Where America's Fourth of July begins: Guam on top 10 list of best destinations to watch fireworks
- Admin
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
By Pacific Island Times News Staff
Guam is listed among the best places to celebrate the Fourth of July and watch fireworks on a boat ride, according to an online booking agency that specializes in boat tours.
The oft-forgotten U.S. territory in the Pacific topped BoatBooker's 10 Best Fourth of July Boating Destinations for 2026, which also includes San Diego, California; Ocean City, Maryland; Anna Maria Island, Florida; New Bern, North Carolina; Dewey Beach, Delaware; Mount Pleasant, South Carolina; Erie, Pennsylvania; Lake Geneva, Wisconsin; and Nassau, Bahamas.
The list was curated based on "a mix of historical booking performance and early seasonal demand signals to identify the country's ultimate maritime hubs," according to BoatBooker.
This is BoatBooker's second annual list of best boating destinations.
It noted that Guam's CHamoru culture, crystal-clear turquoise waters teeming with coral reefs," offer "a truly exotic setting to celebrate America's independence" and provide "a spectacular playground for holiday excursions."
"Celebrating its massive 82nd Liberation Day shortly after the Fourth, the island hosts magnificent fireworks displays and beautiful boat parades best enjoyed from the breezy deck of an evening cruise," BoatBooker said.
Meanwhile, the Guam Visitors Bureau will officially lead the island's participation in the Great American State Fair, where it hopes to leverage the once-in-a-lifetime occasion to showcase Guam as a destination of choice for U.S. travelers while growing the North American market.
Guam will join the 50 American states and five other U.S. territories at the 16-day carnival-style celebration of America’s 250th birthday, which will take place on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., from June 25 through July 10.
Besides introducing CHamoru culture and history, GVB said its presence at the fair will "show our singular sense of place in U.S. geography as the point on the globe where America’s Day Begins."
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The event is billed as “a world-class exposition and modern-day World’s Fair celebrating the people, traditions, innovations and spirit that make America the greatest nation on Earth,” according to the freedom250.org website.
"While mainland history buffs recognize Guam’s WWII significance, we are ready to share a much larger story with the 4 million visitors expected at the Great American State Fair,” said Regine Biscoe Lee, GVB president and CEO.
The fair will feature more than 150 exhibits, including presentations by businesses, innovators, industry and civic organizations. It will also host movie screenings, musical performances, military ensembles, spectacular flyovers and cultural programming.
“Our pavilion offers an incredible opportunity to showcase our enduring 4,000-year-old CHamoru culture and invite guests to experience the beauty of our island home. We hope to inspire visitors to explore the American story in a new light and invite them to visit Guam," Biscoe-Lee said.
Lee said visitors can expect "an immersive journey through 4,000 years of CHamoru culture —from vibrant dance performances and the taste of our local delicacies to seafaring culture and ancient celestial navigation."
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