Most of the 16 years we've lived in the area we have been perfectly satisfied to celebrate Independence Day within a few miles from home. We have two shows within a couple of miles of us and they are decent enough and way easier to navigate than the DC fireworks. Then a couple of years ago they moved one of the local firework shows right across the freeway from our neighborhood and it's made us even lazier yet and now we just stay at home until 5 minutes before the show starts and walk half a block to get a slightly better view.
Every once in a while though we randomly decide that it's time to step things up a notch and that we should join with the rest of free world and watch the fireworks in downtown DC!
Except we weren't quite that brave.
So instead of going all the way into the city, we decided instead to just go down to the Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington and watch the DC fireworks from the Virginia side of the river. We heard people say that it was the best place to watch the national fireworks without having to drive as far or brave as many crowds.
It was an awesome idea...
Except apparently everyone else and their cousin heard about its awesomeness too...
The crowds were almost to the same level as they are downtown except the parking situation was much worse. WE knew we were in for a long night when Glen dropped us off and ended up parking 2.5 miles away (literally). He joined us barely in time to watch the fireworks....
and NOTE TO SELF:
If we ever go there again, we shall sit about 20 feet to the left.
Ah well, at least we got our adventure.
Happy Independence Day!!!
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O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And ev'ry gain divine!
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And ev'ry gain divine!
When we first moved to Alpine, the fireworks were literally set off on the ballfield behind the house. Our view was magnificent.
ReplyDeleteThen about 8-10 years ago they moved them to Burgess Park and our view was still magnificent until our trees really started to get tall.
Our all-time favorite fireworks show were the 1976 Bi-centennial show at Kiwanis Park in Provo, when you, Nate, and K were little ones.
The second most favorite were the fireworks in DC at the mall a few years ago. I remember it being very hot, muggy, and buggy but the show was stunning.
We watched them again last night on "A Capital Fourth" on NBC on our 55" tv in our air conditioned home.
We must be getting B-O-R-I-N-G in our old age!!