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 If you are looking for something fun to do over the Fourth of July holiday,
consider one of these trips into the American Southwest.
Laughlin, NV “Rockets Over The River”
Just after dark on July 4th, the
City of Laughlin, Nevada, puts on a huge annual firework display over the Colorado
River. Rockets Over The River is one of the most spectacular firework displays
in the West. Brilliant colors light up the dark desert sky and reflect in the
Colorado River below, creating a memorable and dramatic experience. The fireworks
show is choreographed to patriotic music that will be simulcast by the Laughlin
hotels and radio stations.
The fireworks can be viewed and enjoyed from any point along the famous River
Walk. The River Walk runs behind the casinos that flank the west side of the
Colorado River. All of the casinos have an entrance on the River Walk, and some
restaurants have outdoor patios along the water. There is “water taxi” transportation
that can convey you up and down the River to various casinos and passenger docks.
 Take a virtual
trip on Lake Mohave
and the Colorado river
in this DesertUSA
video.
If you have never been
to Laughlin you need
to see this video before you
pick a place to stay.
If you
are on a family vacation, there are many activities that everyone can enjoy in
Laughlin. Located right on the water, many casinos have private beaches for swimming
and tanning. There are also swimming pools at many of the hotels and casinos.
The river offers boating, water skiing, waverunners, kayaking, fishing and other
water activities. Boats can be rented near the River Walk or at nearby Cotton
Cove or Lake Mojave.
There are daily jet boat tours to Lake Havasu departing from
the dock at the Pioneer Casino. The boat tour takes you on a 58-mile tour of
the Colorado River to the famous London Bridge. It’s a great way to see the River
and enjoy the scenery. The contrast of the emerald waters against the desert
terrain is amazing. If you don’t have time for one of the longer boat
tours, take one of the daily dinner or steamboat cruises to experience the desert
views from the water.
There are movie theatres and a bowling alley. Most of casinos have video arcades
as well - one of the best is at Harrah’s. If you are staying at the Colorado
Belle Hotel Casino check out the new MaxFlight VR2002 Roller Coaster located
in the arcade. For more information on visiting Laughlin over the Fourth of July
weekend contact: Bullhead City Rockets Over the River at
702-298-2214. Or visit www.laughlinchamber.com.
 Flagstaff, AZ
If you are looking for cooler temperatures over the holiday
weekend, you may want to consider a 4th of July get-away to the town of Flagstaff,
Arizona. The average daily temperature in July ranges from a low of 50 degrees
F. to a high of 82 degrees F.
Flagstaff is nestled at the base of the San Francisco Mountains, surrounded
by the Coconino National Forest. The elevation is 7,000 feet and the ecosystems
range from Alpine forests and piñon-juniper plateaus to high desert and
barren tundra. The location and terrain make Flagstaff a great vacation spot
as there are so many outdoor activities: hiking, fishing, mountain-biking, horseback
riding, camping and sightseeing. If you enjoy shopping, Flagstaff also has a
number of shops, museums and galleries.
The summer season in Flagstaff includes a number of fun events and the 4th
of July weekend is no exception. The entire town gets involved in the celebration
by providing arts, entertainment and sporting activities. On July 3rd there is
the Symphony Orchestra Concert. The 53rd Annual Coconino County Horse Races will
be held on the 3rd, 4th and 5th. On July 4th Flagstaff will host its
11th annual 4th of July Parade and many other festive activities. On July 5th
they have scheduled an Independence Day Festival at the Pioneer Museum. If you
are in the mood for musical entertainment, check out Art
in the Park, a summer concert series featuring
the Spokes at the Arboretum.
Historic Route 66 cuts right through the historic district of Flagstaff. Many
other historic towns and points of interest are within a two hours drive in all
directions. This makes Flagstaff a great base camp for day excursions.
Fireworks have been discontinued at Flagstaff due to fire risk. There are,
however, many other activities and festivities to keep you entertained through
the holiday weekend. Visit http://www.flagstaffarizona.org/
for more information on visiting Flagstaff, Arizona or our DesertUSA page on
Flagstaff: http://www.desertusa.com/Cities/az/flagstaff.html
Big Bear Lake, CA
With cooler temperatures and a convenient
location, Big Bear Lake is a fun destination for the 4th of July weekend.
Big Bear Lake is located just 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles, California.
