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Old 07-01-2015, 11:19 AM
 
Location: West Hollywood, CA from Arlington, VA
2,768 posts, read 3,528,933 times
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Does anyone know if the Mount Vernon trail along the Potomac is open during the fireworks show? I was thinking about biking down there.
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Old 07-01-2015, 01:23 PM
 
Location: Fairfax County
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Yes, it is open. We often go to Lady Bird Johnson park to view the fireworks. Lots of people spend the day along the Mount Vernon Trail.
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Old 07-02-2015, 08:08 AM
 
Location: Sandy beaches...
472 posts, read 547,500 times
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Sorry for hijacking this thread but didn't want to open a new thread on the same subject. We're set on catching Jul 4th fireworks on the Mall. Logic says don't or go elsewhere but it's the best seat in the house - nothing beats the thump in your chest when the firework explode right overhead and taking in the patriotic music in the background and the Lincoln memorial/Capitol as the backdrop.

We're staying with family in VA side but plan to drive close/take metro out. Obviously non of our local friends/family would want to brave the trip so they have no idea of the best way to do it and would avoid it altogether. Any suggestions on getting there and back? I'm ready to go all out and brave the crowd and prob won't get home til 1-2AM.
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Old 07-02-2015, 08:20 AM
 
9,878 posts, read 14,122,777 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hokiepoke View Post
Sorry for hijacking this thread but didn't want to open a new thread on the same subject. We're set on catching Jul 4th fireworks on the Mall. Logic says don't or go elsewhere but it's the best seat in the house - nothing beats the thump in your chest when the firework explode right overhead and taking in the patriotic music in the background and the Lincoln memorial/Capitol as the backdrop.

We're staying with family in VA side but plan to drive close/take metro out. Obviously non of our local friends/family would want to brave the trip so they have no idea of the best way to do it and would avoid it altogether. Any suggestions on getting there and back? I'm ready to go all out and brave the crowd and prob won't get home til 1-2AM.
Your local friends are smart. There is no "best" way to do it. The information on this website is very valid.

Directions - National Mall Fourth of July Celebration (U.S. National Park Service)


Quote:
Originally Posted by hokiepoke View Post
nothing beats the thump in your chest when the firework explode right overhead and taking in the patriotic music in the background and the Lincoln memorial/Capitol as the backdrop.
I could be wrong, but I think the patriotic music is only at the Capital, not on the Mall.
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Old 07-02-2015, 08:45 AM
 
5,570 posts, read 7,271,820 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spencgr View Post
I could be wrong, but I think the patriotic music is only at the Capital, not on the Mall.
It's true that the live music is only at the Capital, but live streaming the music is a possibility.
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Old 07-02-2015, 08:50 AM
 
526 posts, read 900,793 times
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For the trip home, I would head to a metro stop that's earlier on the route to Virginia than the stops closest to the mall. That way you get on the metro before the huge crushing crowds. For instance, if you're taking the blue or orange line, I would head for L'Enfant or Federal Center SW or even Capitol South rather than Smithsonian or Federal Triangle.
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Old 07-02-2015, 09:00 AM
 
Location: New-Dentist Colony
5,759 posts, read 10,723,135 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hokiepoke View Post
Sorry for hijacking this thread but didn't want to open a new thread on the same subject. We're set on catching Jul 4th fireworks on the Mall. Logic says don't or go elsewhere but it's the best seat in the house - nothing beats the thump in your chest when the firework explode right overhead and taking in the patriotic music in the background and the Lincoln memorial/Capitol as the backdrop.

We're staying with family in VA side but plan to drive close/take metro out. Obviously non of our local friends/family would want to brave the trip so they have no idea of the best way to do it and would avoid it altogether. Any suggestions on getting there and back? I'm ready to go all out and brave the crowd and prob won't get home til 1-2AM.
If you and your family are up for a good walk, you could have someone drop you all off on the VA side Memorial Bridge and then walk over the river, via the separated sidewalk on the bridge. Then it's just a short walk to the Mall. Or you could be dropped off at TR Island parking lot and walk over the TR Bridge via the sidewalk on it, putting you just as close to the Mall, if not closer.

Either way would spare you the crowds on Metro and the traffic jam that's sure to follow the show.
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Old 07-02-2015, 09:04 AM
 
Location: West Hollywood, CA from Arlington, VA
2,768 posts, read 3,528,933 times
Reputation: 1575
Quote:
Originally Posted by hokiepoke View Post
Sorry for hijacking this thread but didn't want to open a new thread on the same subject. We're set on catching Jul 4th fireworks on the Mall. Logic says don't or go elsewhere but it's the best seat in the house - nothing beats the thump in your chest when the firework explode right overhead and taking in the patriotic music in the background and the Lincoln memorial/Capitol as the backdrop.

We're staying with family in VA side but plan to drive close/take metro out. Obviously non of our local friends/family would want to brave the trip so they have no idea of the best way to do it and would avoid it altogether. Any suggestions on getting there and back? I'm ready to go all out and brave the crowd and prob won't get home til 1-2AM.
Taking Metro to Rosslyn and then walking to the Iwo Jima Memorial from there (10 min walk) would be a good bet. There isn't a better view anywhere. Rosslyn serves all three VA Metro lines too. If you wanted to drive, there should be at least a couple garages open that you could park at in Rosslyn (highly doubt you could find free street parking).
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Old 07-03-2015, 07:16 AM
 
1,820 posts, read 1,654,539 times
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Half the streets in DC near the Mall will be closed on Saturday. It's nuts to try to drive into town. It's nuts to try to go at all in fact, but everybody's got to do it once, I guess...
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Old 07-03-2015, 07:40 AM
 
9,878 posts, read 14,122,777 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Major Barbara View Post
but everybody's got to do it once, I guess...
Just curious if anyone does it regularly?
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