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Afterwards, I'll hop around between Washington and New York, hitting, ideally, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Wilmington (a 4-6 hour trips without stops, according to Mapquest) with Winterthur (not in that order, of course). I suppose this part of the trip would be two days (but could be extended), and would be to get an idea of the region. I would like to see the Independence State Park, Winterthur, and chow down on some blue crabs in Baltimore. Do you think I should give more of the time to this part of the trip? Is there anything else to see in Baltimore? Would it be justifiable sneaking Cape May and Atlantic City in there?
Lastly, the last four or so days would go by in our nations capital, with our National Mall, the Smithsonian, and of course, the National Archives and Library of Congress in mind and Mount Vernon, and Arlington (the Cemetery and the Pentagon) also on our plate, topped off by watching the inauguration of our nation's president (is there a website where you can score some tickets, and could you probably get a glimpse of the inauguration without being there?). When, and how, should I go about booking a tour to the Capitol and the White House, and is it a likelihood that I can (I realize this'll be a busy time for the DC area). I know there's a lot more to see of D.C. than this, and any suggestions are welcome.
I'd also like to make some excursions to Richmond, Monticello, and Chesapeake Bay from here. I'm a big history buff, but I have no gripes about architecture and arts, either. What are the signature foods of my host towns? Do you think I'm going about this wrong? Any suggestions?
Frankly - I think you're aiming for too much in your time. It would take a lot to pare it down ... it wuold be better if you got your trip a bit more realistic, and then came back for some fine tuning. Two things I can add though - do not bother with the long train ride out to Coney Island - it really is not worth the time spent. It is fairly tawdry and ordinary, and I expect in the middle of winter it will be even worse.
Also - consider a Circle Line Cruise around Manhattan - we really enjoyed it (even though we had been to NYC a couple of times prior) - it was great - and it cruises past Yankee Stadium, Statue of Liberty, and a great deal else.
But as I say, trim back your ambitious list, and get back to the board - you're way over-committed currently. To make the point, here is your ten-day wish-list:
New York >>
Statue of Liberty
Ellis Island
Empire Ste Building
Chrysler Building
NY Stock Exchange
Times Square
Coney Island
Yankee Stadium
Metropitan Museum of Art
Cloisters
Philadelphia
Baltimore
Wilmington
Independence State Park
Winterthur(?)
Cape May
Atlantic City
Washington DC >>
National Mall
Smithsonian
National Archives
Library of Congress
Mount Vernon
Arlington Cemetery
The Pentagon
Inauguration of President Obama
Richmond, Virginia
Monticello
Chesapeake Bay
If I didn't know you better, with that lot I would say you were a Confederate troll.
Let's break it down:
3-4 days xNYC. To fit in what you want to do and see, you'll need at least the four, maybe five.
4 days DC. You're now up to eight days of your ten.
So you have two days left to fit in xPhilly, xBaltimore, the xJersey coast (in winter?) and apparently half of xVirginia. Not happening.
Spend those two days in xPhilly and you've got yourself a good, packed trip.
For the White House, you need ask one of your Congressional members, have a group of at least ten, and be prepared to change your dates.
So now we are left with NY, Philly, Baltimore and DC.
If you are into history it is hard to tell you to skip Philly. You can do the historic center of Philly in couple of hours, so if you are driving you could it it on your way from NY to DC. You could certainly spend more time in Philly, but you really don't have more time.
If your only reason to spend time in Baltimore is to have crabs, skip it. You will be getting crabs from either Carolina or Louisiana at that time of year anyway. On the other hand as a history buff you might enjoy Fort McHenry and some of the other historic sites in Baltimore. The problem is time.
DC - first there is no way of knowing what the ticket situation is for the Inaugural. That will be decided after the election by the Inaugural Committee. It has been handled different ways. Your best bet to decent tickets for the actual Inaugural is if you have some kind of political connections with your senators or reps. They always get some tickets to distribute. If you don't get those tickets there is most always public area on the Mall but you will be watching on big screens. Not bad, and you can always say you were there, but much more comfy to watch in a bar. Ticket for the parade will be available, but again you won't be able to find out how to get them till much later.
Either way DC will be crazy busy that week. Personally I would avoid it, but it that is when you will be here, then that's that. Book your lodging very early. Your other items can be done in the three or four days that you will be here.
Once you have some more specific questions give a shout.
By the way, what part of Louisiana are you from? I lived in Houma for five yeas and spent three semesters at LSU before I found my way to the DC area.
I have the feeling you don't know what cold weather is like. Avoid Coney Island. And why would you go to Yankee Stadium in January? Both of those are a schlepp from most NYC tourist destinations.
I would cut Philadelphia back from bzookaj's recommendation to one night and add the other to NYC.
I'll cut out Coney Island, Yankee Stadium, Cape May, Atlantic City, the Virginia branch of my trip, and Wilmington. I suppose that should give me substantially more time. I suppose I'll try exploring the National Mall and watching the Inauguration at the same time to save time for the rest of the Washington-area. So four days in New York and Washington, and two days outside.
Thanks VinnyD for the bus suggestion, I'll look into that and it could save us a lot of money. :D
StanInMaryland, I'm from the Lafayette area.
Oh yeah, what's a confederate troll?
Edited by: TheVoyager123
That won't work. Although I don't think this will be as crowded an event as 1/20/09 (whoever wins, it's not going to be the first time a black man has been inaugurated, and DC is majority-black, not majority-Mormon), it's still going to be a day of crowds and ridiculous security.
