Submitted by: Thomas D. Bridgman II, District Director of Operations Irving, Texas
To my family, July 4th is an important holiday. It is a time to reflect on our Nation and the many great people who have worked hard to make this Republic the great democracy that it is. We are very proud of this nation and celebrate its independence with fireworks, barbeque, and travel.
We’ve taken some wonderful July 4th holiday trips over the years, but I’ve listed our four most favorite family vacation spots for you!
- Stone Mountain, Georgia. We traveled to this suburb of Atlanta to watch their annual fireworks and laser light show that appears on the front of Stone Mountain. It was a spectacular show and a must see for the summer!
- Traverse City, MI. We attended the National Cherry Festival and watched their Independence Day fireworks show. This is a huge eight-day festival full of events during the day and concerts at night.
- Mackinac Island, MI. We loved island life! This 3.8-mile island is located in Lake Huron. You must travel by horse or bicycle as there are no motorized vehicles allowed, which adds to this island’s charm. Their annual fireworks show is a must- just make sure you wear a light jacket because it is pretty chilly out at night!
- Ludington, MI. We took the S.S. Badger, a ferry that commutes passengers and vehicles on a 4-hour trip across Lake Michigan to Manitowoc, WI, a trip that includes over 2 hours with no sight of land! We then made a short 45-minute drive to Green Bay to watch the July 4th fireworks show at the famous Lambeau Field. And again, make sure you pack a jacket!
This year, we are planning our annual July 4th trip to Fredericksburg, TX, where I am certain no jacket will be required!
Traveling the country to see all the beauty it has to offer is truly a wonderful way to spend this holiday and celebrate this great nation! No matter how you spend this holiday, I hope it is a safe and very happy time for you and your family to celebrate the birth of our Nation!