America loves Fourth of July, and why not?? There's really nothing better. We grill. We drink. We watch parades. We blow things up. And it's all to celebrate the fact that 243 years ago, we declared our independence from British rule.
Fortunately for Southern California residents, we live in one of the best places in the nation to celebrate the birth of the United States according to a new survey from Wallethub. How did they come to this (obvious) conclusion? By comparing the 100 largest U.S. cities across 19 key metrics based on how well they balance the holiday's cost and fun.
Some of the data Wallethub looked at included the average cost of beer and wine, to the duration of fireworks shows to how the weather is every Fourth of July (it's a bummer when your fireworks shows get rained out!).
Los Angeles found itself just behind New York City, with Chicago, Denver and Seattle rounding out the top five places to celebrate your Fourth of July.
One of the major reasons why Los Angeles is so great for Fourth of July - we have some of the best fireworks shows in the nation. While the coronavirus pandemic has cancelled many shows across the Southland, there are a still spots that will be putting on a show.
The study from Wallethub also showed that Los Angeles has the fewest DUI-related fatalities per capita in the nation during Fourth of July - so kudos to all you who are taking mass transit, Uber or Lyft to get to those fireworks shows.
Of course, Fourth of July isn't all about the fireworks (it kinda is, but there's more to it). While Los Angeles comes in at #2 overall for places to celebrate our nation's birthday, we're also among the more expensive options in the nation. Saving money is a cinch. Check for online bargains like Groupon, or hotel/motel loyalty programs.
Because the Fourth of July holiday falls on a Wednesday this year, experts say fewer people will be on the roads and traveling. People with limited vacation time may think twice about taking two days off to extend their trip. Besides, with gas prices on the rise, experts say it's better to stick close to home. Fourth of July cookouts are traditionally hot dog and hamburger affairs, or better yet, drop in on your friends and family and make them feed you. You can't get any cheaper than that.
If you're one of those people who will only get one day off for the holiday week, these 'Nearcations' are a great quick getaway to decompress and enjoy a few fireworks shows before needing to go back to work on Thursday morning.
However you plan on spending your Fourth of July holiday, there's no better way than to do it safely!