Philadelphia to Mt. Rushmore

Celebrate life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness in the city where those words took shape. A stroll through Historic Philadelphia is one of the best ways to savor America’s rich colonial heritage. Also check out Samantha Brown’s Top 5 Things to Do in Philadelphia. Once hunger strikes, pull a seat up at one of CityEats’ Top 10 Philadelphia Restaurants. Or if Philadelphia’s not in your July 4 plans, discover the Best US Fireworks Displays in other cities nationwide, as well as this year’s top Clear-Sky Cities for July 4th. Plus, consider seeing a marvelous nighttime show ofFireworks at Mt. Rushmore.

Bastille Day

Once you’ve celebrated America’s independence, keep the party going. Head to Paris for Bastille Day -– also known as Le Quatorze Juillet — and celebrate the French Revolution in style. From the Eiffel Tower to the Royal Palace, see all there is to Fall in Love in Paris. To plan it all, make sure to check out our Paris Hotels for Budget Travelers, and get more ideas for things to do and places to stay with our Paris Weekend Guide. Viva la France!

Provincetown, Massachusetts

Long, Lazy Days at the Beach

Sometimes happiness is as simple as kicking back on the beach. Cool off this July with the soft summer breezes of Provincetown, MA, the northernmost tip of Cape Cod that’s home to over 30 miles of beaches. Or if the Pacific is calling your name, head toHulopo’e Beach on Hawaii’s island of Lana’i, where in addition to sun and sand, you can enjoy traditional food, parades and music during events like the island’s annual July 4 Pineapple Festival. From coast to coast, make time for other equally irresistible beach options this July, from Florida’s Best Secret Beaches to the Top 10 California Beach Getaways.

Pamplona, Spain

Running of the Bulls

Adrenaline … freedom … independence: You’re sure to feel all 3 as you rush through the streets of Pamplona, Spain. In what may be the ultimate July mancation, imagine running for your life in front of a pack of angry, 1,200-lbs. bulls during Spain’s San Fermin Festival. Once you’ve lived to tell the tale, you may want to kick back and enjoy sangria along with these mouthwatering tapas in our Taste of Spain. And that’s no bull!

Wildlife-Viewing Ops

Head into the wild this July, and discover some of the best wildlife-viewing opportunities at outdoor treasures like Alaska’s Katmai National Park, an expanse of over 4,000,000 acres of land and rivers. Here, nature puts on a one-of-kind show each July, with the world’s largest sockeye salmon run, attracting a hungry audience of brown bears. If that ravenous sight makes you hungry for more, discover more Best National Park Wildlife. Or set your sights on some Island Adventure Travel, including a trip to Washington State’s San Juan Islands, where whales put on quite a show come July.

Barbados

Crop Over Festival

Looking for more big celebrations this month, tropical style? Join in Barbados’ celebration of the end of the sugar cane harvest, one of the many Caribbean Festivals and Events. The 5-week festival stretches from July into August, with a host of parades, colorful markets, concerts … and lots of drinking. To savor more of the Caribbean’s easternmost island, discover the Best Barbados Beaches, as well as its 11 parishes, including the tiny haven of Bottom Bay, where luminous coral reefs provide plenty of snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities.