Tag: Fourth of July

2021 Fourth of July Travel Destinations

With the limitations of the pandemic continuing to be lifted across the United States, more and more travelers are looking to “go all out” this upcoming Fourth of July Weekend, and with Reader’s Digests’ list of the best 4th of July getaways half the trouble of planning a patriotic outing has been taken care of.

As always, before you purchase though roundtrip airline tickets or hit the open highway, be sure to double-check the latest CDC and local travel recommendations to ensure safety above all. In addition to medical caution, it might also be a good idea to brush up on the most recent firework restrictions, depending on the state you’ll be traveling to.

The Fourth of July is often seen as one of the annual holidays that is most conducive to a trip since it falls in the middle of summer and is a federal holiday, ensuring that most businesses close for the day when the holiday doesn’t fall on a weekend. This year the 4th is to fall on a Sunday, the following Monday, July 5th, will be observed as a federal holiday, and with the rate of vaccinations increasing and social distancing restrictions scaling back nationwide, it’s never been a better time to consider traveling so that you can celebrate the anniversary of the United States of America’s Declaration of Independence. What follows is a selection from Reader’s Digest’s complete list of getaway options.

 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Immerse yourself this independence day in the location where it all began, the patriotic birthplace of America, Philadelphia. Around the beginning of July, no other city celebrates with the same enthusiasm as the Pennsylvanian locals. Each year, the city hosts the Wawa Welcome America event over an extended period leading up to July 4th, ultimately culminating in a show-stopping fireworks display over the Philadelphia Museum of Art, located at the southern portion of Fairmount Park. This year, the non-profit organization that organizes the event will host an array of safe, responsible programming that includes art, education, culture, entertainment, and of course, history.

Other than the infamous Wawa Welcome America spectacle, the city has plenty of other locations to enjoy the holiday weekend such as Philadelphia’s Four Seasons Hotel. Being that the hotel also stands as the tallest tower in the city, it’s a perfect vantage point from which to observe the city’s various fireworks displays. Of course, you can always make the most of your trip to the city that started it all by going on one of Philadelphia’s numerous historical tours and observe textbook-famous sights like the Liberty Bell or the Franklin Institute. All in all, if you find yourself usually caught up in the historical legacy of Independence Day, then there’s no better destination than Philadelphia.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

If you find yourself more drawn to the general atmosphere and seasonal aspects of the 4th of July, then why not enjoy the festivities at one of the most exciting and enjoyable beach towns found in the original thirteen colonies? Myrtle Beach, which covers 60 miles of beautiful coastline, is the ideal location to enjoy breath-taking sunrises emerging over the Atlantic Ocean, famous Southern hospitality, and delectable coastal cuisine year-round. It’s during the summer months that the boardwalk of Myrtle Beach is the star of the show with its notorious Sky Wheel that towers over the attractions below at a height of over 200 feet, making it one of the tallest Ferris wheels in the country. While it’s not a carnival ride, it is a fully accessible observation tower that allows you to see any fireworks or holiday celebrations from a prime vantage point. Other than the Skywheel, the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade is abound with vintage favorites such as fudge shops, candy makers, arcades, and so much more.

As for accommodations, there’s one resort that stands as the obvious choice as it encompasses 27 acres of Myrtle Beach, and that is Hilton’s DoubleTree Resort. The resort features a “Beach Oceanfront” which acts as a direct pathway to the Atlantic coastline, giving you and your traveling party the ideal passageway to relaxation this summer holiday season.

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Fourth of July Celebrated in a Socially Distant Way

In lieu of a traditional Fourth of July celebration this year consisting of an official  fireworks display over the Mississippi River in downtown New Orleans, city officials planned an equally festive, socially-distanced, drive-in mini music festival, so reports a nola.com article.

Due to the recent coronavirus pandemic, New Orleans moved their Fourth of July celebration and fireworks to have them set off over Lake Pontchartrain near Bucktown as the culmination of the night’s festivities, “Festing on the Fourth.” The event took place at Bucktown Harbor Park, and featured performances by country/Cajun fiddler and singer Amanda Shaw, the brass/stage band hybrid the Brass-A-Holics, contemporary funk band Flow Tribe, and cover band D-Play, ending with a fireworks display choreographed to music.

Given the casual atmosphere of the Fourth of July event, attendees could bring their own food and beverages, but food and both alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages were  available for purchase. Additionally, face masks were required when going to and from the concession area and restrooms. Otherwise, attendees were expected to remain inside or beside their vehicles as the show was broadcast via an FM transmitter.

Given that national and state-wide guidelines have altered previously scheduled music events and festivals, drive-in-style events have become the default model for live music, as nothing will deter a Louisiana city’s right to party. Earlier this summer, Kenner hosted a drive-in concert at the Pontchartrain Center on May 30, and soon a three-week drive-in concert series on the UNO Lakefront Arena will kick off on July 10 with Tank and the Bangas and continues with Galactic on July 17 and the Revivalists on July 24.

