It’s one of the best moments of the summer: The Fourth of July. Fireworks, ice cold beer, hot dogs and burgers, cotton candy and joy. Where should you spend it if you want to have a truly luxurious Independence Day? Our correspondent Jillian Tangen has ideas on where to go, and she’s sharing a curated a list of the 10 best places to spend a July 4th holiday luxury vacation this year, including New York, Boston, Jackson Hole, Aspen and more.
what’s the best place for a luxury vacation this July 4th holiday?
It’s one of the best moments of the summer: The Fourth of July. Fireworks, ice cold beer (blue, perhaps?), hot dogs and burgers, cotton candy and joy. Where should you spend it if you want to have a truly luxurious Independence Day?
The best places if you’re wondering where to go for a luxury July 4th holiday vacation this year, including Jackson Hole, Boston, New York City and more. Photo Credit: Laurie Woods.
We think you have three options for this holiday. You can see the seashore, the mountains or an all-American city where you can get around easily on foot. We’re steering away from places that are iconic and lovely and way too hot at this time of year (yep, we’re looking at you, Savannah).
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Here are 10 excellent US destinations, all guaranteed to make you feel pampered, deeply American . . . and truly liberated.
10 best places to go for a July 4th holiday luxury vacation this year
1. boston, massachusetts.
Walk the Freedom Trail, stop by Faneuil Hall for a bite to eat, read Make Way for Ducklings with the kiddos then take a Duck Tour. See the Old North Church, the USS Constitution, and other historic sites from the Revolutionary War era.
The best places and where to go for a luxury July 4th holiday vacation this year: Boston, MA.
Cap it all off by listening to the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular on the Esplanade and watching the dazzling show over the Charles River. The celebration ends every year with a stirring rendition of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. Stay at The Newbury Boston or the newly renovated Langham. Or head across the river and stay at our favorite boutique hotel in the area, the Charles Hotel in Cambridge.
2. key west, florida.
Fill your days with diving, fishing and kayaking in Key West or visit some of the island’s famous landmarks. There’s the historic Harry S. Truman Little White House is famously where Truman spent 175 days of his presidency, The Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum and The Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory.
The best places and where to go for a luxury July 4th holiday vacation this year. Key West.
Don’t forget a photo op at the southernmost point in the US. June 30th – July 4th also brings the annual Key Lime Festival that includes activities like key lime pie eating contests, key lime rum sampling and ending with the fireworks picnic on 4th. Couples should book the swanky Saint Hotel Key West, while families should try Oceans Edge.
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3. bar harbor, maine
Bar Harbor is ideal for nature lovers. Acadia National Park is just a mile away, where you can hike Cadillac Mountain, take a boat tour of Frenchman Bay and visit Thunder Hole. Learn about the residents that make up the region, whether that’s indigenous people at the Abbe Museum or the animal population on land at the George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History or below sea on a whale watching tour.
The best places and where to go for a luxury July 4th holiday vacation this year. Bar Harbor, Maine.
Acadia National Park’s 4th of July celebration has been publicly praised as one of the best in the nation. We can understand why – it’s hard to imagine a more beautiful backdrop for fireworks than Frenchman Bay. The Bar Harbor Grand Hotel is modeled after the elegant 1800s Bar Harbor landmark Rodick House or if glamping if more your style, make some smores just outside your tent at Terramor Outdoor Resort.
4. new york, new york
We know a lot of people try to escape the city in the summer, but we think there’s something magical about spending the 4th of July in New York City. Visit the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.
The best places and where to go for a luxury July 4th holiday vacation this year, including Jackson Hole, Boston, New York City and more. Photo Credit: Laurie Woods.
Take a walk over the Brooklyn Bridge and then head to Coney Island for the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. Head to Long Island City’s Gantry Park to view the epic Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks over the East River that begins after dark and lasts for around 30 minutes before retiring to the new Ace Hotel Brooklyn.
5. jackson hole, wyoming
Experience the majesty and beauty of the American West at this stunning and serene mountain town. Visit Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Ride horses, take in a rodeo, take a hot-air balloon ride at dawn or a trip down the Snake River on a raft.
