4th of July in New York

[allthenamesaretaken]

I've just realised I'll be in New York for 4th of July next year.
I've always viewed it as a family orientated holiday (could be completely wrong) so not really sure what my friend and I would do as a tourists.
Hoping for suggestions!

 

[bswift]

I've been in NYC twice for the 4th of July. First time I left the city to hang out with family friends so it was just a low-key celebration at their house. Second time I had an infected wisdom tooth and didn't feel up to doing much I do know that there were a heap of things happening in the city though, so I think you'll have no trouble finding something to do. There are fireworks you can view from various points in the city, but you'll probably need to camp out to get a good view. There'll also be private events and parties, if you're willing to pay for those sorts of things.

 

[zanzibar138]

I would have thought there would be HEAPS happening in NYC! Maybe ask over on the US boards?

 

[Aussie Wendy]

We were there in 2011 (gees that was ages ago-time goes so fast). Contrary to the above we were surprised at the lack of public things going on by day in NY city itself. Lots of people having family picnics in the parks etc but I expected a lot more public "stuff" but could be very different now. In the evening we watched the fireworks from along the river. We followed a suggestion on TA and headed to the stretch of the river just to the north (have to look up my TR to see exactly where now - roughly just north of the piers somewhere along the Hudson River Greenway). I think we only got there around an hour or so early and got a front row spot. Among local families and had a good view downriver to the fireworks. Avoided the huge crowds closer in. Lots of spots you could prebook of course, like the Intrepid pier with various packages, but that year the fireworks were held on the Hudson whereas more often they are held on the East River so may be no help. Make sure you know which river they will be on in 2017. I would google for advice on best places to head if you don't want to "camp out". It was a great friendly atmosphere and I was impressed despite big crowds how well behaved everyone was with no pushing when they ended but orderly, people helping those with strollers etc. Public transport was packed so we walked down one of the main drags and had coffee and desert in a cafe til crowds thinned to head back to our hotel. Actually buses were pretty good but subways were crowded. The fireworks themselves actually were not a patch on Brissie's Riverfire or Sydney's NY Eve or some of Melbourne's celebrations but still good and well worth it for the local atmosphere.

 

[HMANSION LOVER]

If you are willing to rent a car and enjoy a day at the beach you can spend the day at Jones Beach. It is a New York State Park and considered one of the premier beaches on the entire east coast. There are plenty of things to do besides swimming if you don't enjoy the surf. The reason I suggest it is there is always an incredible airshow ( always draws an incredibly big crowd) featuring among other things either The Blue Angels, the best fighter jet pilots the United States Navy has to offer, or the thunderbirds from the United States Air Force. Both put on a precision flying display. It's about an hours drive from the City not hard at all kind of straight out and straight back and you would be able to make it back to the city in time if you really wanted to see the fireworks on the river. But yes as PP stated it is a holiday that consists mainly of family and friends getting together and enjoying the day together eating and drinking and blowing of fireworks. I live just outside the city about 50 minutes away and know the area very well. You are welcome to message me if you want more info and help in figuring it all out. I have been to the show and it is a really enjoyable day.

 

[HMANSION LOVER]

I hate to say this but I got my Holiday's mixed up. The air show in in the beginning of the summer not on the Fourth of July. VERY VERY SORRY. But there is still a wonderful fireworks display in the evening. I will go online to get a list of all the things you can do at Jones Beach and post it later this evening. Again very sorry for the mistake and hope didn't get anyone's hopes up too much.

 

[HMANSION LOVER]

Again sorry for the mix up but here is a quote from the Jones Beach website

World famous Jones Beach State Park, home of 6.5 miles of beautiful white-sand beach on the Atlantic Ocean, is made up of more than 2,400-acres of maritime environment on the south shore of Long Island. Among the 6 million visitors to the park each year, families enjoy their own piece of the beach for a day, with many returning dozens of times through the summer. Designed on the theme of an ocean liner, Jones Beach offers many activities to those who visit the park. They swim in the ocean, stroll the boardwalk, fish, visit an historic exhibit, get a bite to eat at one of the many concession stands, play miniature golf, shuffleboard and basketball, attend concerts at the Nikon at Jones Beach Theater or learn about the marine environment at the Theodore Roosevelt Nature Center . Other activities that take place in the park include pool swimming, sunbathing, bicycling, surfing, and visiting the playgrounds.

And as I said there will be fireworks at the end of the day.