114. 4th of July Fireworks: Unique Luxury Travel Spots Across the United States

Looking to celebrate Independence Day in style? In this episode, I’m sharing the most luxurious and lesser-known spots across the U.S. to watch Fourth of July fireworks. You’ll hear about: where to find unforgettable waterfront views and private yacht parties, how to pair wine tastings with your fireworks plans, and which luxe experiences to book if you want to skip the crowds.

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Transcript

Hello jet setters, and welcome back to another episode of Jet Setting with Me. Happy fourth of July. It's one of my favorite holidays of the year. I love fireworks. Mr. Jet setting with me gets a day off. So sometimes we can get away for a long weekend or to one of these places I'm about to talk about. And for over 55 years.

Mazel tov mom and dad. It was my parents anniversary. So last year I did the quote unquote best fireworks displays in the United States. We traveled by ear to Boston, Washington, D.C. philadelphia, New York City, Williamsburg, Virginia, the theme parks in Orlando, Nashville, Tennessee, St. Louis, Missouri, New Orleans, Louisiana, San Diego and San Francisco, California and Seattle, Washington. And yes, we even talked about fireworks in Anchorage, Alaska. So if you are at any of those places, you are bound to see one of the best fireworks displays in all of the US So this year I thought we would do something a little bit different and cover the most unique, luxurious, maybe a little more off the beaten path places to spend your Independence Day weekend.

We maybe one, two, or even three of these spots will hit your July 4th bucket list for where we can plan for you to go next year. So I always start on the east coast for some reason and this year is no different. Let's head up to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, the quintessential New England retreat. I'll think about America's first family, the Kennedys with their preppiness look. So the fireworks there are set over the harbor on a beachfront area and there's lots of private moored sailboats, which is the best viewing spot if you can get one. The show lasts 20 to 25 minutes and it offers that sort of nautical vibe. The great viewing locations, as I mentioned, those private yachts, but also include the private waterfront villas, harborfront restaurants with terrace seating. If you need reservations at any of those locations, that is something that of course I can help you with.

Now once it's not the 4th of July, there's plenty to do there. There is farm to table culinary tours. You know I love a good food tour. It's one of the things that I say helps you find the local gems. I talked about that a few episodes ago. You can visit the local farms and the fisheries and then find an exclusive tasting. Also, a friend of mine loves historic lighthouses. She collects pictures of them.

This is a place to go for those strolling along the beach. You can see the historic lighthouses. You can take those scenic walks with those photo ops and see all of those iconic landmarks. I mentioned the private Sailing and those catamarans. You can actually book one of those private catamarans with champagne for either a sunrise or a sunset cruise. Even though I'm a sunrise girl, I always talk about how it's great to get up early on a vacation at least one day and watch the sunrise. For a catamaran cruise. I am all about the sunset.

Also, there is unique local shops and art galleries. They feature handcrafted crafted goods, local art, antiques from the area. Perfect for unique souvenirs. So a nice way to go. Really luxe out there in Martha's Vineyard. Another great place, Newport, Rhode Island. It's straight out of the Gilded Age. In fact, there are historic Gilded Age mansions still standing that you can tour.

There are sweeping ocean views and there is a very vibrant sailing culture there. Gives it a bit of timelessness. The fireworks display for the fourth of July is right over Newport harbor, right along the waterfront. It's about a 30 minute show. It's choreographed to music and it's actually launched from the multiple barges that are in the waterfront. So. So it lights up the sky and then the reflection in the water gives you sort of a 360 degree visual. Of course, there's plenty to do that isn't just the fireworks.

You can take one of those exclusive yacht cruises and you can actually watch the fireworks from a private vessel that's in the harbor from the viewpoint of where they're shooting them up. Again, lots of gourmet dining and wine tasting. Any fellow fans of Top Shover out there? We have seen some great fresh seafood, lobster out of Canada, same seaboard on the eastern coast. They have great lobster and scallops and other fresh seafood there. They will pair it for you with wines that are from the area or there are craft cocktails or mocktails. The top tier restaurants are really diving into that cocktail mocktail culture. Of course, I mentioned those Gilded Age mansions which are still standing. You can get private tours.

There's also group tours for those where you can explore the iconic estates like the breakers or the Marble House. And of course, it wouldn't be luxury to me without a spa experience. And you can do it at a prestigious resort with ocean views. Now let's go to the middle of America, right close to home for me. I've actually done this one before and that is Grapevine, Texas. So that 20 minute fireworks show is known for its setting right over Lake Grapevine. Of course we've got live music, food trucks and a very festive vibe. You can relax on the lawn, docks or if you really want to plus it up, you can invest in a private boat viewing.

