Taking the Kids: And finding new ways to celebrate July 4th

Abe Lincoln and Uncle Sam will be on hand in Denver at the Four Mile Historic Park's Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration (www.fourmilepark.org).

It's not too late for a last-minute, early July getaway either. Find lots of ideas at (http://www.takingthekids.com/travel-topics/summer-guide-to-fun/).

A lot of July 4th festivities last a lot longer than just one day too. Here are seven that are guaranteed to please:

1. Got any Civil War buffs in the family: The Gettysburg 149th National Civil War Battle Reenactment (www.gettysburgreenactment.com) goes on from Friday, July 6 through Sunday, July 8 with battles, field demonstrations, live mortar fire demonstrations, living history programs and more.

2. You've got an entire week to celebrate at the 31st Annual Boston Harborfest (www.bostonharborfest.com), the celebration of Boston's colonial and maritime heritage. This year, Harborfest honors the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 with the USS Constitution and a Parade of Ships Saturday, June 30. Here's your chance to have a scavenger hunt where the Boston Tea Party began (www.osmh.org) or hear the reading of the Declaration of Independence from the balcony of the Old State House, as it was read on July 18, 1776 (www.july4th.org).

3. Philadelphia's WaWa Welcome America (www.welcomeamerica.com) is said to be the nation's largest free July 4th festival, lasting from June 25 to July 4, complete with a huge concert, games, three-day Taste of Philadelphia and Go 4th and Learn series offering free educational program.

4. The 93rd Annual Cody, Wyo., Stampede starts June 30 with some of the world's top bull riders competing. It also offers a street dance, arts and crafts festival and the July 4th Stampede Parade. Cody, of course, is considered a gateway to Yellowstone National Park (www.yellowstonecountry.org).

5. Steamboat Springs, Colo., hosts a week-long celebration, including Cowboys' Roundup Days, Pioneer Days Block Party, evening rodeos and, of course, fireworks. On July 7, Steamboat introduces its first-ever muddy adventure race where competitors crawl and climb over obstacles on Mount Werner. The weekend of July 7 features a Hot-Air Balloon Rodeo (www.steamboat-chamber.com).

6. Head to the nation's capitol where, in addition to the fireworks and parade, the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival (http://www.festival.si.edu) promises to draw more than a million people June 27 to July 1 and July 4 to 8 to the National Mall to watch exhibits and performances highlighting grassroots culture entitled "Campus and Community, Citified, and Creativity and Crisis." Attend a "mini-university" class on astronomy, paleontology, sustainable energy, and many other topics or try a wide variety of 4-H family activities, from gardening with heirloom seeds to robotics competitions. See how African-American residents living east of the Anacostia River maintain their Southern heritage.

7. Shop till you drop during Stowe, Vt.'s annual Seven Miles of Sales July 4 to 8, 2012 (www.gostowe.com). You'll find bargains from more than 70 stores all along the Stowe Mountain Road -- everything from art, jewelry, nationally recognized crafts, handcrafted furniture, fine art galleries, award-winning Vermont specialty foods and clothing and sports equipment.

Got those American flags ready?

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