Independence Day

As we were lucky enough to be in the Washington DC area for July 4th, we decided to brave the crowds and show our patriotic sides by going to the National Mall for the concert and fireworks Tuesday night. We were also lazy enough to be late in leaving our apartment and missed the huge thunderstorm that went straight through downtown a few hours before the event. It’s great when laziness works in your favor.

When we found out that we would be moving to the DC area in May, the first thing I said was that we had to go to the Mall for fireworks on the 4th of July. Then Shawn’s family announced that they would be visiting over the holiday weekend, and we were forced to change plans, as we were not about to drag a bunch of out-of-towners (including a two-year-old) through the masses to see the fireworks. However, Shawn’s family decided to cut their trip short (I guess we’re not as interesting as we thought…), so we had the evening free to do as we pleased.

After the aforementioned storm let up, we gathered our blankets, bottles of water, and camera and took off for downtown. We decided to head for the Capitol lawn, as that was where the symphony would be playing, and we could get a good view of the Washington Monument, where the fireworks would actually be fired off. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of people at the Mall. It was crowded, yes, but it was not scary-crowded. We found a great spot where we would be able to see the fireworks and hear the concert.

I have to say that it was amazing. So totally worth the effort. Besides the excellent people-watching (and the inevitable making fun of said people) before the fireworks, it was awesome to see the show on the Mall. I remember watching the event on tv as a kid, so there was something special about seeing it in person. I think it’s just something that you must experience if you ever have the opportunity.