The Forth of July in New York can be quite a magical and chaotic time - as a local, you may just look out an have the perfect view from your apartment, but for many, venturing out into the tourist filled streets may just be the case for you! However, given all the high-rises and apartment buildings, the inevitable road closures, and the overall general holiday mayhem, you’ll want to plan ahead to make sure you get the best possible view! And whether that means posting up outside with a lawn chair and a cooler, watching it all from the comfort of a hotel bed, or spending the evening partying on a swanky rooftop, there are many options in which to choose from! But we made it easy and created the perfect guide for you. Here are our top picks for where to watch the 4th of July fireworks in NYC:
South Street Seaport
The southernmost portion of the FDR Drive, the South Street Seaport makes for an ideal spot as many of the streets surrounding will be closed to cars and turned into a designated viewing spot for the public that night. It’s guaranteed to be packed, so get there early to snag a spot - arrive by mid-afternoon at the latest! At this spot, there are a few different points of entry: to the south, you’ll be able to access the area from the intersection of Broad Street and Water Street, and farther north, there are various openings clustered around the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridge ramps. The ADA-accessible entrance is at the intersection of Market Street and Cherry Street, at the Murray Bergtraum High School track. Check it out if you can!
Brooklyn Bridge Park and the Brooklyn Heights Promenade
The Brooklyn Bridge Park makes for one the most convenient places to watch the fireworks from within Brooklyn. The park, which runs along the water below Brooklyn Heights and under the bridge, is most easily accessible from the westernmost end of Atlantic Avenue, the top of Furman Street, or from Water Street between the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges. Spread out a blanket or bring some lawn chairs to one of the lawns, or post up against a railing in one of the piers. The Promenade, which you can access from the residential streets of Brooklyn Heights, has a row of benches that face the water and the downtown Manhattan skyline! We recommend to show up early to secure a good spot.
Manhatta
If you are looking for something a bit more elegant, we recommend the lovely Manhatta. Located on the 60th floor of a building in the Financial District, this restaurant by Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group will give you the rare chance to view the fireworks from above while eating butter-poached lobster and an irresistibly decadent souffle! Their prices include hospitality, so you know you are getting an amazing deal!
Coney Island
If you’d rather be beach-side for your Forth, check out the legendary Coney Island for an entirely different fireworks show. You can easily make a day out of it, with so many different activities to keep you on your feet and never bored! Check out the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, hit the roller coasters at Luna Park in the afternoon, then grab tickets to the Brooklyn Cyclones baseball game at 6 p.m. After, check out on of their many low-key dinner spots at one of the stands along the waterfront, or some chicken Kiev at Tatiana in Brighton Beach. The fireworks kick off over the boardwalk at around 9:45 p.m.
Share with us your NYC viewing spots for the Fourth of July by tagging us on Instagram @itouchwearables and Facebook @itouchwearables. Also, be sure to check out our new articles published daily!
-Patrick
