Celebrate Independence Day at Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore is perhaps one of the most fitting places to celebrate Independence Day. This year’s celebration is packed with two days of fun and activities. This Independence Day celebration spotlights local talent and if you visit, expect musical entertainment, patriotic tributes, and educational programs. Activities scheduled are appropriate for all ages so bring the whole family to Mount Rushmore and celebrate the Fourth of July.

This year at Mount Rushmore there will not be a fireworks display due to the infestation of Mountain Pine Beetles that have left standing dead trees which cause a high fire danger. In place of the fireworks display will be a sculpture lighting.

While in the Mount Rushmore area, there are several great activities to experience. One activity is the Mount Rushmore Grand Legends Tour. You can see the great presidents, shop for souvenirs, visit exhibits, and tour the visitor center. Also during your tour see Custer State Park. Here you can have lunch then see Sylvan Lake. After seeing the Crazy Horse Memorial take a ride on the 1880 train through the rugged terrain of South Dakota and the Black Hills.

Travel to Rapid City while you’re in the area and enjoy a great time with singing and a fantastic dinner at the Chuckwagon Dinner and Western Music Show at Circle B Ranch. This dinner experience has been happening since 1976 and is better than ever. Enjoy foods such as roast beef, BBQ chicken, biscuits, and more. Hear songs by the Sons of the Pioneers, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, and more.

Plan on coming to the Mount Rushmore area to celebrate Independence Day? We have a list of great hotels in the Mount Rushmore area that are sure to complement your great vacation. Click here for a list of hotels in the Mount Rushmore area.

Dueling Barges Fireworks Extravaganza Sparkles in New Orleans

If you’re looking for a 4th of July experience that will truly amaze you, you will find it in the beautiful city of New Orleans right on the Riverfront. This year, Go Fourth on the River – Dueling Barges Fireworks Extravaganza is bigger than ever because New Orleans is celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the event. Fireworks set to patriotic music will light up the sky in an incredible display designed to impress you and make you feel pride in the great country of America. This display was ranked in the top five of the “must see” fireworks displays by the American Pyrotechnic Association. You will want to come and see why for yourself!

While you’re in New Orleans for their fantastic 4th of July event, make sure you get a taste of their incredible food at the world renowned New Orleans School of Cooking. This activity is special because guests get to learn to make traditional Cajun meals, so they can take a bit of New Orleans home with them. Learn how to make gumbo and shrimp Creole as you’re told some of the fascinating history of the city from the teacher. This activity will give you more fun in the kitchen than you’ve ever had before!

Food isn’t the only fascinating attraction New Orleans has to offer. See the lovely Garden District of the city with the Garden District Walking Tour. You can walk off your meal from the cooking school while getting to experience the district that has inspired writers and artists to create masterpieces since the 1800s. A wired headset will be provided to you on this tour to make sure you don’t miss a word of the fascinating stories and facts that your guide will be telling you.

You can’t see the Garden District and miss out on the French Quarter of New Orleans. Equally famous, the French Quarter is one of the oldest parts of the city. The French Quarter Walking Tour will guide you through the area and allow you to see attractions like the Ursuline Convent which is the oldest building in the Mississippi Valley as well as the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum. You will be enthralled with the mystery and atmosphere of the area.

Gatlinburg’s Midnight Independence Day Parade Lights Up the Town

Be among the first in the nation to celebrate Independence Day with the city of Gatlinburg, TN. Gatlinburg will kick off the 4th of July with its 35th Annual Midnight Independence Day Parade at exactly 12:00 am Sunday, July 4th. Be there and get in on the fun when it all begins. This mile long parade features floats, helium balloons, marching bands, horseback riders, and military members. The parade isn’t the only event that will be taking place as a part of this celebration. There are also several free concerts taking place at both before and after the parade. It’s an event you won’t want to miss this 4th of July!

After starting off your 4th of July in such an exciting way, you will want to continue your enjoyment of the day with one Gatlinburg’s great attractions. The Dixie Stampede Dinner and Show will give you a great dinner and show on the 4th. You can watch as the beautiful horses and their owners perform tricks and compete for your entertainment while a delicious meal is served to you. There is even a buffalo stampede during the show. This patriotic show is a wonderful way to celebrate the day.

While you’re in Gatlinburg, don’t miss out on your chance to see the beauty of the Smoky Mountains. The Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tram will give you a great vantage point to see the mountains as well as the town. People of all ages can enjoy this activity, so you can go with the whole family. The bird’s eye view that the tram provides you with will give you the chance to see the town as it celebrates this great holiday in its own way.