I love the Fourth of July. It’s a great time of year for a holiday and it is all about good things and fun celebrations.

We used to go to parades at the beach every year, swim the rest of the afternoon, picnic on the beach and then watch the fireworks get shot off the pier as soon as it was dark enough. It never did rain on us – the weather was always perfect. And it all was free.

We especially love to watch fireworks. The best shows last for at least 30 minutes and are a combination of displays up high, some loud bangs here and there, and a ground display of spinning and shooting sparks.

Happy Birthday America!