We Had A Great Spot To Enjoy The July 4th Celebrations
We looked for options to enjoy the July 4th holiday in the U.S. Last year we enjoyed the holiday in Seattle before our Alaska cruise. Boston and Philadelphia were both on the short list for a July 4th visit. But Philadelphia was an easier drive for a short visit. We were so glad we chose to visit Philadelphia for the July 4th Independence Day celebrations.
Getting Ready For The Parade
Red, white and blue was everywhere in Philadelphia for the July 4th Independence Day holiday. We knew we were in the heart of the celebrations when we kept hitting closed streets as we tried to get to the Kimpton Monaco Hotel. Everyone was dressed for the celebrations. Even the dogs!
It was easy to walk out the doors of the Kimpton Monaco Hotel and see the celebrations all around us. Food trucks of every type lined the streets. We did not have to go far to eat well in Philadelphia.
The floats for the July 4th Independence Day parade were parked by our hotel early. So we got a chance to get a close up view. The Army band played a tune for us. And we got engulfed as the bubble machine was tested on another float. It was easy to get excited about being in Philadelphia for the July 4th fun.
From our hotel window we had a great view out over Independence Square and the parade grounds. We scouted out exactly the best place to be for the parade. And we knew when the parade was soon to start.
The fun for July 4th starts before the parade starts. The city of Philadelphia was well set up to welcome us to town!
July 4th Independence Day Parade
The parade leader started the parade past the reviewing stand. Bands of all kinds marched and played.
People walked the parade in a wide variety of costumes. All nationalities were represented on this day to celebrate independence. It reminded us of the great summer festivals at home in Toronto! Some rode on bicycles. And a children’s gym rode past on unicycles.
The parade marshals fed the parade from three different streets. Open convertible cars held beauty pageant winners. Firetrucks proudly joined the parade. The large floats we saw the day before weaved into the parade line.
We had the best spot to watch the parade in Philadelphia for the July 4th Independence Day festivities. While the bomb truck and police stood ready in case of trouble, all was saw was people having fun. It was a great celebration!
Finishing With Fireworks
It was a hot and muggy visit to Philadelphia for the July 4th holiday. With the humidity came towering clouds. And then the first light show of the evening! Lightening crackled all around us. It was a great display!
We really wanted to head down to Penn’s Landing for the fireworks but did not want to get caught in a deluge. We still got a great view down to the fireworks on the water. The show started with smaller fireworks on the Trenton side of the river. And then the big show began. Next time we visit, we may want a hotel with a direct view of the action!
But fireworks were still a great way to finish off our Independence Day celebrations in Philadelphia!
Philadelphia For The July 4th Independence Day Holiday Was A Great Choice
We were so glad we planned a short visit to Philadelphia for the July 4th celebrations. There was so much to see and do in Philadelphia. The Kimpton Monaco Hotel was right in the middle of the party. We could wander out for a bit and then take refuge to cool down in the hotel. The parade route ran right past us. There was so much to see! We always try to celebrate July 1st Canada Day when we are home in Canada. But it was great this year to celebration July 4th in the U.S.
Have you visited Philadelphia For The July 4th Independence Day Holiday? What was your favourite part?
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Your post has given very valuable information, keep posting the same information like this always. What a great tour and visit! Really great photographs you have shared with us.
I am glad you enjoyed this post. Philadelphia was a great spot to visit for the July 4th Independence Day celebrations. Linda
I’ve never been to the States at all for 4th July (it seems counter-intuitive to me as a Brit). But now I am really tempted. Philadelphia looks like amazing fun and just the right scale to be manageable.
Fiona, July 4th is a big thing in the U.S. Busy but a great time to visit. With so much history in the city, it is a great place to celebrate this Independence Day holiday. Linda
I think your hotel had the best view! Must have been an incredible experience with all of the history there.
Nicole, The Kimpton Monaco was in the perfect spot for us to enjoy the July 4th celebrations. And a good base to explore other things to do in Philadelphia too. Linda
I love the 4th of July. We celebrate every year but I have never been to an Independence Day parade. Great photos it’s looked like a wonderful time. Very cool lightning shot and fireworks by the buildings.
Dylan, We have been in the U.S. several times for July 4th celebrations. They are always a lot of fun. This was the first time we saw a parade as well. It was a great spot with all the history in the city. Linda
I haven’t been to Philadelphia yet but it sounds like an amazing place to visit for the 4th of July! I’ve been wanting an excuse to visit because flights have been so cheap there recently but maybe I should hold off and wait until the holiday next year!
Julia, We found so much to see and do in Philadelphia. So it is a great spot to visit whether it is July 4th or not. But if you want a fun spot for Independence Day celebrations then Philadelphia is a great choice. Linda
going to Philly for the 4th seems like a pretty good idea. It would be on my top five patriotic cities for sure. It looked like you could get up close and personal with the parade and that you found a fantastic hotel right in the heart of the city.
Jenn and Ed, We did indeed have a front row seat for the festivities and for the parade. We were glad we selected Philadelphia for this year. Hope you get to visit! Linda
I actually grew up not too far from Philly and Independence Day is really a special time of year here due to the history. The guys in the green costumes are mummers, they even have their own parade in Jnauary!
Brianna, I was glad to visit for July 4th. It felt a little more patriotic in this city with all the history. Loved the variety of people who took to the streets to march in the parade. Did not know the green costumers were mummers. Thanks! Linda
Wow! I had never thought of the 4th of July as a holiday to travel for, but it looks super cool in Philadelphia! I love the parade and I also love that they bring in loads of food trucks. My husband will be all over Philly fry!
Paige, We love the celebrations and fireworks for national holidays like July 4th. Philly was a great opportunity to move from food truck to food truck. A great spot if you think of travelling for July 4th. Linda
How fun! The US always puts on a spectacular parade. I’ve only been in the states once on July 4 and I remember the fireworks were amazing. We weren’t planning on it, but we just so happened to have a fantastic view of them – from the motel parking lot! A hilarious, but cool, memory from my childhood.
Adelina, I am glad you have such a great memory of July 4th celebrations. I love fireworks so I am always looking for opportunities to see them. Linda
I love the idea of spending July 4th in Philadelphia. I haven’t visited the city before and it would be so much fun to attend the parade and watch the fireworks (and eat cheesesteak, cuz, that’s mandatory)
Sherianne, Cheesesteak is absolutely mandatory when you visit Philadelphia. Gave me energy to get me through all the July 4th festivities. A great city if you are looking for a place to spend July 4th. Linda
I have always found that as soon as there is a parade or fireworks any hotel with a great view always seems to increase their prices astronomically. Watching a parade is always fun and it looks like you had a good time despite the weather.
Janine, We sometimes stay away from the festivities and have often regretted it. The extra distance when you are tired sometimes just adds a reason to not do things. We have found if we are in the centre of things, we can pop in and out more. So we get more value from both the hotel and the festivities. We managed to work around the weather. Linda