With its day-long beach parties, afternoon parades, nightly concerts, and dazzling fireworks, July 4th isn't your everyday holiday – it's the birthday of the good ol’ U.S. of A., and everyone's invited to the countrywide party. Whether you're into paying tribute to American history or just enjoying traditional summer pastimes, our list of top places to celebrate July 4th has got you covered. While we were tempted to include London – just to remind them who won! – we opted to stay domestic with our picks for July 4th vacations. Accordingly, you’ll find the obvious places for saluting the nation – like D.C., Boston, and Philadelphia – as well as the unexpected. Look for coastal cities, offshore islands, an inland mountain, and . . . one of the finest ships afloat. Start the celebration with our Places to Celebrate July 4th slideshow.

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