Celebrate The 4th In Style

July 4 is such a quintessentially American holiday: backyard BBQs and park picnics; swim parties and seaside wingdings; hot dogs and hamburgers; camping, fishing, and hometown parades – all capped off by fireworks extravaganzas.

Our Sacramento Eichler and Mid-Century Modern readers will find lots to do in their region, from small community celebrations to the Sacramento Independence Day Celebration at Cal Expo, which features the largest fireworks show in the region.  Or they might travel up the hill a bit and have fun at the Folsom Pro Rodeo, which features a real rodeo, fireworks, and live music. 

If Lake Tahoe is in your plans you can take in Tahoe South’s Lights On The Lake fireworks display from a number of venues, including either of Tahoe’s Mississippi paddle wheelers (the Tahoe Queen and the M.S. Dixie II), or any of the beaches and parks that dot the shoreline surrounding the lake.

We Bay Area Eichler dwellers will find plenty of excitement in our own backyards.  Numerous cruises, including the Blue and Gold Fireworks Cruise, Commodore Fourth of July Dinner Cruise, and the Red and White Fourth of July Fireworks Cruise take in the pyrotechnics from a different perspective.  Other Bay Area spots for Fourth of July fun are the July 4^th Fest at Six Flags, 4^th of July Weekend Celebration at Great America, and the SF Symphony’s annual 4^th of July concert + fireworks at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View.

The hikers among us might like the Solano Land Trust’s guided July 4 Fireworks Viewing Hike that takes in displays offered by several Bay Area communities from unique vantage point – the Bay Area Ridge Trail.  For some down-home fun, the Marin County Fair offers family-friendly activities and fireworks – not just on the 4^th of July, but on every night of the fair!  This year the fair runs July 2-6.

I’d love to hear from you.  What are your favorite family-friendly things to do over the Fourth of July weekend?  And remember, whatever you are doing for the 4^th, keep it safe, keep it sane, and don’t drink and drive.  As an FYI: If you should find yourself needing a ride, AAA has a Tipsy Tow Program available from the evening of July 4 until the early morning hours of July 5.