# Fourth of July and Washington D.C. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 2, 2003, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fourth-of-july-and-washington-d-c/185797 "2003-07-02T16:08:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fourth-of-july-and-washington-d-c/185797/1 "2003-07-02T16:08:57Z")
I’d like to see fireworks this year. In past years in Washington, I just haven’t gotten around to it. I know, I know; shame, shame. I’m fairly certain that the Mall will be as jammed as possible, so it might be wise to avoid it altogether. What I’m looking for is a place to view the fireworks where I can bring my dog. Can’t be so close that the BOOMs scare him and not so far away that I can’t see anything. And of course, with a dog, taking the train would be out of the question, so it would need to be somewhat accessible by car. Anyone have ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Isabelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5a626/32.png) [@Isabelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isabelle)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fourth-of-july-and-washington-d-c/185797/2 "2003-07-02T16:13:58Z")
Why do you want to take your dog? ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fourth-of-july-and-washington-d-c/185797/3 "2003-07-02T16:17:05Z")
Why not? The air and exercise would certainly be good for him. Another reason is that the alternative would be to go alone, which would be pretty boring. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fourth-of-july-and-washington-d-c/185797/4 "2003-07-02T17:57:59Z")
Park in Rosslyn and head for the Netherlands Carillon. Prior to 9/11, people even parked in Ft. Myer, which considerably eased traffic. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fourth-of-july-and-washington-d-c/185797/5 "2003-07-02T18:11:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jeff Olsen \* > \*\*Park in Rosslyn and head for the Netherlands Carillon. > > Prior to 9/11, people even parked in Ft. Myer, which considerably eased traffic. \*\* I’m with Jeff. Either the Carillon or the Iwo Jima monument area is excellent. you not only see the fireworks, but you see them over the monuments–the big picture, if you will. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fourth-of-july-and-washington-d-c/185797/6 "2003-07-02T18:22:13Z")
I like the sound of it. The fireworks begin at 9, so I guess I should get there what, 7ish? ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fourth-of-july-and-washington-d-c/185797/7 "2003-07-02T18:29:16Z")
One time we parked at the Pentagon and saw the fireworks from the Pentagon side of the Potomac. We brought the dog and once the fireworks started the dog freaked, so my mom took the dog away. Then we couldn’t find my mom… ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fourth-of-july-and-washington-d-c/185797/8 "2003-07-02T18:37:45Z")
Kinda difficult to do that now, **mack**. The one vistors’ lot for the Pentagon that I’m aware isn’t for visitors anymore. That may change when the new lot on the other side of 110 opens. ---
**Author:** ![fruitbat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@fruitbat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fruitbat)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fourth-of-july-and-washington-d-c/185797/9 "2003-07-02T19:33:46Z")
Another suggestion for you dan. We live on the Hill and if you park in the neighborhoods there you can approach the fireworks from the Capitol building. It would be a decent walk but I know that parking wouldn’t be a problem. We are walking our dogs down and the foot traffic gets heavier slowly as you get closer to the mall. You get a pretty good view as well from there. ---
**Author:** ![booklover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@booklover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/booklover)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fourth-of-july-and-washington-d-c/185797/10 "2003-07-02T19:35:30Z")
Meridian Hill/Malcolm X park is a great place to view them, though I don’t know how close too close is for your dog. There’s some noise, but it’s not awful. If you’re on top of the hill near the Joan of Arc statue you can see pretty much everything; plus it’s a little cooler because of all the trees. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fourth-of-july-and-washington-d-c/185797/11 "2003-07-02T21:16:56Z")
I don’t know either, **booklover**. I’ve had him just under two months, although he’s a full-grown male (i.e., not a skittish puppy). I want to be able to see them, but I won’t be put out if I can’t _hear_ them too well. You know, that real loud BOOM they always do at the end. Thanks, **fruitbat**. I’m going to think about this over the next day and come up with a good plan. ---
**Author:** ![fruitbat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@fruitbat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fruitbat)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fourth-of-july-and-washington-d-c/185797/12 "2003-07-02T21:44:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by fruitbat \* > \*\*We are walking our dogs down \*\* **dantheman** , don’t listen to a damn thing he says. **fruitbat** is my DH, and I hate to contradict him in public 😃 , but we are not bringing our dogs and I generally think it’s a bad idea to subject them to this. If you can get quite far away from the loud noise, maybe across the river, it would be fine to bring him. But anywhere near the Capitol or on the Mall would probably be too close. ---
**Author:** ![Miabella](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ccd318/32.png) [@Miabella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miabella)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fourth-of-july-and-washington-d-c/185797/13 "2003-07-02T21:50:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by fruitbat \* > \*\ ***dantheman** , don’t listen to a damn thing he says. **fruitbat** is my DH, and I hate to contradict him in public 😃 , but we are not bringing our dogs and I generally think it’s a bad idea to subject them to this. > > If you can get quite far away from the loud noise, maybe across the river, it would be fine to bring him. But anywhere near the Capitol or on the Mall would probably be too close. \*\* Oopsy, the above post was supposed to be from me. :smack: I didn’t realize that **fruitbat** was still logged in on our computer. D’oh! ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fourth-of-july-and-washington-d-c/185797/14 "2003-07-02T22:06:05Z")
You have the designated hitter there? You don’t even have a baseball team. (I’m gonna pay for that… the next post will explain, simply, what a DH is, and I’ll look dumbererer.) ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fourth-of-july-and-washington-d-c/185797/15 "2003-07-02T22:08:11Z")
Wait… damn husband? Ok, time for dinner… Wait, dinner haver? _sigh_ ---
**Author:** ![fruitbat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@fruitbat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fruitbat)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fourth-of-july-and-washington-d-c/185797/16 "2003-07-02T23:13:15Z")
Y’know Dan I asked her the same thing and she looked at me like I’m stupid. Apparently it stands for Dear Husband. Then again for ages I thought IANAL stood for something obscene and better left abbreviated. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fourth-of-july-and-washington-d-c/185797/17 "2003-07-03T00:24:58Z")
I’ll back up the Netherlands Carillion idea. If you don’t want to brave the millions on the mall that’s the best spot. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fourth-of-july-and-washington-d-c/185797/18 "2003-07-03T01:39:39Z")
Yeah, that might make the most sense. I don’t mind braving millions, but he (pointing to floor where beagle eagerly awaits fallen grapes) might not want to. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fourth-of-july-and-washington-d-c/185797/19 "2003-07-03T01:45:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by fruitbat \* > \*\*Y’know Dan I asked her the same thing and she looked at me like I’m stupid. Apparently it stands for Dear Husband. Then again for ages I thought IANAL stood for something obscene and better left abbreviated. \*\* Well… it certainly **looks** obscene! Okay, I’ll be brave. I’ll say it. It looks like “I am not anal.”