AOL City Guides (AOL Keyword: Local or www.digitalcity.com) is giving you a front row seat for Fourth of July festivities.

The top ten "Best Booms with a View" is AOL's plan to "help Americans get information on the best fireworks displays and celebrations across the country." The "Best Booms with a View" is part of a multi-day Fourth of July programming feature at AOL Keyword: Fourth of July that provides members with daily updates to help them plan their holiday weekend activities and to celebrate patriotism online and offline.

Top Ten Booms With a View

This Fourth of July, AOL City Guides editors have selected the top locations for viewing the fireworks around the country based on a number of factors including size, location, family-friendliness, accessibility and additional attractions, says the site. From the Lone Star State, to the Big Apple, to the beaches of Southern California, AOL City Guide's "Best Booms with a View" include:

1. Houston - BP Power of Freedom Festival -- Houston cuts loose. Look to the skystage for planes, parachutists and unique aerial entertainment, followed by Sky Freedom, Houston's largest Fourth of July fireworks display.

2. Washington, DC - Fireworks on the Mall -- Why not experience the nation's birthday amongst some of its greatest historical and symbolic treasures? DC's fantastic fireworks display explodes over the Washington Monument at 9:10 PM, with the best viewing sites including the Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the FDR Memorial, the Iwo Jima Memorial and the Ellipse.

3. New Orleans - Go 4th on the River! -- Big bangs in the Big Easy. The fireworks -- skyrocketed from two barges on the mighty Mississippi -- begin at 9PM and will be choreographed to a selection of patriotic, spine-tingling, hair-on-the-back-of-your-neck-raising anthems.

4. New York - Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks -- Who knew that one of the best views of the nation's biggest fireworks display isn't even in Manhattan? It's in Brooklyn. Big Applers have trekked over the Brooklyn Bridge for years to enjoy the view from the promenade in Brooklyn Heights.

5. Charlotte - Charlotte Skyshow 2003 -- Charlotte's annual Skyshow is a massive Independence Day celebration, offering live music, fireworks, food and patriotic fun in Uptown. Don't miss the interactive children's area, which features the BMX Airwalk Stunt Team. And for some real American heroes, the new Veteran's VIP Area at Polk Park grants war veterans a prime viewing spot for the evening's fireworks.

6. Philadelphia - Sunoco Welcome America! Festival -- Not only do the fireworks rock, but get the lineup at this week-long festival: a roving outdoor film series, a gospel fest, opera on the Square, a three-day ice cream festival, the Independence Day Parade.

7. San Diego - The Big Bay Fireworks Show might not be as colossal and flashy as, New York or DC's fireworks extravaganzas, but San Diego's Big Bay Fireworks still packs a mesmerizing wallop. Grassy spots for picnics can be found on Shelter and Harbor Island, at Seaport Village and Chicano Park.

8. Boston - Harborfest and Boston Pops Concert -- As if a six-day independence fest isn't enough, one of the country's most famous Fourth celebrations hits a high note -- literally -- when that dynamo Keith Lockhart conducts his Boston Pops in a rousing rendition of the 1812 Overture, climaxing with synchronized cannons, fireworks, orchestra and the usual rogue cart-wheeling toddlers.

9. Raleigh - July Fourth Celebration at the N.C. State Fairgrounds -- Shortly after 9PM, the skies over Raleigh light up with a pyrotechnic display sure to make hearts swell with patriotic pride.

10. Seattle - 4th of Jul-Ivars -- It's a shell of a party. This annual rite of summer is late seafood restaurant owner Ivar Haglund's way of thanking beautiful Seattle. As the fireworks fade, hundreds of boats offshore honk their horns in appreciation of America.

"People flock to the Web around the Fourth of July for information on their local celebrations, to plan a weekend getaway, or to find grilling recipes that will be a hit at the neighborhood barbecue," said Mark Weinberg, AOL's Executive Director, Local Programming. "At AOL City Guides, interest in our local features more than doubles in the days leading up to the Fourth of July and we think it's because we provide visitors with the kind of very local information and timely suggestions they're looking for to plan a great Independence Day."

Beginning on June 27th and running through the Fourth of July weekend, AOL's Fourth of July area (AOL Keyword: Fourth of July) will feature a variety of holiday themed content to make celebrating Independence Day a real blast. The area will be updated daily as the holiday draws near, offering everything from last-minute holiday travel, blockbuster entertainment and family cookouts, to road trips and more. In addition to the "Best Booms with a View," AOL City Guides provides localized recommendations and information for places to see and things to do in 37 of the top local markets.

AOL's Fourth of July feature also provides AOL members with a one-stop location for celebrating patriotism online this Independence Day, including holiday themed downloads, photo sharing features, buddy icons, new instant greetings and other customizing features.

At AOL Keyword: Fourth of July, daily themes will include:

Get out of town! -- Getaways and travel bargains for the long weekend; - Show Your Colors! -- Discovering, discussing and celebrating patriotism; - Blockbuster weekend! -- The biggest movies and best fireworks near you; - Splash down! -- Find a new swimsuit and hit the beach or pool; - Fire Up the Grill! -- How to plan a fantastic outdoor feast; - Let Freedom Ring! -- Find the biggest, loudest and most colorful fireworks near you.

AOL's Fourth of July feature is programmed by AOL City Guides, which represents the largest network of local entertainment information on the Web, with over 16 million users accessing local content every month. (ComScore Media Metrix, Feb. 2003) The Guide covers over 300 different cities in the United States and provides users with city specific information on restaurants, movies, bars and special events. Users will also find detailed information such as addresses, phone numbers, directions, editorial recommendations, user rankings and user reviews. AOL City Guide was selected by the editors of Yahoo! Internet Life Magazine as Best City Guide on the Web in 2002.

Published: July 4, 2003

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.