Andrea Cavanaugh

Sprawling Southern California is one of the most densely populated places in the U.S., but small-town America is just a 10-minute drive from bustling Orange County. Balboa Island is a quaint destination for a day trip or a romantic weekend getaway.

If you don’t think of downtown Los Angeles as a travel destination, you’re missing out – the area has undergone a revitalization in recent years, and is popping with cultural hotspots and a vibrant nightlife. Downtown is also rich with history – visit Chinatown, Little Tokyo, a classic Art Deco train station, and the site of the first European settlement in Los Angeles, all within a couple of blocks. It’s also a perfect base to explore the rest of LA – even without a car.

The Fourth of July is a perfect time to enjoy fireworks, food, family, friends, and fun. Small towns and big cities across the U.S. will celebrate the nation’s independence with parades, live music, and pyrotechnics. Whether you’re looking for family entertainment or sizzling summer fun in 2011, we’ve compiled a list of the hottest places across the country to celebrate the Fourth of July in style.

Summer is the perfect time to sample the best tastes a region has to offer, and there’s no better opportunity than a food, wine, or beer festival. There are dozens of local wine and foodfests to choose from across the United States each summer. Jetset Extra takes away the guesswork with our guide to the best summer 2011 destinations to sample food, wine, or beer – and sometimes all three!