It is an alpine mountain resort located at an elevation of 6,750 - 8,200
feet. Summer temperatures average 80° F during the days and drop to around
45° F after dark. Big Bear Lake is surrounded by pine and oak forests
that provide an excellent home for a variety of wildlife. The scenic forests
and sparkling-blue lake support an abundance of outdoor activities. In the forest
areas you can hike, mountain bike, hunt or take a trail ride on horseback. The
lake is open to the public and offers a multitude of water activities including
boating, water skiing, swimming, fishing and other water sports. The lake is
7 miles long and approximately a mile wide at its widest point.
On the weekend of July 4th - 6th, the town features an Independence Day
Festival at the Big Bear Lake Convention Center. There will be live entertainment,
unique arts and crafts and children's activities including a petting zoo,
bounce houses and face painting. There will be an outdoor patio and BBQ.
The three-day festival is a family-oriented event. Admission is $3.00 for
adults, $2.00 for seniors and FREE for children 12 and under. The festival doors
open daily at 10:00 a.m. and remain open until 5:00 PM Fri-Saturday and on Sunday
until 3:00 p.m.
For more information contact 909-585-3000 or http://www.bigbearevents.com/bbevents/pages/intro.php.
Click here for a map to Big Bear Lake.
Lake Tahoe, CA
Lights on the Lake 2008 is considered
one of the top 5 firework shows in the U.S. according to The American Pyrotechnics
Association. This makes Lake Tahoe a great destination for the 4th of July
holiday. The lake and surrounding forest areas coupled with the casinos are the
perfect family destination.
Lake Tahoe offers something for everyone both on and off the water. The 191
square miles of blue water provides ample opportunity for boating, water skiing,
cruises, swimming and fishing. Once on land you can hike, mountain bike, golf,
camp, play tennis or just sit back and enjoy the view. Twenty-four hour gaming,
live music, fine dining, dancing and superstar entertainment are offered at the
casinos. Many of the resorts offer spa and fitness packages.
On the Fourth of July the fireworks display is synchronized to music by simultaneous
broadcast. You can tune into the music on the local stations KRLT-FM 93.9 and
KOWL-AM 1490. The show lasts approximately 30 minutes and the fireworks can be
seen from all over town. The fireworks are launched from an offshore barge and
will render a wide variety of patterns, lights, designs and colors.
Best spots to view the firework show in Lake Tahoe:
- Book a cruise on the Lake aboard the M.S. Dixie II and the Tahoe Queen. Both
boats are Mississippi paddlewheelers and offer a unique perspective of the firework
show from the water. These are the both offer a 4th of July Fireworks, Dinner
Cruise. Call 1-800-23-TAHOE for Information or Reservations.
- Nevada Beach is just a couple miles east of the Nevada casinos
on Elk Point Road. This is a good beach location for families with children who
want to BBQ. The beach offers charcoal grills and picnic tables. The beach faces
west with beautiful views of West Shore and Desolation Wilderness. This is probably
one of the best spots in the area to watch the firework show.
- Baldwin Beach offers firework views facing east towards
South Shore. The beach backs up the Tallac Historic Site and is approximately
5 miles down Emerald Bay Road. The site offers public parking, restroom facilities,
picnic areas, fire pits and barbecue grills.
- Bijou Community Park is a quieter location to view the fireworks
as it is set back from the shoreline. The park offers restrooms, a skate park,
disc golf course, playground and exercise circuit. Bijou Park is located on the
corner of Johnson and Al Tahoe Blvd.
- The intersection of Regan and El Dorado Beaches located
where HWY 50 meets the Lake is one of the best spots for viewing the fireworks.
These narrow beaches offer a front row seat to the firework display. Reagan and
El Dorado are two very popular beaches for the 4th of July show, so come early
- this location fills up quickly.
- Tallac Historic Site will host the Valhalla Arts and Music
Festival with a holiday BBQ. It is one of the quieter locations to view the firework
display with views facing east across Lake Tahoe.
For more information visit:
Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority
169 Highway 50/ PO Box 5878
Stateline, NV 89449
Phone: (775) 588-5900 or (800) AT-TAHOE
Fax: (775) 588-1941E-mail: info@LTVA.org
Click
here for a map to Lake Tahoe.
Nevada's
US Route 50
Road Trip - Laughlin
- Route 66 Oatman
Laughlin, Nevada
Lake Mohave
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