beyonce: Double Date! [Just Jared]
· Despite economy, South Florida hotels fill up for Fourth of July weekend [Miami Herald]
· Celeb Travel [Jaunted]

[Photo: Just Jared]

Tags: Fourth of July Travel / Historical Travel / Movie Travel / → All Tags

Daytime Fireworks, Cake, and 'National Treasure' For The Fourth

If you've waited this long to make plans for the Fourth of July, then you've probably already given in to another year of camping out down by the river for the city fireworks display, and this applies to most any city with a river. If, however, you are lucky enough to call Washington DC or Baltimore home, then there's still an option for a day-trip to make it feel as though you did something with your weekend: head to George Washington's old Mount Vernon home for the festivities and the "National Treasure" Tour.

As of this last February, Mount Vernon has expanded their hugely popular tour, based on "The National Treasure 2: Book Of Secrets" to offering it four times daily, with 25 people max per tour. It's an extra $5 on top of the $15 admission to the estate, but it's the only way to investigate areas like the mansion's basement and cornerstone. Apparently, fans of the movie "will recognize the space as the location where Nicolas Cage's character kidnaps the president."

Emerge from underneath Mount Vernon for the Fourth's "made-for-daytime" fireworks, a naturalization ceremony, Revolutionary War re-enactments and a birthday cake! The cake will be cut at 1pm, and we recommend bringing Ziploc baggies for some snacking on the ride back to the city.

Related Stories:
· National Treasure Tours Begin [Press Release]
· Mount Vernon [Official Site]
· Fourth Of July Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: afagen]

Tags: California Travel / Summer Travel / Wine-Tasting / Fourth of July Travel / → All Tags

We Might Consider Paso Robles This Summer After All

The city of Paso Robles firmly believes that tourists will be drawn to a series of their fun-filled summer events. So much do they believe it that they keep sending us offers for "affordable, family-friendly ways to ward off the mid-summer doldrums."

To the city of Paso: please consider this post our very public acknowledgment that, yes, our inbox works. To everyone else: airline prices and checked baggage fees suck and Paso Robles is highly accessible and some of these events genuinely seem interesting. So why not.

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Tags: Historical-Battles-Map / Wars / Historical Travel / History / Fourth of July Travel / → All Tags

Re-Enacting History: Battle of Fort Niagara's July Fourth Bash

Along with the tasty barbeques and popping fireworks of the middle of summer come the re-enactments of historical battles. To help you plan fun excursions to watch guns go off, we're listing our favorite battle re-enactment sites all this week.. Any suggestions or questions? Let us know.

With the Fourth of July coming up way too quickly, we've got to start deciding on where we'll be unfolding our portable chairs and breaking out the iced tea, and New York State's Old Fort Niagara Historic Site seems like a serious contender with their scheduled 2,300-strong re-enactment of the 1759 siege of the Fort. Although the siege actually lasted three weeks, this year's 250th anniversary of the French and Indian War will only be a weekend of remembrance.

Head up to the limestone "French Castle" fort, see artillery barrages, musket volleys and skirmishes from the fort's walls, stroll through the re-enactors' "living history camps" and watch demonstrations of 18th-century military life. Or just eat hot dogs and take pictures with people wearing period outfits; whatever floats your boat.

Related Stories:
· Old Fort Niagara [Official Site]
· Siege re-enactment draws thousands of history buffs to New York's Fort Niagara [USA Today]
· Historical Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: David Duprey, AP]

Tags: Fourth of July Travel / Competitive Eating / Hot Dogs / Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest / Ringling Brothers / Circus / Coney Island / → All Tags

Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest Throws Pachyderms in the Mix This Year

BBQs and fireworks are great, but for us the most thrilling part of the Fourth of July has always been the gluttonous spectacle that is the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island.

If you’ve ever watched grown men down 60 hot dogs in 10 minutes at this annual New York freakshow and thought “I wish this could be weirder,” this year you’re in luck. The 2009 contest will be preceded on July 3 by a hot dog bun eating contest, in which three professional eaters will take on three semi-professional eaters: elephants from the Ringling Brothers Circus.

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