Washington D.C. (including Baltimore) - July 4th in DC

Dear FT-ers

As a Brit, I will find myself in DC on July 4th for work. So is there anything that I should look out for, anything special happening?

Thanks!

i would not recommend driving into town. fireworks are over around 9pm. it's a zoo to get anywhere for an hour or so after. at least half a million people be there.

http://dc.about.com/od/specialevents/a/4thofJuly.htm

The monuments, as well as the roads and the Metro, will be very crowded, possibly slightly less than in previous years as the holiday falls on a Wednesday, but still a zoo as slawecki has said.

The fireworks are nice, and there is a free concert preceding them if you're interested. Personally I will be watching from a rooftop somewhere, to avoid the madness on ground level.

I'll echo the others' sentiments: Don't drive or Metro anywhere near downtown DC. If you are in a hotel in the city with a roof deck (buildings in DC aren't over 12 stories), watch the fireworks from there.

As a resident of DC, I disagree with the advice above.

To start, the mall is huge. Wife and I leave home late for fireworks (around 8 PM) and always find decent blanket space near the Wash monument - prime viewing area. the amount of space for viewing the fireworks is huge!

yes, metro is crowded for the return, but what's new? We also tend to drive in (we know the "hidden" places you can park for free if you don't mind walking a bit.) to avoid the return crush. Otherwise leave a bit early.

The Smithsonian Folklife festival is always running that weekend, and worth some time. It runs during the day. Beyond that, if it's hot, remember that the museums are air conditioned.

There are many less well known treasures in DC, depending on what you like. Give some idea and I can make some suggestions. Also, will you have a car? where will you be staying?

There are many less well known treasures in DC, depending on what you like. Give some idea and I can make some suggestions. Also, will you have a car? where will you be staying?

This is largely a work trip so I will only be in DC from Sat 30th until Thu 5th when I return to the UK. I will be staying at the Palomar, which is near Dupont Circle I believe. I'm very happy walking long distances.

I'm returning with the family to DC in August for a holiday and will hopefully take in more of the sights then.

From the Palomar it is not a very long walk to the Mall to see the fireworks. If the people with whom you are working are downtown then they may have some sort of way to view the fireworks from their office/building roof. It is brutally hot here this week but if you are lucky it will be a bit cooler when you are here, but you should be prepared.

call the concierge at the palomar, and ask if any of their hotels will be having rooftop or viewing activities.

Palomar is a good location. One block east is Pizza Paradiso, great pizza and good beer (ale) on tap.

Georgetown is an easy 20 minute walk west. P street west into Georgetown takes you through a beautiful residential area. If you want the Georgetown scene, you then walk south to M street, the canal just below, and the waterfront. It would all be a great walk for a few hours. Georgetown is also an excellent place for better restaurants, arguable better than most that are near Dupont circle. Dupont Circle also has a red line Metro stop. It is a great way to get to many places downtown.

I agree with the positive advice above. Don't avoid DC... embrace it! Where better to celebrate (or commiserate ;)) the 4th of July than the capital?

Easy walk to the Mall - agreed.
Pizza Paradiso is great - agreed.
Georgetown is beautiful - agreed.

You won't be at a loss for things to do. Personally I'd choose heading to the mall for the concert/fireworks as my priority, but that doesn't exclude a dinner and a few pints (which, btw, are smaller on that side of the Atlantic) at Pizza P beforehand!

weather forecast is HOT. That said, the mall is pretty open and often captures a bit of a breeze.

Also, no reason to get there far in advance. Wait until it cools, certainly after 8 PM. Stay in AC until 8:30, maybe even 9 PM. Then walk down to the mall. Fireworks start around 9:15 or later, and you can see them even if you're not there yet. Straight down 17th is usually the best route.

Useful article from the Washington Post about the day, including traffic restrictions, getting to and from the Mall etc http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/july-4-in-dc-the-getting-around-guide/2012/06/29/gJQAyY64DW_story.html?hpid=z4