Fourth of July travel deals from Viator

by Libby Zay on

Sometimes the best things come to those who wait. If you’re looking for some last minute Independence Day deals, our pals at Viator have pulled together a list of Fourth of July bargains to help travelers get the most out of their three-day weekend. From New York to Oahu, below are some suggestions that will have you seeing red, white and blue without spending a whole lot of green.

New York: Watch one of the best fireworks displays in the country with Viator’s once-in-a-lifetime July 4th VIP Exclusive: Fireworks from the Empire State Building’s Observation Deck. A limited number of tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis to this two-hour, private evening event, guaranteed to sell out quickly.
Washington, D.C.: See 100 of the most popular monuments and points of interest in America’s capital after the sun goes down on the Washington DC Monuments by Moonlight Night Tour by Trolley, currently more than 50 percent off.
Philadelphia: There’s no better time to visit our nation’s first capital than during a weekend to celebrate America’s Independence. Travelers will save more than 45 percent on admission to six of the city’s premier attractions with a Viator Philadelphia CityPASS.
Las Vegas: Hit the highway out of Las Vegas and spend the day touring two major tourist attractions on the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam Day Trip, currently on sale with savings more than 50 percent.
Orlando: Get two days for the price of one at Kennedy Space Center, a short drive from Orlando and the launch site for every U.S. human space flight since December 1968.
San Diego: Tour one of the largest aircraft carriers in the U.S. Navy fleet at the USS Midway Museum, San Diego’s newest visitor attraction. A visit to this historic naval aircraft carrier museum is an essential experience for patriots of all ages.
Boston: Travel north from Boston to historic Marblehead, the birthplace of the American Navy. Along the way, visit Salem, the Witch City and learn about the history of witchcraft and the reasons why the trials occurred.
Niagara Falls: Visit New York’s first state park on an overnight trip to Niagara Falls from New York City. Along the way, experience the state’s diverse ethnic heritage and the rolling hills of the Finger Lakes, one of the country’s premier wine producing areas.
Oahu: Take a sobering journey through U.S. history on a tour of the Arizona Memorial and the USS Missouri, the last battleship built by the U.S. Navy. Tickets include skip-the-line access to make the most of a day at Pearl Harbor, complete with a tour of downtown Honolulu and a drive through Punchbowl National Cemetery of the Pacific. An added bonus: receive one free child ticket for each adult ticket purchased.
Memphis: Walk in the footsteps of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll at Elvis Presley’s home, Graceland Mansion – the number one thing to do in Memphis, Tenn. Upgrade to the Elvis Entourage VIP Package and also receive entrance to a VIP Only Exhibit, Front of the Line Access to the Mansion, and more.

[Photo by J.W. Photography, Flickr]

Spend Independence Day in a national park

by Kraig Becker on

The Fourth of July holiday has always been a popular one in the U.S. This coming weekend, millions of people across the country will gather with friends and family to celebrate the day our country won its independence with food, music, and fireworks. It is a tradition like no other, and one that is made all the better when combined with another great American tradition – the national parks.

With the three-day holiday weekend nearly upon us, the National Park Service has a number of activities planned across the entire park system. For instance, Valley Forge National Park will play host to the annual community picnic, which features plenty of hamburgers and hotdogs, arts and crafts for the kids, Revolutionary War reenactors, and a reading of the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson himself. Festivities get underway at 11 AM and run throughout the afternoon.

Similarly, Adams National Historical Park in Massachusetts has a full schedule of events planned for July 4th as well. Things will get underway at 1 PM with storyteller William Hogeland sharing the tale of how the Declaration of Independence was drafted and eventually signed. Later in the afternoon, visitors will have the opportunity to join the second Continental Congress itself and take part in the drafting of that document themselves. Finally, the evening will wrap up with a dramatic re-telling of the friendship of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. A friendship that not only withstood the test of time, but would also help forge a nation.Visitors to Mt. Rushmore will have two days to take in that park’s annual celebration, which is always amongst the best in the entire park system. Starting on Sunday, July 3rd and running through the 4th, there will be a variety of live music, and presidential reenactors wandering the park. On Sunday evening the U.S. Air Force will also conduct several dramatic flyovers, including a B-1 bomber. Other events include a flag folding ceremony, a salute to veterans, a military swearing in ceremony, and more.

