Best Restaurants For Watching The Fireworks Slideshow

Aside from the obviously spectacular Stone Mountain Park laser and fireworks show, Atlanta has other special Fourth of July celebrations to offer. Lenox Square Mall is shooting off their rockets at around 9 p.m. this Independence Day. The W Atlanta – Buckhead is hosting a Fourth of July party on its rooftop patio, Whiskey Blue. The best of the city's food vendors will provide the food for this event. Access is by ticket purchase only, so get yours before they're gone!

After the fireworks shows were cancelled last year due to a drought, Austin is offering up a stellar display this year. The Austin Symphony Orchestra will be performing, along with a fireworks show at the Auditorium Shores at The Long Center. The fireworks are visible from a number of restaurants along the river. Aussie's Grill and Beach Bar will be open for prime viewing. Sit back with one of its 15 draft beers and enjoy the show. Get there early because the restaurant doesn't take reservations.

Boston takes its Fourth of July fireworks display very seriously. There is even a countdown (down to the second) until the start of the show on the official Boston fireworks website. Displayed on the banks of the Charles River, people come from all over the country to experience the fireworks (they are even featured on CBS). If you are one of the lucky ones to get to experience the show in person, you may want to try viewing at a restaurant to avoid the crowds. Bar Lola Tapas Lounge offers plenty of outdoor seating. Grab a few (or more) tapas with friends this Independence Day. No reservations outdoors, so beat the crowds and make a day of it.

The USS Yorktown hosts one of Charleston's fireworks displays. Patriot's Point, where the ship is located will offer music, food, and drinks. For a view closer to the water, make a reservation at the Fleet Landing Restaurant located right by the USS Yorktown. There is outdoor seating, as well as an outdoor bar. Be careful because the restaurant is instituting a two-hour rotation period on tables, so you won't be able to stake out a table too early on. If you can't get a table outside, don't fret too much because the inside is basically made of windows and you'll probably be able to see the fireworks anyway. 

Navy Pier in Chicago is where the fireworks can best be seen this year. Although this Lake Michigan pier offers fireworks throughout the summer, the Fourth of July fireworks are sure to be extra impressive. The Billy Goat Tavern at Navy Pier has outdoor seating available and promises to be a good time with a packed house. No reservations necessary. 

Freedom Over Texas is Houston's big event this year to celebrate the birth of America. After appearances by country artists Sara Evans and Billy Currington, a fireworks show will commence. The show occurs at Eleanor Tinsley Park. Although there aren't many restaurants surrounding the park where the show can easily be enjoyed, Lucio's BYOB and Grill say the fireworks can be seen from its patio. The regular menu will be served at night, but during the day, Lucio's will be selling beer, turkey legs, and the like on the street. 

If there ever was a perfect place to view fireworks, Las Vegas is it. With its huge array of tall hotels, there is an endless amount of viewing possibilities. This year five Station Casino's Properties are shooting off fireworks around the city. Aliante Station, Green Valley Ranch resort, Fiesta Rancho, Texas Station, and Red Rock Resort will all be shooting off fireworks. The PBR Rock Bar and Grill is hosting an Independence Day party on the patio with views of the Strip fireworks. Try your luck on the mechanical bull, or opt for a $5 Washington apple shot. 

There are too many fireworks displays going on in Los Angeles to count. Try the AmericaFest at the Rose Bowl stadium for an 86-year-old tradition of festivals and fireworks. For a more intimate fireworks celebration, the Queen Mary's fireworks display is equally exciting. Parkers' Lighthouse is taking reservations, as well as the third-floor restaurant Queensview Steakhouse.  No guarantee of where exactly the fireworks will be set off from, but the restaurant's 360-degree views almost ensures a fireworks sighting. 

Miami hosts a slew of Fourth of July celebrations, one of which takes place on Miami Beach. Jungle Island is offering a Fourth of July bash to celebrate our independence. The animal park is selling a combo pass, which allows both park and party access. The single pass gives access to only the ballroom beginning at 6:30 p.m. There will be a barbecue buffet, music and dancing, and a spectacular view of the fireworks display. For a family with kids, this is the place to be. 

Called one of the top five fireworks displays in the country, Let Freedom Sing is located on the Lawn at Riverfront. Craig Morgan and the Mavericks are lined up to play at this two-day event in Music City. The Nashville Symphony plays on the banks of the Cumberland River as the fireworks fly on the Fourth of July. Located downtown near the river, Big River Grille and Brewing Works offers a great view of the fireworks display. Tables and outdoor seating are available on a first come, first served basis, and the bar is open to those who can't find a seat. 

If you find yourself in New Orleans this Independence Day, be sure to check out the fifth-best fireworks display in the nation (according to American Pyrotechnic Association). Displayed on the Mississippi River, the Dueling Barges Fireworks Extravaganza promises true excitement. The Hard Rock Café located right by the river has a balcony that is perfect for viewing the fireworks. They don't take reservations, and spots are obtained on a first come, first served basis. 

New York City would, of course, host one of the most impressive fireworks displays in the country. Macy's is putting on its 34^th annual fireworks show from four barges located on the Hudson River. At this year's Ignite the Night performance, Katy Perry and Kenny Chesney are scheduled to perform. To get away from the imminent crowds, try Chelsea Brewing Company. The restaurant is offering tickets to this private event for $175 per person, which includes hors d'oeuvres, dinner, dessert, open bar, and free tours of the brewery throughout the night. Even with floor-to-ceiling windows, guests will go out onto the pier when the fireworks show begins. 

The Philadelphia Museum of Art puts on a wonderful fireworks display each year after Philly's Fourth of July Jam, which this year will feature Queen Latifah, The Roots, and others. To enjoy a little bit of food during the celebration, try the City Tavern Restaurant. Although the normal menu is available, a barbecue will also be taking place in the garden with hotdogs and hamburgers. The patio area and porch would be perfect for viewing the fireworks. The restaurant is said to be the unofficial meeting place of the first Continental Congress in 1774, so what better place to celebrate the birth of our country? Reservations are recommended. 

Pier 39 in San Francisco is hosting a fireworks display this year with music by an '80s cover band, and then DJ Scotty Fox. For a view while dining, try the Eagle Café at Pier 39. The balcony seating area should offer a view of the fireworks show, but you might want to get there early. The restaurant takes no reservations on the Fourth of July because it gets so busy. 

Lake Union is the place to be this Independence Day to watch the rockets in the sky. This nearly 25-year tradition is adding extras to this year's daytime activities, including a hike around the lake. Two Schwartz Brothers restaurants located around the lake are perfect locations for viewing the fireworks display: Daniel's Broiler and Chandler's Crabhouse. Book now, because spots are filling up fast!

What could be more perfect than celebrating this country's birth in the nation's capitol? Washington, D.C. boasts one of the most magnificent fireworks backdrops, with its many national monuments. The fireworks are set off from the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool itself, and the bursts can be seen reflected in the water. The fireworks explode right over the Washington Memorial. Tabaq Bistro is offering a reservation-only prix fixe menu for the Fourth for $75 per person. The rooftop offers a fabulous view of the Capitol's fireworks display.