Big Bang on the Bay started in 2011 to mark the 10th anniversary of 9/11, and it’s become a Long Beach tradition. It happens the day before the Fourth of July (so Long Beachers get to see fireworks two nights in a row if they want). You can buy tickets for dinner and a view from the boathouse, or you can watch for free from the peninsula. The rumor is this might be the last year they have fireworks (before they convert to drones or something), so I figured I better get over there at least once. I hopped on the bus, stopped by Cinnaholic for a red, white, and blue cinnamon roll (strawberries, frosting, and blueberries), and found a spot on the sand. There were tons of boats in the bay, and people looked like they’d been camped out all day. It was a great show! And then I headed home on foot on the beach path. (I made it 2.5 of the 3.5 miles before I started to feel the lateness of the evening and switched to the bus.)

By