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2013Enjoy Romance, Fireworks at a Bed and Breakfast this 4th of July
Declare you independence from the typical Fourth of July and book a stay at a unique bed and breakfast. These special lodgings offer a mix of history and romance, as well as prime location for some of the country’s best fireworks shows.
Discover America’s Roots at a Massachusetts Bed and Breakfast
No doubt you’ve watched on TV as the Boston Pops hold their annual Fourth of July concert against a backdrop of one of the country’s best fireworks shows. But you don’t have to watch the show from your living room, head into Boston and see it live. With its bounty of historic sites, you’ll receive an education in American history in just a few days.
Boston offers many historic bed and breakfasts. The College Club is within walking distance of the Charles River, where you can watch the city’s Fourth of July fireworks show. The guest rooms are decorated with antiques, and the rates include breakfast and afternoon refreshments. At Clarendon Square Inn, guests enjoy the amenities of a boutique hotel and the hospitality of a bed and breakfast. Each guest room is unique, with an eclectic mix of fine furnishings. There is even a rooftop hot tub. Both of these bed and breakfasts are located in historic buildings.
As the history books proclaim, Concord was the location of “the shot heard round the world.” This picturesque Massachusetts village was front and center at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. In addition to this historic importance, Concord also was home to some of the nation’s most famous writers, from Louisa May Alcott to Nathaniel Hawthorne. The town’s Fourth of July festivities include a parade, music and fireworks at Emerson Field.
Ralph Waldo Emerson and Louisa May Alcott both previously owned the land where The Hawthorne Inn now stands. The bed and breakfast was built in 1870, and includes antique-filled rooms, some with canopy beds.
Celebrate Life, Liberty, and Happiness at a Pennsylvania Bed and Breakfast
Philadelphia was the site of the first Continental Congress and served as the nation’s first capital; it’s also home to the Liberty Bell and plenty of historic buildings. So it comes as no surprise to discover that Philadelphians celebrate Independence Day in a big way. The biggest celebration is The Party on the Parkway Festival, which includes tons of activities, followed by an early evening parade and a huge fireworks show and concert.
Thomas Bond House, built in 1769, is located in Independence National Historic Park, so its serves as a great home base for exploring all of Philadelphia’s famous attractions. The bed and breakfast is decorated in period style with four-poster beds and fine reproductions in its guest rooms. Visitors can walk to Independence Hall, as well as museums, shops and restaurants.
Enjoy Bed, Breakfast and History in Washington, D.C.
The perfect Fourth of July getaway awaits you in Washington, D.C. From the myriad of historic sites to the spectacular fireworks lighting up the sky above the Washington monument, you can immerse yourself in Americana. The city’s yearly celebration starts off with a parade along Constitution Avenue. Spend the day touring the sites, an evening watching the rockets red glare (so to speak) and spend the night in the height of luxury at a local bed and breakfast.
Guests at the Swann House enjoy romantic accommodations conveniently close to all of the city’s major attractions. Located in DuPont Circle, the historic bed and breakfast is a stunning example of Richardson Romanesque architecture. The interior includes many original features, and the guest rooms are decorated with antiques and more modern furnishings. Several rooms include a fireplace.
Celebrate Independence at a Texas Bed and Breakfast
Texas Hill Country, a charming region of the Lone Star State known for its flowers and German heritage, offers some Texas-size fun for Fourth of July. In the town of Comfort, the Fourth is celebrated with a parade, Texas-style barbecue, children’s carnival and pageant to crown the new Miss Comfort. Another town, Chappell Hill, is home to the “Best Little Small Town Parade in Texas,” and features everything from a kazoo band to cowboys.
Texas Hill Country is famous for its bed and breakfasts. The Holekamp House Bed and Breakfast in Comfort, is another Texas Hill Country Bed and Breakfast. The historic home features five individually decorated guest rooms, as well as a rustic wood-paneled cabin with a two-person Jacuzzi tub.
Go West for a Memorable Fourth of July
Throughout the Southland, you’ll find plenty of Fourth of July celebrations as well as some great California bed and breakfasts. Victorian charm in San Diego and the posh setting of Millionaire’s Row in South Pasadena are among the choices.
San Diego County boasts several major fireworks shows, the biggest is at Mission Bay, but Sea World and Legoland also offer up some competition for Fourth of July Fun.
As California bed and breakfasts go, Bissell House in South Pasadena is one of the best. It combines history, romance and a great location, nestled in the town’s Orange Grove Mansion District among many other architectural gems. The bed and breakfast’s grounds are shaded by tall trees and decorated by flower gardens. Guest rooms range from the quaint and cozy Victoria’s Room, which includes a private solarium, to the Garden Room, which boasts antiques and a Jacuzzi tub for two. The inn is close to Old Town Pasadena, museums, shops and historic sites. For more than 80 years, the place to be in for Fourth of July fun is Pasadena is the famous Rose Bowl. The day’s events include a concert and one of Los Angeles’s best fireworks shows.