Where’s the best spot to watch Fourth of July fireworks?

Tourists and locals watch Fourth of July fireworks on the Strip.

Thursday, June 30, 2011 | 2 a.m.

You can head to the Strip this Fourth of July to watch fireworks, but that’s so ... tourist heavy. Thousands of visitors are expected to cram the street, clog walkways and pile into top-floor bars and restaurants. If you do end up finding a comfortable spot, you’ll probably have a giant sign hampering your view.

How about you act like a local instead and sojourn to a viewing site off the beaten path? The geography of the Las Vegas Valley offers countless peaks from which to watch the festivities.

Here are a few of our favorite spots. Add your picks in the comments section below. And remember: shows are planned for both Sunday and Monday nights.

Hollywood Boulevard near Sunrise Manor

The boulevard sits in the foothills of Sunrise Mountain and offers a great vantage point. Pull off the road into an empty parking lot or bring a lawn chair and camp out at O’Callaghan Middle School. You’ll probably catch more than one show.

Photo by Justin M. Bowen
Summerlin parks

Grab a blanket and some snacks and head to the Summerlin area to watch the fireworks from a park. Majestic Park on Hualapai Way and the Vistas Park on Alta Drive both offer great views. Watch Strip fireworks and Station Casinos’ displays light up the sky.
Photo by Mona Shield Payne/Special to the Sun
Lindo Michoacan in Henderson

Celebrate the Fourth with salsa and margaritas. Mexican restaurant Lindo Michoacan’s Henderson location, on Carnegie Street near West Horizon Ridge Parkway, offers some of the best views in the valley. A long bank of picture windows provides a clear shot of the Strip. Call 837-6828 for reservations.
Photo by Cydney Cappello
Green Valley Ranch Resort

The best viewing of the Green Valley Ranch Resort display will be from the backyard amphitheater or pool. But be sure to arrive early, 8 p.m. at the latest. Both locations will fill up fast.

For a slightly more distant view, head to the top level of the resort’s parking garage or hang outside at The District. Both will put you almost directly under the action.
Photo by Justin M. Bowen
Fiesta Rancho

Watch three fireworks shows, and maybe more, from Fiesta Rancho’s parking lots. A spot on the top floor of the parking garage or the south and west sides of the parking lot will offer views of fireworks displays hosted by at least three resorts: Fiesta Rancho, Aliante Station and Red Rock Resort.

There also will be a patio party at Garduno’s Mexican restaurant. Catch the fireworks show while enjoying $4 drink specials and food.