Fourth of July, as long as there is a pool

New York City is known for their grand fireworks display for the fourth of July, broadcast around the country. When the show is over the Hudson River, we have been able to hear the booming from our apartment, but when it is in Brooklyn (they alternate), it's impossible to think about going. Brooklyn is like the other side of the world from the upper west side. Even though it's actually not, that's a Manhattanite being a whiner, but a whiner with two small kids on a long subway schlep is not good for anyone.

So last year, we found a small town up the Hudson Valley, which we have visited before, called Tarrytown. They have a great little park on the Hudson River with a small town fireworks display and family night. Perfect. It's only about a 20 minute drive, but coming home late after a show that doesn't begin until 9pm was challenging with the littles. So this year, we found a hotel that we had points for, booked the night of the fourth and decided to make it an overnight trip. Our criteria for booking a hotel, however, is that it MUST have a pool. Seriously, if there isn't a pool when we travel, the boys are pretty crabby about it. That is our fault for catering, but who doesn't love a pool, it's not a bad criteria to have!

We arrived early Saturday (by that I mean before check in time, and we called and asked to check in early - like way early - and they reluctantly agreed), and hit the pool first thing. We did have to track the maintenance guy down to unlock it, but finally we got in. We brought water guns, so a family water gun fight was in order.

First things first, mom, to the pool!

After I make a pillow fort, I mean

Ready, aim ...

Fire!

Two can play this game fellas

After our pool time, we packed up and got ready to go to the park. We had a picnic dinner, games, chairs, blankets, the works. There was live music, kites, good food, and great views. The boys had a good time running through and rolling around in the grass, eating cupcakes, and wrestling. We barely made it to the fireworks, which ended up being closer to 9:30p, but the boys enjoyed the show. We packed up a bit early to beat the traffic out of the park area and headed back to tuck the boys in and relax. I think this will be an annual tradition, at least until the boys are older and can handle the big bad city fireworks :)