We gave ‘em up years ago. We’ll watch stuff from afar, which is cool in itself, but I don’t do “high human density” events in the Seattle area.
That said, I did the one last year by our farm in Kentucky and it was a blast. So many of us know each other to one degree or another that it’s kind of like a family event. The crowd is also smaller and although the congestion is just as bad, it’s only for a couple of blocks and then you’re fine. :)
Pretty much everything is a lot more fun in rural areas. Everything is more, uh, real.
Same here. Ours are in Comanche, Texas, which was rated in the top 10 shows in Texas Monthly magazine. Not bad for a town of about 3,500. My extended family all meet ahead of time in an open area, bring watermelons, snacks and drinks and have a great time. The visiting beforehand is one of my favorite times of the year! And the fireworks are pretty impressive,too!