If you are one of the thousands that look to the July 4th holiday weekend as a time to head out on vacation, BBQ, spend time with family, or to just kick back and enjoy the lazy days of summer then by all means have at it. We here in NYC are already experiencing the annual “bug out” of city that happens every year during this holiday. Almost everyone makes a mad dash to pack, grab a car, plane or train, and head out to the Jersey shore, Hamptons, or some beach somewhere. Watching the news this morning they showed reports of crowded airports and bumper to bumper roadways. I used to be one of those robots that thought it was a must to jump into that holiday travel nightmare. I used to sit in my car traveling at a snail’s pace, or in an airport with screaming kids and flight delays, paying for overpriced hotel rooms and gasoline price gauging. I used to try and justify it all in my mind saying that this is what everyone does, so it’s cool to be doing it too. The pain of travel is part of the adventure. Then I remembered that we would also have to suffer through this Hell a few days later heading home. Nothing is worse than the torture of knowing you have to go back to work drained and exhausted from that long trip home.
Personally, I looked at those news reports and thought – “Suckers!” “Idiots!” “Oh Hellz No – Not Me!” Yup, I am one of those who stay put right here in the city. Let us New Yorkers that aren’t leaving the city enjoy half-empty bars and restaurants with no wait times to get in. Let us enjoy the Upper East Side bar scene where I reside devoid of all the bro’s and their sorostitutes that accompany them. Oh joy! The gyms I train at will be empty! As I view the crawling traffic heading out of the city I just want to slam the door and scream “And Stay Out!” I am so glad to be staying put for the long Independence Day weekend. There are so many things to do and see right here that we never really have time for. Plus, it’s easy for us to jump on an LIRR train for a quick trip to the family on Long Island. Beer, BBQ, and an in-ground pool. Who says you have to go away and spend oodles of cash to go somewhere obnoxiously crowded to have a good time because everyone else is going there too?
Traffic? Driving? No thanks, I’ll avoid the inevitable road rage and urge to smash my own head into the steering wheel! Or commit mass murder.
Fireworks? Been there, done that. NYC puts on a huge fireworks show show each year. I’ll enjoy watching them on TV in an air conditioned environment with a cold beer in my hand and my own personal crapper close by! Also, no annoying crowds to deal with!
Airports? You will not catch me within miles of these portals to Hell on a holiday. Oh gee, look, you are sitting next to the “nauseating family” with their sons Satan and Beezelbub screaming and kicking your seat. Enjoy the ride!
The beach? I do enjoy the Jersey Shore at beachside areas such as Point Pleasant and Seaside Heights. Much more than the overpriced and overhyped Hamptons that will ass rape you during summer weekends and holidays. Plus, all the bro’s, tools, and meatheads are out in those locations this weekend. Need I say more?
Nope, I am just going to stay put here in good ol’ New York City again for this July 4th. Take in a movie or two, enjoy dining out in a great uncrowded restaurant, and have some drinks with my friends in a terrific bar. Life is good if you know how to truly play the game and avoid the rookie mistakes such as leaving the city on a holiday weekend! Suckers!
Now if we could just find a way to get rid of all the annoying tourists……
HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE INDEPENDENCE DAY EVERYONE!
You are so right, Phil. Having a ‘staycation’ is often the best policy. Happy 4th!
Hey Patricia!
You know it! I gave up holiday travel a long time ago. I’d rather save my days for the off-peak times when it’s not as crazy! Happy 4th!
We don’t go anywhere for the holiday, never have, we would rather stay home with the pups and have our own little BBQ in our own backyard and not worry about the traffic and all the people.
I will say this though, I thought my gym would be empty this morning and there were more people there than ever! Not cool… aren’t they all supposed to be vacationing somewhere this weekend?
Hey Emily!
Sounds like the right way to celebrate! Having a peaceful BBQ and a few cold beers are fine with me. Plus, you have dogs to play with!
I hate when that happens at the gym. You walk in thinking it will be empty and quiet but it’s a mob scene instead! Why are these people not away! Hope you had a great 4th!
Happy 4th July Phil.
We don’t celebrate it here (for obvious reasons), but I am so with you regarding staying put. We have the same over our Christmas holidays – everyone leaves town for the coastal cities and we stay at home and appreciate the peace and quiet in Johannesburg. You can get a decent seat in a restaurant and shopping is a pleasure!
Hope you had a good day.
Hey Lanthie!
