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Nothing beats seeing the Independence Day fireworks against DC's skyline of monuments and memorials.
The National Mall is the most popular place to watch the fireworks display, with attendees staking out spots near the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial and an array of other locales across DC's most scenic space. The 17-minute display is launched from both sides of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Give yourself plenty of time to find a spot and familiarize yourself with public access entry points, road closures, prohibited items and other tips from the National Park Service. Unable to make it in person? Tune in to the Trust for the National Mall’s Monument Cam for a virtual, front-row seat to the show.
Watch from across the Potomac River at some ideal viewing areas. Check out the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial, also known as the Iwo Jima Memorial, and the nearby Netherlands Carillon in Virginia. With the mesmerizing Marine Corps War Memorial statue as the backdrop, the fireworks take on even greater meaning.
Your fireworks viewing can hit the next level with a sightseeing cruise along the Potomac River. Check out what options Embark DC Boat Tours, City Cruises and Sea Suite Cruises are offering for the Fourth of July holiday, as well as all summer long.
There a plenty of great rooftop bars that offer the ideal setting for watching the fireworks in the District. In the past, VUE Rooftop Lounge and Terrace at Hotel Washington, the Conrad Hotel's Summit Rooftop, La Vie, Top of the Gate at the Watergate Hotel, Hotel Hive, Lady Bird at Kimpton Banneker Hotel, L'Ardente, CityBar at Hyatt Place Washington DC/National Mall and Tag Rooftop Bar at The Ven at Embassy Row have offered special events that make for great Independence Day (or should we say night) revelry.
You can also find restaurants in DC with spectacular views of the fireworks from the ground level. Sequoia, Nick's Riverside Grill and Tony & Joe’s Seafood Place on the Georgetown waterfront or Café du Parc in Downtown are all extra-comfortable places to dine and take in the epic display. Just make sure to reserve well ahead of time.
Rent some wheels from Unlimited Biking, Capital Bikeshare or at the Columbia Island Marina on the Virginia side of the Potomac River, near the Pentagon. Then, you and your crew can ride up the Mount Vernon Trail to find a spot to stop and enjoy the fireworks show. Yes, this amazing view is from the trail itself.
For a luxurious place to experience the DC fireworks, check into The Hay-Adams, with a penthouse space that offers panoramic views of the White House and National Mall. Many of the guest rooms at JW Marriott Washington, DC also face the Mall, as well as the Salamander DC on the Southwest Waterfront.
The majestic U.S. Supreme Court Building on Capitol Hill has a 252-foot wide oval plaza that's spacious and open with unobstructed views of the fireworks bursting in air. If the area is open to spectators, get there early to claim a seat and then settle in to enjoy the show.
Hains Point in East Potomac Park is a serene stretch of public land on a peninsula that stretches into the Potomac River. The park provides great views of the Potomac and the Anacostia River, as well as the Washington Channel. There are several spots that feature picnic tables and benches for viewing of the aerial extravaganza.
Find a spot on the grassy slope of the Washington National Cathedral in Upper Northwest. Because this is one of the highest points in the DC area (the top of the Cathedral's tower is actually the highest), it’s a good place to picnic and wait for the sky to fill with a colorful display.
Make your way to Cardozo High School at 1200 Clifton Street NW, a couple blocks removed from the busy U Street neighborhood. This off-the-beaten path viewing location provides an expansive, breathtaking look at the skyline and the fireworks exploding in the sky.
Enter this park on an island in the Potomac River from the southbound lanes of the George Washington Memorial Parkway to witness an astonishing, unobstructed view of the fireworks.
Conveniently located only four blocks from the National Mall, make your way down to The Wharf for a full day of Fourth of July festivities. With a number of public piers and green spaces, as well as rooftop spaces at the Intercontinental and Canopy hotels, this go-to destination for dining and entertainment also provides great vantage points to view the District's fireworks.
Across the Potomac River, near Arlington National Cemetery, you can settle in on the grounds of the U.S. Air Force Memorial. Its height provides an ideal vista for fireworks over the nation’s capital.
The Military Women’s Memorial is the National Capital Region’s best kept secret. Located near Washington DC’s major monuments and sites, just a short walk from the Lincoln Memorial, there is no better place to celebrate the 4th of July with a front-row seat to our nation’s spectacular fireworks display.
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