Happy 4th of July, everyone! (the 232nd birthday of America)

Growing up, the Fourth of July was always my favorite holiday. Not so much because I’m that patriotic - nah - I just felt like there was no better way to celebrate the independence of your country than by blowing up a small part of it.

These days, I prefer to leave the blowing stuff up to the professionals - what can I say, I’ve become rather attached to my fingers and would prefer to keep all ten of my digits.

So before I go out myself to watch a professional fireworks display, I wanted to leave you with a few tips to help you get the most enjoyment out of a fireworks display.

1) Go early. Here’s the best piece of advice I can give you for fully appreciating fireworks. Make sure you get to the event early so you can reserve your spot. I’ve managed to convert several friends from casual fireworks fans into serious fanatics simply by helping them get up close and personal to a big fireworks display. Trust me, when they’re blowing up right over your head, they’re a lot better than when you’re watching from three miles away. Go early, take a blanket, reserve your place, and get ready for some fun later. Oh, and if it’s a hot, sunny day, don’t forget your sunscreen.

2) Bring Bug Spray - Your enjoyment of watching big, colorful explosions in the sky will be greatly diminished if you’re constantly swatting mosquitoes. Take some bug spray with you to make sure you don’t become a late night snack for some blood sucking little critter. (Or read my post on making your own bug spray.)

3) Have an escape plan. Just like with any big event, traffic immediately afterwards can be worse than I-5 at rush hour, so you may want to think carefully about where you park so you can get out quickly. Often times that may mean parking further away. For big events, many cities offer shuttle service to take you in and out of the most congested areas. Or, if you’re like me, you don’t mind sticking around for a while afterwards and having a good time, so parking isn’t an issue. Just keep in mind if you want to get out of there without waiting in traffic for an hour or two - be mindful of where you park and know how you’re going to leave.

And that’s pretty much all there is to it.

Be Safe. Have Fun. Blow Stuff Up!

Happy Independence Day.