Pay homage to America’s ancestors this Independence Day with fireworks and surfing in Huntington Beach, a good-old American grand prix up the coast in NorCal, or a get-away weekend in the backwoods of Wyoming.
By Nate Storey, Matt Skenazy, and Karin Krisher
Huntington Beach Fourth of July, July 3-5
Huntington Beach, California
What better way to celebrate the old red, white, and blue than a weekend gallivanting on one of Southern California’s best beaches? Iconic Huntington Beach, self-proclaimed “Surf City USA,” will light the sky over the Pacific Ocean with an explosion of colors come dusk on Saturday for their Independence Day celebration. Spend your daytime surfing the Orange County breaks or take a siesta while you bask in the mid-summer sun. Mosey over to the Huntington Beach Pier for the Pier Plaza Festival on Friday to dig into some grub and check out the festivities. Keep it mellow, though, so you can wake at 6 am on Saturday for a pancake breakfast ($5) and subsequent Surf City 5K Run from Worthy Park to Main Street. When you’ve finished, catch a glimpse of Miss America passing by on a float at the parade ($15 for a bleacher seat) before staking a prime spot on the beach for the nighttime firework display. Sunday’s a kick-it day so enjoy some more beach-time and peruse the shops, restaurants, and bars that line the boardwalk.
Travel and Accommodation
Fly in to LAX and make a quick (depending on the stifling LA traffic of course) 30 minute drive to Huntington. The Comfort Suites has a good holiday rate starting at $135 per night.
Red Bull U.S Grand Prix, July 3-5
Laguna Seca, California
Head to the Mazda Raceway this Independence Day weekend to catch all the speed and excitement of the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix. Last year’s event was a star-studded affair that drew more than 100,000 fans, and this year is promising the same. With live music and events all weekend, you’ll never be lacking in something to do. A three-day pass is $100. And, since it’s 4th of July weekend, make sure you head to Carmel on Saturday night for the CarmelFest fireworks display; more than 23 minutes of those time honored explosions start at 9:45.
Travel and Accommodations:
Fly into Monterey or San Jose. Camping at Laguna Seca is on a first come, first served basis ($60/night), but with more than 300 to choose from there’s a hotel for anyone’s budget in Monterey County.
Vedauwoo outdoor adventure, July 3-5
Vedauwoo, Wyoming
Fireworks and long lines of people in Uncle Sam inspired costumes not really your thing? Get out on your own this weekend and enjoy some mountain air, completely free of the fumes of gunpowder and fried dough. Vedauwoo, in the Medicine Bow National Forest of Wyoming, is the perfect destination for a Fourth of July weekend void of pressure, yet full of entertainment. In the “Land of the Earthborn Spirit,” hit rock faces that reach heights of 8,200 ft. for some challenging offwidth climbs, or make use of the paths that lead to them for an off-road and uphill trail run. Vedauwoo is home to more than 700 climbs, ranging from 5.0-5.13, so you’ll have no problem finding a hulking giant to scale that fits all of your specifications. Isolated on top of a conquered crag, you can catch views that take you all the way to Long’s Peak, Colorado. When you finally decide to head back down, explore the rest of the Vedauwoo recreation area on mountain bike, paddle down the intense Cache La Poudre river in a kayak, or head to nearby Laramie for a day of golf at Jacoby, a public course with 6,855 yards to play.
Travel and Accommodations:
Catch a flight to Laramie Regional Airport (you’ll have to hit Denver first) and rent a car or bike the two and a half miles to the Vedauwoo recreation area. If you want to bring in a lot of equipment, drive to Vedauwoo via I-80, connecting to Vedauwoo Road. Parking is cheap (no more than $10/day) and camping in a tent or on the forest floor is free in areas around the trails and boulders, provided you stay within 200 ft. of any road.
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