Where to see 4th of July fireworks

Americafest at the Rose Bowl is an explosive celebration of all things red, white and blue—from the classic American food, to a motorcycle stunt show, to the world-renowned fireworks display. The fireworks won't shoot off until 9pm, but the Rose Bowl will open at 2pm Independence Day, at which time access to a goldmine of inflatable rides, games and crafts will be available for kid-friendly fun. Parking for the event will cost $20, but you can make it worth your while with an afternoon of tailgaiting outside the stadium.

Cruise on up to the Palisades for a beachy Independence Day extravaganza. Starting just before 2pm, a band of patriotic skydivers will descend from the stratosphere, kicking off the neighborhood's colossal parade. The baton twirlers and marching trombonists will begin their promenade on Sunset Boulevard, between Via de la Paz and Drummond. The festivities continue with a concert and fireworks ($10 for both for adults, free for kids), leaving nothing amiss from this year's Fourth.

There's something about watching fireworks over the ocean. Every year in Marina del Rey, fireworks explode over the marina channel and spectators gather all over to watch: at Burton Chace Park (with synchronized music from 88.9FM), Fisherman's Village, Mother's Beach, waterfront hotels and restaurants and on boats. Fireworks start at 9pm and last for about 20 minutes. For tips on parking and getting to the marina for the show, click here.

Settle into Hollywood Forever Cemetery for an Independence Day celebration that kids off with a screening of Jurassic Park. Pack your picnic, enjoy the movie and stay on the grass for a fireworks show afterwards. Cinespia's pulling out all the stops for their July 4th celebration, amping up their festivities with a themed photobooth, DJ and fireworks show.

Watch the Long Beach fireworks from aboard the Queen Mary, where you'll be able to scope out concerts by the Pointer Sisters and other acts and enjoy family-friendly activities. Alternatively, find a spot anywhere along the waterfront including Belmont Pier, Veteran's Stadium or aboard a harbor cruise.

Studio City's annual 4th of July party returns to the sprawling CBS Studio Center. This year, you'll need to buy a ticket ($60-$125) for the festivities which will all be indoors or on the studio's rooftop terrace. It might not be the cheapest way to celebrate the holiday, but you'll be able to avoid the crowds, enjoy fun activities for the whole family and leave feeling satisfied that you did Independence Day right.

If you're on the hunt for a cheap, lively way to celebrate Uncle Sam, shake it over to Grand Park, and watch Downtown LA light up for free! This Fourth of July, Grand Park hosts a unique block party, featuring scrumptious food truck fare, live music and more. The music begins while the sun is still high in the sky, so bring yourself an all-day picnic—no booze allowed, only empty water bottles—and relax. Your four-legged friends are totally invited, and, best of all, the event is Metro-accessible.

We're hesistant to recommend this spot: The park lot is tiny, street parking is limited, cars whiz by the blind turns and technically the park closed at sunset. But if you can manage to stake out a spot, this overlook in the Santa Monica Mountains has fantastic views of the downtown skyline all the way to the ocean (on a clear day, you can see Catalina!). It's right on top of the Hollywood Bowl, and while you may not hear the music, you can catch a glimpse of the fireworks.

Dodger Stadium hosts fireworks throughout the season, but they do it up extra on the 4th of July. Buy tickets to see the team take on the Arizona Diamondbacks and then stick around for a fireworks show you can see from your seat. To sweeten the deal, every ticket includes a limited-edition patroitic Dodgers tee shirt. While there, make sure to try a local favorite—the Doyer Dog, loaded with chili, nacho cheese, tomatoes, onions and jalapeños.

What's more American than spending your 4th of July around a bunch of monster trucks? That's the idea behind Kaboom, an annual celebration at the Fairplex that features a monster truck derby, big-air motocross show and even a human cannonball demonstration, followed by a fireworks spectactular.