One group featured at the Fourth of July event was Flow Tribe, a group who would have entertained crowds at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, but instead played a similarly raucous outdoor show at the Abita Brew Pub in Abita Springs on June 20.

“It’s all up in the air,” singer/trumpeter K.C. O’Rorke said. “Everybody’s trying to figure out a formula that works. So many things go through your mind: ‘Should I be doing this? Is this the right time?’ You want to be responsible.” This ever-shifting landscape requires “constantly being on your toes and figuring out what will actually happen and what won’t. We’ll take what we can get, but we won’t push it. We’ll figure out something else to stay alive.”

During the band’s downtime, O’Rorke and his bandmates have finished a new album and live-streamed monthly performances from their New Orleans-based studio, though the reception could take some adjusting. “We’ve gotten used to no applause and playing to a screen, which is strange. So this will be cool. We’re grateful for the gig,” said O’Rorke in a an interview with nola.com prior to the Fourth of July event.

The Fourth of July event, “Fest-ing on the Fourth”, kicked off at 3pm with live music at Bucktown Harbor Park. For optimal visual and audio reception, attendees had the option to go just over the levee near the Coast Guard Station on the grassy field for a lively, celebratory evening.

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Fourth of July Recipes To Make

This hot weather has everyone craving some Fourth of July, fulfilling recipes.  We could not miss out on these delicious recipes that Southern Living recently provided. This slideshow of 50 Fourth of July Recipes for An All-American Cookout will for sure make your mouth water. So we picked our favorite punch recipe and Macaroni and cheese recipe to share!

Fourth of July Punch

The secret to this punch is that the longer it chills, the better it will get.

INGREDIENTS

  • 8 cups of seedless watermelon, cubed
  • 1 cup of pineapple juice, chilled
  • 1 can of club soda (12oz), chilled
  • ½ cup of fresh lime juice
  • ¾ cup of granulated sugar

DIRECTIONS

Take half of the cubed watermelon and blend the cubed pieces until it becomes smooth. This will take about 45 seconds. Once it is smooth, pour the watermelon juice through a strainer. Allowing the juice to drain through into a pitcher. Throw away the solid parts that stay in the strainer. Repeat the process until all of the watermelon cubes are blended.

In a small bowl, add the ginger, sugar, and lime juice; you want to whisk this mixture until the sugar dissolves. Pour this mixture into the watermelon juice that is in the pitcher. Mix it together, then add the chilled pineapple juice. The punch should be chilled for at least 2 hours, or let it chill for up to 2 days.

When serving, fill the glass with ice and pour the punch in. Top it off with the club soda and serve. The perfect drink for a hot day.

Fourth of July Macaroni Pie

Who doesn’t like a warm, full bowl of Macaroni and cheese? Now imagine it in a buttery, flaky crust.

INGREDIENTS

  • 8 ounces of elbow macaroni, uncooked
  • 1 ½ cups of whole milk
  • 2 ounces of fontina cheese, shredded
  • 2 ounces of extra-sharp white Cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 4 ounces of Gruyere cheese, shredded
  • ½ package of refrigerated pie crust
  • ⅓ cup of all-purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter
  • 2 teaspoons of Dijon mustard
  • ½ teaspoon of black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon of kosher salt
  • 3 thyme sprigs

UTENSILS

  • 9-inch pie plate
  • Small bowl
  • Blender
  • Medium saucepan

DIRECTIONS

The oven needs to be preheated to 350 degrees. Take the 9-inch pie plate and press the crust into it. Make sure to crimp the edges. Place the plate into the freezer for about 15 minutes, it needs to be firm. Place aluminum foil on top of the crust and place dried beans or pie weights on top. Bake the pie crust for about 20 minutes or until it is a golden brown color.

Remove the pie from the oven and also remove the weights and the foil holding it down. Place the pie back in the oven and bake until the bottom dries up. This should take about 5 minutes. The pie will need to cool for about 10 minutes.

While the pie crust is in the oven, cook the macaroni. Once it is cooked drain the pasta, rise it, and place it on the side.

The thyme sprigs and butter needs to be cooked in a medium saucepan. Once the butter is melted, add the flower. This needs to be stirred constantly until it starts to get thick and produce a light golden color. Slowly add the milk while whisking, once the mixture is fully combined remove the thyme sprigs.

Add the salt, pepper and mustard while continuing to whisk. The next step is to start adding the cheeses. Making sure it melts before adding more. Continue to whisk until the mixture is fully melted. Then gentle add the pasta into the mixture. Place the pasta into the pie crust by using a spoon. Bake the pie at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes, take the pie out and let it cool before serving.

Wether you try one or both, your Fourth of July is sure to be more enjoyable with these additions to your backyard cookout.

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