Bed and Breakfast

Romance and Fireworks at a Bed and Breakfast on 4th of July

Story Published on July 1, 2008 ⋅  Email this Story ⋅  Print this Story ⋅ Post a comment ⋅

Independence Day is meant to be a time when we all remember the struggles and triumphs of our founding fathers. Where better to rediscover the history of the United States than a bed and breakfast. Here are some locations that offer both historic ambiance, romance and plenty of Fourth of July fun.

Discover America ‘s Roots at a Massachusetts Bed and Breakfast

Concord is one of the United States’ most historic towns. Not only was it here that the Revolutionary War began, but it also was home to some of the most celebrated Americans. Authors such as Nathaniel Hawthorne and Ralph Waldo Emerson lived here, as well Henry David Thoreau. Visitors can tour the Old North Bridge , the site of the Battle of Lexington and Concord, which is part of the Minute Man National Historic Park. On the Fourth of July, there is a Picnic in the Park event at Emerson Field, which includes a parade and live music.

The Colonel Roger Brown House, built in 1775, is one of several bed and breakfasts in Concord. The Colonial home features guest rooms decorated with antiques, and each room includes a small kitchenette. Ralph Waldo Emerson and Louisa May Alcott both previously owned the land where The Hawthorne Inn now stands. The bed and breakfast was built in 1870, and includes antique-filled rooms, some with canopy beds.

No doubt you’ve watched on TV as the Boston Pops hold their annual Fourth of July concert against a backdrop of one of the country’s best fireworks shows. But you don’t have to watch the show from your living room, head into Boston and see it live. With its bounty of historic sites, you’ll receive an education in American history in just a few days.

Boston offers many historic bed and breakfasts. The College Club is within walking distance of the Charles River, where you can watch the city’s Fourth of July fireworks show. The guest rooms are decorated with antiques, and the rates include breakfast and afternoon refreshments. At Clarendon Square Inn, guests enjoy the amenities of a boutique hotel and the hospitality of a bed and breakfast. Each guest room is unique, with an eclectic mix of fine furnishings. There is even a rooftop hot tub. Both of these bed and breakfasts are located in historic buildings.

Celebrate Life, Liberty, Happiness at a Pennsylvania Bed and Breakfast

There is a lot to love in the City of Brotherly Love, especially around the Fourth of July. Philadelphia pulls out all the stops for its family-friendly Party on the Parkway. The event includes an all-day festival, parade and after the sun sets, there is the Liberty Concert and Fireworks event. Add to that a city filled with historic sites, and you can create your own perfect Independence Day getaway. Travelers can tour Independence Hall, where the first Continental Congress met, or snap a picture of the Liberty Bell.

Enjoy easy access to all of the historic gems of Philadelphia at the Thomas Bond House. This Philadelphia bed and breakfast was built in 1769 and boasts rooms filled with period reproductions and four-poster beds. The home is located in the Independence National Historic Park and is within walking distance of Independence Hall.

Spend the Fourth at a Washington, D.C., Bed and Breakfast

The perfect Fourth of July getaway awaits you in Washington, D.C. From the myriad of historic sites to the spectacular fireworks lighting up the sky above the Washington monument, you can immerse yourself in Americana. The city’s yearly celebration starts off with a parade along Constitution Avenue. Spend the day touring the sites, an evening watching the rockets red glare (so to speak) and spend the night in the height of luxury at a local bed and breakfast.

DuPont Circle, resting at the intersection of Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire avenues, was once home to some of the wealthiest of the city’s restaurants. The picturesque neighborhood is filled with architectural gems and none so fine as the Swann House. The Richardson-Romanesque-style manor home boasts a second-story balcony and a turret. The interior still includes many of the original features, such as carved marble fireplaces, crown molding and wall panels. Guest rooms are decorated in a romantic style with a selection of antiques, and some rooms include a fireplace. The bed and breakfast is close to all of the city’s popular attractions, shops and restaurants.

Celebrate Independence at a Texas Bed and Breakfast

Texas Hill Country, a charming region of the Lone Star State known for its flowers and German heritage, offers some Texas-size fun for Fourth of July. In the town of Comfort, the Fourth is celebrated with a parade, Texas-style barbecue, children’s carnival and pageant to crown the new Miss Comfort. Another town, Chappell Hill, is home to the “Best Little Small Town Parade in Texas,” and features everything from a kazoo band to cowboys.

There are plenty of bed and breakfast choices in Texas Hill Country. A white picket fence and roses, bluebonnets and wildflowers decorate the grounds at Kreigel’s Guest Haus. The innkeepers offer a Victorian-style guest room in the historic 1868 main house, as well as a private cottage. The German-style breakfasts include homemade preserves. In Comfort, you’ll find the Holekamp House Bed and Breakfast. The 19th-century home features five individually decorated guest rooms, all done in a romantic country style. There’s also a private cabin, perfect for couples celebrating a special occasion.

Enjoy the Fireworks at a West Coast Bed and Breakfast

While California might not boast the Revolutionary War history of Philadelphia or Boston, it can hold its own as a fabulous vacation spot. From the sunny beaches of San Diego to the historic charm of Pasadena, there are plenty of options for Fourth of July Fun. California ‘s bed and breakfasts are some of the best around, as well.

San Diego County boasts several major fireworks shows, the biggest is at Mission Bay, but Sea World and Legoland also offer up some competition for Fourth of July Fun. The Victorian Heritage Park Inn offers visitors to San Diego a great location and plenty of romantic ambiance. The inn, which includes romantic accommodations spread between two restored Victorians, is located in Old Town San Diego, within walking distance of shops and restaurants. Guests are treated to full breakfasts served on fine china, as well as a light afternoon tea.

Bissell House, a charming restored Victorian, is located in South Pasadena’s Orange Grove Mansion District. The rooms are decorated in a romantic, period style that is both opulent and yet comfortable. Several guest rooms include a whirlpool tub or clawfoot tub. Victoria ‘s Room is a cozy retreat with its own private solarium that overlooks the inn’s swimming pool. The historic bed and breakfast is just minutes from Old Town Pasadena and the Rose Bowl, where each Fourth of July brings a day filled with events. The day includes a special concert, such as a showcase of the nation’s best drum and bugle corps, as well as a huge fireworks show.

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