Athens Among Top Spots for US Independence Day Celebrations
According to data released by the American Automobile Association (AAA), Athens ranks 9th among the top 10 international destinations for US travelers to spend their long Independence Day (4th of July) weekend this year.
Athens in top 10 destinations for Independence Day
Athens may see a number of tourists from the US at the beginning of next month, all eager to celebrate their Independence Day weekend from July 3rd to July 7th in the capital.
The top destination for US travelers, however, is Vancouver in Canada. This is followed by London, which is in second place, and Rome in third. Other popular destinations include Dublin, Paris, Calgary, Amsterdam, Punta Cana, and Barcelona.
According to insurance providers Allianz Partners, the number of US citizens traveling to Europe is expected to increase this summer, surging by 34 percent over the year with Athens listed in the top 10 destinations of choice.
The AAA report also shows that air travel is expected to reach unprecedented highs this year. It also indicates that the number of travelers from the US heading abroad for vacation is due to reach 5.74 million. This is an increase of nearly seven percent compared to last year and twelve percent in relation to pre-pandemic 2019 levels.
Seven out of ten US tourists, the reports conveys, are choosing destinations in Europe. There is a strong interest in historic cities and pristine beaches.
Independence Day, known colloquially as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the Declaration of Independence, which was ratified by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, establishing the United States of America.
The Founding Father delegates of the Second Continental Congress declared that the Thirteen Colonies were no longer subject (and subordinate) to the monarch of Britain, King George III, and were now united, free, and independent states. The Congress voted to approve independence by passing the Lee Resolution on July 2nd and adopted the Declaration of Independence two days later on July 4th.
Families often celebrate Independence Day by hosting or attending a picnic or barbecue. Many take advantage of the day off, and it is a long weekend to gather with family members or friends. There are often parades in towns and cities, some being hours-long, with many floats and participants.
Parades are often held in the mid-late morning (before get-togethers), with longer spectacles sometimes extending into the early afternoon. Fireworks displays typically occur in the evening at parks, harbors, sporting venues, fairgrounds, public beaches, and town squares.
The night before the Fourth of July was once the focal point of celebrations, marked by raucous gatherings and often incorporating bonfires as their highlight. In New England, towns competed to build towering pyramids, assembled from barrels and casks.
PR Newswire
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