Beach Towns Light Up the Night Celebrating Independence Day

Independence Day arrives this weekend.

For most of us, that means going to see fireworks. Some of the best pyrotechnic displays are on the Carolinas coast where beach towns party hardy and make big-time noise as they light up the sky. They also put on free concerts, so it's one of the best times to enjoy some great entertainment on the cheap.

Myrtle Beach, S.C. loves July 4th. It's the biggest weekend of the year for tourists, so the red carpet's rolled out and there's free entertainment everywhere. Nobody does it better (or has more free stuff) than Broadway at the Beach in the heart of Myrtle Beach.

You could fill up three days of vacation time at Broadway's “Star Spangled Spectacular.” It runs from Saturday, July 3 through Monday, July 5, and there are free, family-friendly events every day. if you're on a budget, this is the place to go. The kids will never be bored at this place and you won't wear out your wallet.

Free concerts. Fireworks on Saturday and Sunday. Artists on every corner doing face painting and balloon animal creations. Carriage rides. Mascot meet-and-greets that will drive the kids into a frenzy.

Spend a little cash and you can even sneak in a little history on the kids at the American Presidential Experience, the nation's largest traveling showcase of presidential memorabilia. Best of all, they'll actually think they're having fun.

Or treat yourself and take in a concert by rock great Pat Benatar under the stars.

Broadway at the Beach is a great spot to take the kids after they've spent the day at the beach, water park or in the lazy river. Their sunburned little bodies can be fed some affordable dinner, and for pennies they can enjoy the kiddie rides until they just can't take one more circular trip. The bigger kids and you can work off dinner on a ropes course that stretches out over a lake or maybe you'll be brave enough to glide out over the water on the new zip line that just opened.

Too much excitement for you?

Maybe your style is just to laze on the beach (sounds good, doesn't it?) and de-stress. In your ideal vacation world, you just want to end your day with some unhurried dinner at a convenient restaurant with good seafood and nice wine. But you'd still like to take in a fireworks display. Best place for you is Carolina Beach, just east of Wilmington, N.C. This is a definite put your feet up, sit back with a drink, and just “be" kinda place.

Who could resist a fireworks display sponsored by “Pleasure island?” Soul Power Posse will be the main musical event and it's all free. You're even encouraged to bring food, beach chairs and blankets to lounge on the beach. Sound relaxed? Does it take you back to when things were simpler? And isn't that nice?

Carolina Beach even avoids the July 4 fireworks frenzy by staging their celebration on Saturday, July 3. That frees up your blankets and beach chairs for July 4 so you can take them and the kids to the free outdoor showing of "Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs" in the Carolina Beach Lake Park.