Road trips! America is a fantastic place for a good old-fashioned road trip with lots of land and spectacular scenery,. Seeing as how the new normal involves adding a bit more physical distance, seldom has there been a better time to enjoy all the sights and sounds of America from the relative safety of our cars. In this short essay we profile some of the best regional road trips to consider this summer. The goal is to find places to go and things to see over the span of a long weekend or several days. Elsewhere we’ve looked at the great coast-to-coast routes. Now we’re burrowing down a bit and keeping it manageable. Here are some short-distance US road trips to consider.

The Fourth of July is that classic American holiday when all our grandiose display of flags, barbeque, apple pie, and fireworks come together in a delectable slice of true Americana. Many of us fondly remember trips across the state line to purchase obscenely powerful firecrackers. There’s also the annual family trip to the beach and the time-honored tradition of the Main Street parade. These quintessential Fourth of July traditions are what make the Fourth of July…well…the Fourth of July. We took a look around the United States and are bringing your our favorite places to enjoy the Fourth in all its patriotic glory. These are our recommendations for ways to celebrate the Fourth of July.