Those looking for the ultimate in fireworks displays, should plan on dropping by the National Mall in Washington DC. Those that beat the rush, and get there early in the day, can claim one of the better viewing spots near the reflecting pool, and where the fireworks are launched on the evening of the 4th. Starting just after 9 PM, the night sky will explode in spectacular colors, illuminating the Lincoln and Washington Memorials, as well as the Capitol Building itself. It is truly a patriotic sight to behold.

There are, of course, plenty of other parks that are holding their own celebrations as well. Checkout the National Park Service website for more details on what is happening in your area, and start making plans to celebrate Independence Day 2011 in your favorite national park.

[Photo credit: UpstateNYer via WikiMedia Commons]

Best Independence Day travel movies of all time

by Chris Owen on

America’s Independence Day is a time of celebration with friends, family and maybe a few thousand other people at a festival or event. Over the holiday weekend there might also be time to watch a movie or two and there is no shortage of patriotic films to view.

Kaboose.com has a top ten list and Kaboose movie expert Jane Louise Boursaw and associate producer, Bethany Porter, have chosen their picks for the top ten patriotic movies of all time. Take a look at this list of the best Independence Day travel movies of all time.

On the Town
Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and Jules Munshin are three sailors on shore leave in New York City. They’ve got 24 hours to fill up with fun and romance before they’re due back on the ship. When those guys get off the boat and burst into song-wow!

They’re jazzed about being on shore leave, even more so in “New York, New York,” one of the greatest cities in the world, complete with the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building. Brings to mind that famous Life Magazine photo of the sailor who grabbed and kissed the first girl he could find after WWII. Those were the days!

Rocky
Sylvester Stallone plays Rocky Balboa, a struggling boxer working in a meat factory in Philadelphia. Heavyweight champ Apollo Creed is supposed to win their exhibition fight, but someone forgot to tell Rocky, who makes the best of his shot at the big time.

Rocky has a one-in-a-million shot at winning the fight on the 4th of July, but he goes for it anyway. Go for your dreams – especially in America where opportunities lurk around every corner-or, in Rocky’s case, up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Independence Day
The aliens are coming! The aliens are coming! Don’t worry, though. With Bill Pullman and Will Smith on the job, humanity will prevail!

Things look bleak, but the Pres bolsters the troops with his “fight the aliens” speech: “We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight! We’re going to live on! We’re going to survive! Today we celebrate our Independence Day!”

The Music Man
A con man comes to a Midwestern town with a scam using a boy’s marching band program, but things don’t go according to plan. Especially not with Marion the Librarian in the neighborhood.

A snappy parade, a marching band with 76 trombones, and a town united – don’t you love happy endings?

Miracle
It was the moment that stopped the 1980 Olympics. Lead by coach Herb Brooks, a group of formerly slacker college kids caused one of the biggest upsets in Olympic history, winning the gold medal over the Soviets.

Because nothing stirs patriotism like a good Olympics movie-especially when you’ve got Kurt Russell watching your back.

Apollo 13
It’s 1971, and astronauts Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, and Jack Swigert are en-route to the moon in Apollo 13-but when an explosion shuts down the craft’s electrical power, their chances of getting home are slim to none as the nation holds its collective breath.

This dramatization of real-life events has you believing in the power of the human spirit. Sure, “Houston, we have a problem,” but thanks to the ingenuity of NASA and the perseverance of the Apollo 13 crew, this story is nothing short of miraculous. Their suspenseful re-entry into the earth’s atmosphere is the longest four minutes ever!

Forrest Gump
In this Oscar-award winning film the main character, Forrest Gump, tells the story of his life as he waits at a bus stop. Although he is of below average intelligence, the lovable Forrest Gump has an extraordinary tale to tell and you’ll fall in love with his unique personality in this comedy-laced drama.