The best places for a luxurious July 4 holiday vacation: Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
View bison herds, eat barbeque, take in a spectacular fireworks show from the top of a mountain and revel in the wide-open sky. Stay at the family-friendly Snake River Lodge and Spa at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain or the chic, eight-suite Caldera House. We also love Amangani and the Four Seasons Jackson Hole.
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6. the hamptons, new york
Gorgeous beaches, shopping, fine dining, art galleries, bookstores, wineries, farm stands and vintage convertibles whizzing by. What’s not to love about a weekend – or more- in the Hamptons? Book your table now at the Mediterranean inspired Sunset Harbor, the sister restaurant of last year’s hotspot Sí Sí.
The best places and where to go for a luxury July 4th holiday vacation this year, including Jackson Hole, Boston, New York City and more. East Hampton.
If you haven’t booked a rental home, stay at the newly opened The Inn Spot. Or the Maidstone Inn, where the rooms are all outfitted with Hästens beds, to experience the height of the Hamptons lux experience.
7. black hills, south dakota
Travel to the Black Hills of South Dakota where you can hike Badlands National Park, visit Custer Wildlife Loop, see Devils Tower National Monument and Crazy Horse Memorial. Celebrate the big day at Mount Rushmore National Memorial where the 60 foot tall faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln are carved into the granite.
The best places and where to go for a luxury July 4th holiday vacation this year. Badlands National Park, South Dakota.
July 4th at Mt. Rushmore includes Presidential re-enactments, live bands playing patriotic music, various American cultural heritage demonstrations and ranger-led activities. Book a glamping tent at Under Canvas Mount Rushmore set on the outskirts of an original gold mining settlement.
8. san diego, california
For those seeking sun and lots to do with the kids, head to San Diego where you can explore the renowned San Diego Zoo, Safari Park, SeaWorld, Aquatica Waterpark and Legoland, as well as beaches and Balboa Park museums.
The best places and where to go for a luxury July 4th holiday vacation this year. San Diego.
This Southern California city is also home to thousands of service members, veterans and their families, representing the Navy, Air Force, Army, National Guard, Coast Guard and Marine Corps making it a great place to catch the Big Bay Boom fireworks on July 4th. Just moments from the beach, the Legacy Resort Hotel & Spa is a great place for lodging.
9. martha’s vineyard, Massachusetts.
The unofficial start of the summer rendezvous on the island is July 4th. The serenity of early summer gives way to the raucous and joyful arrival of the longtime summer residents and visitors.
Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
Edgartown always hosts a parade and fireworks show on the 4th, which begins after dusk. It’s a happy party. You can also stay for a few days after the holiday to experience the island at a slightly more sedate pace. Stay at the Harbor View Hotel in Edgartown for a refined home base with sweeping views of the harbor and only steps away from boutiques, art galleries, beaches and sunset cruises.
10. aspen, colorado
Not just for winter, Aspen is an equally glorious summer destination. Hiking, mountain biking, paragliding, white water rafting are all on the menu. Plus luxury shopping, excellent restaurants, lovely cafes and a great bookstore.
The best places and where to go for a luxury July 4th holiday vacation this year. Aspen, Colorado.
We highly recommend staying at either the Little Nell or the St. Regis Aspen. Either way, don’t miss the spectacular parade during the day and come nighttime, the laser light show downtown.
where to go for a July 4th holiday luxury vacation this year
Based on our personal experiences, that’s our take on the best places if you’re deciding where to go for a luxury July 4th holiday vacation this year, including Jackson Hole, Boston, New York City and more. A dozen fantastic ways to celebrate America’s freedom – and to revel in some of your own. Happy 4th!
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For access to insider ideas and information on the world of luxury, sign up for our Dandelion Chandelier Newsletter here. And see luxury in a new light.
This article contains affiliate links to products independently selected by our editors. As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, Dandelion Chandelier receives a commission for qualifying purchases made through these links.
Jillian Tangen is the Head of Research at Dandelion Chandelier and a former Senior Research Analyst at McKinsey & Co and Analyst at Shearman & Sterling. She is an avid fan of Nordic design, having owned an independent lifestyle store and sales agency focused on emerging Scandinavian design. Jillian lives in New York and is married with three young children. She loves cross-country skiing, the New York Rangers, reading, travel and discovering new brands.