There is VIP seating. There are lakeside spots that can be arranged for you. With those private spots you get bottle service, AKA my favorite butler, those gourmet snacks and those front row waterfront views. Now last week in episode 112 I talked about both the Gaylord Hotel resorts throughout the country that have water parks and also Great Wolf Lodge. Well both of those, they're like right across the street from each other exist in Grapevine. So the Gaylord of course boasts those multiple pools and that water park, but they also will host special firework viewing parties complete with the same live music, cocktails and a VIP experience. Experience. And of course that hotel is located right on the shores of Lake Grapevine which gives you easy access to the fireworks show.

If you don't want to experience it in the resort itself, right across the street is the Great Wolf Lodge which has that indoor water park but also is got some kid friendly family suites and then you can walk right across the street to see the fireworks. Now there is a lot to do for the rest of your weekend in great find. The famous Messina Hoff Winery is there and you can do a tour of the winery and a wine tasting. There are other spots that include the Delaney Vineyards that are also perfect for that daytime activity. There is historic downtown Grapevine which is a charming town. It's got the same kind of streets that I just mentioned in Newport with boutique shops, art galleries, upscale eateries and you can book culinary walking tour and experience. As I mentioned, Lake Grapevine is there. You can charter a boat, you can rent a pontoon to explore the coves.

You can go fishing or again that sunset cruise. There is a golf course nearby. Luxury golf courses like the Grapevine Golf Course or the Twin Creeks Golf Club. Also not far is the Four Seasons which also has its own golf course. And of course the Gaylord has a great spa, the Relasher Spa. And there's plenty of boutique day spas around the town. I did mention the Four Seasons is not that far. I have actually been to both the Gaylord and the Four Season Spa and I am happy to share those experiences with you and get those all booked for you on your trip.

Now let's head to the west coast I mentioned last year. San Diego and San Francisco both have great displays but a little less crowded in an artsy, romantic coastal town which has kind of a European charm is Carmel by the Sea. Oh my gosh, I love this city. It's got jaw dropping views of the Pacific Ocean and it is one of those hidden gems. It is away from those big tourist crowds. The fireworks are much more intimate and local and they launch from the beach or the cliffs that overlook the Pacific Ocean. You can get great viewing at private beachfront estates which I do have access to to reserve for you through the Signature select program. Or you can make a reservation at one of the cozy bluff top ends or pack yourself a picnic and set up right on the sand.

Whatever you want to do. Again, plenty to do outside of the fireworks. As I mentioned, you can have a luxury beach picnic. Some of the specialty stores in town will curate a gourmet picnic for you and then you can go to the often empty but very clean pristine beaches. There are nearby wineries in Carmel Valley and they have expert sommeliers so doing a wine tasting is great. And here they do an art gallery stroll where you can discover local artists and those galleries and of course those make for the hidden gems and unique souvenirs and again recharge at a boutique spa. But here the focus is on wellness as opposed to just relax at the spa. And they have unique sea inspired treatments that will really help rejuvenate you for after the long weekend when you have to go back to work.

Finally. Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Oh, another chef's Kiss view is framed by the stunning Grand Tetons. Jackson Hole is going to blend that rugged natural beauty that I talked about last week when I talked about Utah's big five national parks with some upscale western charm. The fireworks are actually launched from the iconic town square or the Jackson Lake Lodge area, which is amazing. It's set against the towering Teton so you have the Teton Mountains for the backdrop. It's a 20 minute, very intimate show. It's best seen from the private balconies at those luxury lodges that are in the area, which again I have reservation access to for you.

But there are also exclusive viewing platforms that are just at the base of the mountains. And then if you really want to be extra af, you can take a helicopter night tour for a sky level experience of fireworks viewing. I've actually seen fireworks from an airplane before, but never a helicopter. So that could be added to my hashtag July 4th bucket list. Of course. What else is there to do in the city? Well, Grand Teton national park is there for one and with that you can do private wildlife safaris. So you will get to see bison, elk, bald eagles. Yes, you will see lots of bald eagles and these expert guides will show you what to look for and how to find them or even take you.

Again, I mentioned the helicopter night tour, but you can do those scenic tours during the day where you will get aerial views of mountains and glaciers to create those unforgettable memories. And here the culinary experience is a ranch experience, so not quite the culinary food tour that the other places have. Here you will dine under the stars at these ranches and you will get cowboy cuisine with upscale luxe vibe. Think about local brew pubs doing a brew pairing with your gourmet ranch dinner. Or of course, there's always wine pairings, and those are your top five luxury July 4th fireworks that are lesser known than what we did last year. So happy fourth of July. And until next week, enjoy your time off with your family, friends, the family you choose, or even just rejuvenating and recharging all by yourself. See you next week.