Ah, so you know what I am talking about. I love when the city is like that. All the locals leave and it’s easier to get in a resto or go shopping, hit up a pub, or see a movie. As I said before, if only we could get rid of the tourists!
Well said. I have spenty several happy 4ths in the city. Just set up almost anywhere and watch the Macy’s fireworks.
Hey Jill!
As a New Yorker you know what I am talking about. Just stay put here and enjoy life!
Normally we drive 2 hours to East Texas and have an outdoor party with the family every year. This year with Dad in the hospital, we slept late and relaxed on the couch then spent day with Dad and step mom. A nice part was that when we were leaving the hospital the fireworks were still going on, we pulled over in a business parking lot and we had the best seats .
Hey Holli!
Hope your dad is doing well. At least you got to see some fireworks. Some of the best things to do is just stay around with friends and family on the holidays.
Happy (belated) 4th! I hear ya. Seriously, there’s nothing I can’t stand more than sitting in traffic. I want to blow my brains out.
xoxo,
Jules of Canines & Couture
http://www.caninesandcouture.com
Hey Jules!
Hahaha! Yes, road rage! I feel the same about the traffic.
Hope you and Rufus had a great July 4th!
hahahhahaha “…sons Satan and Beezelbub.”
I’m with you. When the townies scram, the city’s much more tolerable. My husband and I used to love spending Christmas in town: Chinese food and then a movie in an empty theater. Who could ask for anything more?
Hey Lauren!
That sounds like a great way to spend Christmas time. No one around and more peaceful. Wish all the tourists would also disappear! Hope you had a good July 4th!
You want tourists to disappear? I know this guy who hangs out in the 68th street subway…
Hey Lauren!
Is that Vinnie the Fish, or Frankie Knuckles? My Italian side might be related……
Oh sooo true! I hope you had a fabulous 4th of July and fully took advantage of the city being a ghost town in comparison to its usual.
Best wishes.
Hey Danielle!
You know it! So easy to enjoy the pubs and restos. Even the movies. Saw Despicable Me 2. Funny!
Thanks for dropping by!
I know what you mean two years ago we went to New York but went to NJ to see the fireworks spent three hours in traffic. I thought I was going to die I had to pee so bad. I jumped out of my truck peed on a tree then I was fine sitting waiting for the traffic to clear. However I had a few people in their cars looking at me funny I didn’t care I had to go. We could have made it back to our hotel in NY and back to the truck three times faster.
Hey Patricia!
Hahahaha! You actually peed on a tree roadside? That’s awesome. Hey, when ya gotta go…..
This is another reason I don’t do holiday travel anymore! Hope you had a good 4th this year.
Even if hubby didn’t have to work this holiday, we wouldn’t be going anywhere. It’s just not worth the hassle or aggravation. I can’t imagine New York being uncrowded. 🙂 Hope you had a wonderful 4th!
Hey Terrye!
I agree. We used to go away a lot on the long holiday weekends but it became too crazy and expensive. Plus, the traffic sucks! Hope you had a great 4th!
I’ve been to Seaside Heights and Atlantic City quite a few times. Where do you go to the beach at or swimming? I agree there’s enough to do in NYC, no need to go elsewhere. The traffic is crazy, I agree. Hope you had a great July 4th!
Hey Susana!
I don’t swim in the ocean – ever. Not up here as the water is gross. I have family and friends with pools to jump into. I go to the Jersey Shore to party!
We stayed local again this holiday. Loved it. Hope you had a good 4th!
It’s been a long time since I spent the 4th at home. We usually are up at the lake with the in-laws and this year was no different, at least with one in-law. We take in the town parade, the boat parader on the lake, and then fireworks. This year we had green beans, ham and potatoes for dinner – YUM! We paid for it all with crawling traffic Sunday afternoon, but its all good we’re home.
Hello Clay!
Sounds like it was worth the trip! Must have been enjoyable on the lake. Even though I would have had road rage on the way home.
We stayed home too 🙂 Our city has fireworks on the 3rd and we can see them from our living room, so no need to go anywhere. Plus it has been raining for months!
Hey Foodie!
You had the best seats in the house! Grab some popcorn and take a seat on the couch. Not much rain here but a lot of steamy heat and humidity!
I stay home on the 4th as well. Las Vegans are leaving to go to L.A. and those folks are coming to Vegas to party it up. I’ll just hide in my nice air-conditioned apartment 12 miles from the Strip thank ya much!