Am I crazy? to the Mall for the 4th... (Arlington: house, school)

[lcinva]

I need some direction/advice from people who live closer to the city than I did, or who have done this before...

I grew up in northern VA, but after I went to college my parents moved out west! My husband and I are in Ohio while he finishes dental school, and he's from out west so I think before we leave we need to see the fireworks in DC once! My plan is to stay out in Herndon/Vienna and take the metro in sometime on the 4th. If there are just the two of us (maybe a third friend), with no kids or blankets or anything, I can't imagine it would be hard to find SOME spot to just stand or something. We will probably go in early to see whatever they want to see, but won't go to the Mall until later. I have also heard the Smithsonian metro stop is closed on the 4th, so I think L'Enfant or Metro Center might be the next closest...

Are there other things I should know or should be considering? I don't mind walking to a little bit further of a metro stop if it will be less crowded after the fireworks. Which one should we plan on leaving from? Should we come back to a different stop than Vienna? I lived in VA for 18 years and never went for the 4th, so this all sounds good but I could be totally naive. Any additional info someone has would be great! Thanks!

-there is also the option of parking at my aunt's house in Arlington...I think she is near the Ballston metro stop

[DCguy03]

I live in Arlington and I'm planning to bike down to the Iwo Jima Memorial in Rosslyn and watch the fireworks from there. A DC-savvy co-worker recommended this plan to me, and it sounds like a good way to avoid parking/traffic/the orange crush on the Metro.

Would it work for you to bike from Ballston to see the fireworks?

[ersatz]

Another possibility. Consider using Metro to Arlington Cemetary. Great views over the Potomac, though at a bit of distance. Crush not so bad, though everyone will have climbed onto the Blue Line before the Arlington Cemetary stop.

[claremarie]

We watched the fireworks from Iwo Jima a few years ago, and it was terrific. We headed for the Roslyn metro the moment that the show was over. Even with several kids in tow, it worked perfectly.

[PenguinSix]

The crush is much lighter on the VA side. My only caution is to check the wind direction before you find a seat. If you are downwind, the smoke will block your view of much of the show as they set off quite a few fireworks with a great deal of smoke. If downwind you'll have a hard time seeing the finale.

If you do go into DC, you can get off at L'Enfant or Federal Triangle, but when coming home I'd try to head up a bit further to avoid the insanity, say metro center, McPherson (by the White House) Farragut or Foggy Bottom. Or just walk over the bridge to Rosslyn. Or head into Gtown and get a late bite to eat before heading home.

There is a lot going on. A concert on the Capitol Steps, a parade downtown, and at 10 they have a ceremony at the Archives where they read the declaration of independence and a bunch of re-enactors fire the 'shot heard round the world', again.