Here's what the Interior Department said:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/polit...=.aa40ccc5dfb7

Good pics of the fireworks!

We were in DC in 09 for the 4th July and enjoyed the great feeling in the city. I got a sneak preview of the Capitol Show the day before when they were rehearsing but stayed in our hotel to watch it properly and to see the spectacular fireworks although we did manage to see them from our hotel!

Tom911 thanks for the memories. I grew up in the no. va. suburbs in the 50's We went to the parade and fireworks for many years.

Thanks for sharing ^ I love walking around D.C and absorbing all of the history and architecture - I really need to get to the parade one year.

Nice photos! Thanks for sharing.

Couple of things... Seems to be a lot of security! No BabyTrump photos! :p

Wow, the fireworks were awesome, and you captured them from where, Rosslyn? Great job!

Can you be more specific about where you shot the fireworks from Rosslyn, with reference to the Rosslyn Metro Station? Thanks. (researching for next year, maybe, ha ha)

Thakn you Tom

I walked about 5 blocks of the parade route until I ended up where I was. There was one block filled with military police or National Guard, and the other blocks all had police. Seemed like a lot more than when I've attended in years past.

I was over in the park area just below the Netherlands Carillon. You'll pass the Marine Corps Memorial in the same park. It's an easy walk over and you'll see both locations on Google maps.

Got it, thanks.

Thanks for the pictures of your trip especially the fireworks. How did you get from Benicia to SMF?

I parked in the daily lot at SMF at $12 a day. Could have parked in the gravel economy lot for $10 but I splurge and spend the $2 a day extra for the daily lot which is paved. Don't have to circle all around looking for an open space in the daily lot. Can't park that cheap on-property at SFO (think it's around $35 a day now, and if you park off property for $10-15 you have to add on shuttle schedules to get back to SFO). At SMF, pretty rare to wait more than 5-10 mins for a shuttle to any of their lots. I wish all my flights could be from there, though pretty much limited to some award travel east or Alaska paid tickets to SEA.

Should add that Benicia is within one hour's drive of SFO, OAK, SJC and SMF, so with paid tickets I go to the cheapest airport. SFO tends to win the competition there.

I've usually had good luck for holidays in the McLean VA area - there's a number of Hilton (Embassy very close) and Mariotts (Sheraton not far either) near the Spring Hill Road Metro and Greensboro Station metro. During some stays I've been at $89 at the Embassy Suites, but they charge $10 for parking now.

Great pics of the festivities Tom - thanks.

Check out properties in Crystal City, Pentagon City, Roslyn, etc. Comparably inexpensive on weekends. and very quick Metro/taxi/car share rides into the heart of DC. A bit closer than Tysons Corner/McLean.