As the film progresses Forrest meets famous historical figures and fights for America on the battlefields of Vietnam. You’ll also recognize several uniquely American pop-culture phenomenons and historical events that Forrest takes part in.

American Legends
In this animated feature, viewers learn about real American heroes and legends through classic Disney storytelling.

From Johnny Appleseed to Paul Bunyan and John Henry, kids will love this adventure-filled glimpse of American history.

Schoolhouse Rock: America
This fun-filled, animated feature is the perfect way to teach younger children about milestones and big events in American history.

With its memorable patriotic songs and lively storytelling this film teaches kids all about America while keeping them engaged and entertained.

Top Gun
This piece of 80s pop-culture quickly became a classic with all-American super-star Tom Cruise as the rebel pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. We follow Maverick as he trains at the Navy’s Fighter Weapons School and attempts to play by all his own rules.

This is the perfect mix of American rebel attitude and kitsch. We get a glimpse of the lives of daring American pilots (fictitious though they may be) and we get to watch Tom Cruise sing “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feelin'” who could complain?

Flickr photo by Qfamily

Related Stories

Confederate submarine set upright for first time since 1864

by Sean McLachlan on

The H.L. Hunley made history back in 1864 when it became the first submarine to successfully attack an enemy ship. Launched by the Confederacy as a way to break the Union blockade of Southern ports during the Civil War, it sank the USS Housatonic on 17 February 1864 and itself mysteriously sank shortly thereafter.

Crew members hand cranked the propeller to make the sub move forward and its one weapon was a bomb set at the end of a long pole. The idea was to ram a ship with the bomb, which would then explode and leave a hole below the waterline. That’s what happened when the H.L. Hunley attacked one of the warships blockading Charleston harbor, but the sub never returned from its mission.

The Hunley was later found and brought to the surface. Now after several years of restoration the Confederate submarine has been placed upright for the first time since its sinking. The sub had been found resting at a 45 degree angle in a layer of silt and was kept in the same position until now. Moving it to the upright position has given researchers a look at a side of the ship unseen since 1864.

The researchers have found some holes on that side but are unsure if they are natural erosion or the cause of the Hunley’s sinking. Analysis of the bones of the eight crew members showed they died of a lack of oxygen. Interestingly, they were all at their posts as if nothing was going wrong.

You can visit the lab where this historic sub is being studied. The Warren Lasch Conservation Center is located in North Charleston, SC. You can also see a different Confederate submarine at the Louisiana State Museum in Baton Rouge.

[Photos courtesy Wikimedia Commons]

Travel Blogger Broke-Ass Stuart Brings Cheap Thrills to TV

by Chris Owen on

Called “A travel show that’s on the map but off the beaten path”, Young, Broke and Beautiful, debuted this week on the IFC network starring funnyman, writer/blogger Stuart Schuffman (aka Broke-Ass Stuart). The new show goes to some of America’s largest cities but typically avoids touristy stuff to revel in cheap, underground offerings and weird people.

In the season premiere of the 6-city summer series, Stuart dives right in on his mission to uncover the hidden, cheap attractions that might be overlooked in mainstream travel guides. According to Stuart, known for his popular guidebook Broke-Ass Stuart’s Guide to Living Cheaply in San Francisco being a “broke ass” is a state of mind where life is not about the stuff you have, but the stuff you do.

In the New Orleans episode of the new show, Stuart hangs out with a fangmaker (for humans), cooks gumbo, talks New Orleans music history, then hits an all-night bounce party at the NOLA Art House.

Also available in paperback, a free chapter of Young, Broke and Beautiful is available to download on Schuffman’s Facebook page.

“Broke-Ass Stuart’s philosophy is to write for busboys, poets, social workers, students, artists, musicians, magicians, mathematicians, maniacs, yodelers and everyone else out there who wants to enjoy life not as a rich person, but as a real person” says TheFutonCritic.

Let’s take a look at what’s coming up on Young, Broke & Beautiful , Fridays at 11 p.m./10 p.m. Central on IFC.