Originally Posted by
Zorak
Have just recently moved to Arlington, though was here over a July 4th a year or two ago. If not parking at the DCA garage then I think Crystal City metro offers similar access to the Mt. Vernon Trail, and also has a less-walking option of Long Bridge Park (which is where I watched from)
Originally Posted by
Section 107
Gravelly Point is a wonderful place to view the fireworks. And, there is the "relatively" close option of the airport terminal if the weather gets bad. The other suggestion of Long Bridge Park is good, too.
Also, watching from Columbia Island (which seems like it is on the Virginia side of the river but is actually in DC) was a long-time tradition of my "crew" during high school and college days. Back then, before bin Laden won and our feckless parents (and now feckless us) weren't in control with so many "securitay" restrictions, one could make a truly wonderful day-long picnic of it - complete with adult beverages and even grills. But it is still a spectacular vantage point with the entire city as your backdrop (similar to watching fireworks from Jersey City with Manhattan behind). If you have a car, parking is plentiful and free at the Pentagon North Parking lot and it is an easy walk across the bridge to the LBJ Grove and then across GW Parkway to the water's edge. For some years the Park Service has put up webbed construction fencing to keep cars from parking on the grass which may cause a little bit of an issue getting to the grass areas along the waters edge.
For the W hotel rooftop bar - VUE - they are currently taking reservations
VUE Rooftop - Washington, DC - Washington, DC | Tock (exploretock.com) includes buffet and open bar for $200pp which sounds like it is in your budget.
Another great location would be on the DC Southwest waterfront - I used to watch from my family boat and the yachts I crewed on. Now that it is all renovated you can probably watch from the rooftops of some of the hotels and condos there. Watching from the Salamander (formerly the Mandarin Oriental) would be another prime viewing location.
Happenings at Salamander Washington DC | Dining at The Lounge (salamanderdc.com)
Lots of options - just gotta be keep looking. Good Luck!
I met friends for breakfast in Great Falls Village this morning, so I thought I'd drive south on the GW Parkway to Crystal City and do some recon before returning to Montgomery County. I haven't flown out of DCA for several months and did not realize the extent of the parkway road construction.
First I stopped at Columbia Island. Been by it many many times, but never realized there was a marina there also (even with a recently burned to the hull boat). Lots of parking. Easy in and easy out. I assumed the viewing point would be across the GW Parkway and made an effort to walk across. After 7 minutes of waiting and seeing that I had to jump the guard rail (no shoulder) and no break in southbound traffic, I gave up.
Drove to Crystal City on Long Bridge Drive. Certainly Long Bridge Park would be a short walk from many hotels in the area (and with a chair and cooler fairly easy). But while I am sure that I could see an aerial view of the fireworks, I didn't find any location where I could see the city also.
Parked by the Amazon Fresh on Crystal Drive and walked to the Mount Vernon Trail, and from there to Gravelly Point, about 18 minutes for me. Probably a few minutes longer with a chair and cooler. Lots of room on the grass. There would be more room if NPS didn't allow vehicles to park on the grass on July 4th (vehicles with boat trailers and I am actually OK with it). I think I am going with this option. If it is too hot/humid, I may ride one stop from Crystal City to DCA as that would cut about 5-7 minutes off the walk. I did notice 'park closed at dark' or something. I'm assuming that NPS won't ask people to exit during the fireworks. lol
I'll report back!