• Introduction
• 1. Boston
• 2. Cape Cod, Nantucket & Martha's Vineyard
• 3. Chicago
• 4. Mount Rushmore
• 5. Philadelphia
• 6. Queen Mary 2
• 7. San Diego
• 8. San Juan Islands
• 9. U.S. Virgin Islands
• 10. Washington, D.C.

San Juan Islands

Watching a Bald Eagle fly overhead is bound to get you into a stars-and-stripes state of mind and the San Juan Islands, off the coast of Washington State, are one of the few places in the U.S. where such sightings are commonplace. Of the more than 700 islands that make up the chain, your best bet for July 4 is the eponymous San Juan Island, where you’ll find the aptly named Fourth of July Beach along Griffin Bay; claim your spot along the sand, and spend your day swimming, playing softball, and roasting marshmallows on bonfires below the tide line. Don’t miss the annual Pig War Picnic, named for the so-called “Pig War” waged on the island between Brits and Americans in 1859. The commemorative picnic takes place on nearby Price Street, following the Fourth of July parade, and serves up equal parts burgers and hot dogs with good old-fashioned fun.

See U.S. Virgin Islands Travel Guide | See San Diego Travel Guide | See Boston Travel Guide | See Philadelphia Travel Guide | See Chicago Travel Guide | See Washington D.C. Travel Guide | See Nantucket Travel Guide | See Halifax Travel Guide | See Cape Cod Travel GuideSee Martha's Vineyard Travel Guide