The last 3 Democratic inaugural weekends have featured some level of music festival on the mall. (I don't recall what happened with the Republicans; memory blots pain.) That would be the time to mix in some touring of the monuments (or in the evening, if it's warm enough).
And off the top of my head I would put the odds against that on any particular day in January at well over 100 to 1.
#7 I'll keep that in mind going to Obamneys inauguration.
#8 Yeah, UL's nice (they've since changed their name), but the Tigers are the best. :)
In the event of a snowstorm, I wouldn't have any gripes about being stuck in New York or DC. looking at the climate, though, I'll have to bring some heavy coats and I'll consider moving the trip to a later date. I don't want to be naive and say I can stick it out.
Edited by: TheVoyager123
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Northeastern Roadtrip
Alright, so I've got a trip planned for (most probably) mid-to-late January. This is my first time crossing the Mason-Dixon line, but it seems like a very promising venture. It will last- don't laugh at me- ten days, starting from New York City (I'll be flying in from S. Louisiana), and will spend about three or four days, with the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island, Empire State Building, Chrysler Building & the Stock Exchange (which unfortunately don't do tours), Time Square, and possibly Coney Island and Yankee Stadium as priorities (I'll be kind of busy). Do you think there would feasibly be time for the Metropolitan Museum of Art and/or the Cloisters? Is there any hidden treasure that my tourist eyes have overlooked?Afterwards, I'll hop around between Washington and New York, hitting, ideally, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Wilmington (a 4-6 hour trips without stops, according to Mapquest) with Winterthur (not in that order, of course). I suppose this part of the trip would be two days (but could be extended), and would be to get an idea of the region. I would like to see the Independence State Park, Winterthur, and chow down on some blue crabs in Baltimore. Do you think I should give more of the time to this part of the trip? Is there anything else to see in Baltimore? Would it be justifiable sneaking Cape May and Atlantic City in there?
Lastly, the last four or so days would go by in our nations capital, with our National Mall, the Smithsonian, and of course, the National Archives and Library of Congress in mind and Mount Vernon, and Arlington (the Cemetery and the Pentagon) also on our plate, topped off by watching the inauguration of our nation's president (is there a website where you can score some tickets, and could you probably get a glimpse of the inauguration without being there?). When, and how, should I go about booking a tour to the Capitol and the White House, and is it a likelihood that I can (I realize this'll be a busy time for the DC area). I know there's a lot more to see of D.C. than this, and any suggestions are welcome.
I'd also like to make some excursions to Richmond, Monticello, and Chesapeake Bay from here. I'm a big history buff, but I have no gripes about architecture and arts, either. What are the signature foods of my host towns? Do you think I'm going about this wrong? Any suggestions?
1
You're going to be very busy, doing all that in ten days. Plus you are going to have to put with damned Yankees, but more of an issue - some very cold weather.Frankly - I think you're aiming for too much in your time. It would take a lot to pare it down ... it wuold be better if you got your trip a bit more realistic, and then came back for some fine tuning. Two things I can add though - do not bother with the long train ride out to Coney Island - it really is not worth the time spent. It is fairly tawdry and ordinary, and I expect in the middle of winter it will be even worse.
Also - consider a Circle Line Cruise around Manhattan - we really enjoyed it (even though we had been to NYC a couple of times prior) - it was great - and it cruises past Yankee Stadium, Statue of Liberty, and a great deal else.
But as I say, trim back your ambitious list, and get back to the board - you're way over-committed currently. To make the point, here is your ten-day wish-list:
New York >>
Statue of Liberty
Ellis Island
Empire Ste Building
Chrysler Building
NY Stock Exchange
Times Square
Coney Island
Yankee Stadium
Metropitan Museum of Art
Cloisters
Philadelphia
Baltimore
Wilmington
Independence State Park
Winterthur(?)
Cape May
Atlantic City
Washington DC >>
National Mall
Smithsonian
National Archives
Library of Congress
Mount Vernon
Arlington Cemetery
The Pentagon
Inauguration of President Obama
Richmond, Virginia
Monticello
Chesapeake Bay
If I didn't know you better, with that lot I would say you were a Confederate troll.
2
OP, you are trying to do waaay too much.Let's break it down:
3-4 days xNYC. To fit in what you want to do and see, you'll need at least the four, maybe five.
4 days DC. You're now up to eight days of your ten.
So you have two days left to fit in xPhilly, xBaltimore, the xJersey coast (in winter?) and apparently half of xVirginia. Not happening.
Spend those two days in xPhilly and you've got yourself a good, packed trip.
with the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island, Empire State Building, Chrysler Building & the Stock Exchange (which unfortunately don't do tours), Time Square, and possibly Coney Island and Yankee Stadium as priorities
There really isn't anything to see at the Chrysler building (the observation deck was shut down decades ago), nor at Coney Island in winter.Do you think there would feasibly be time for the Metropolitan Museum of Art and/or the Cloisters?
Yes. Be aware that you're looking at half a day, minimum, and an easy two days if you want to see everything.Independence State Park,
Independence National Historic Park. It's federal, not state.Would it be justifiable sneaking Cape May and Atlantic City in there?
You don't have the time.When, and how, should I go about booking a tour to the Capitol and the White House
Capitol tours.For the White House, you need ask one of your Congressional members, have a group of at least ten, and be prepared to change your dates.
I'd also like to make some excursions to Richmond, Monticello, and Chesapeake Bay from here.
Come back another time, when you have time.
3
I agree you are trying to do way too much in the time you have. Since you are a history buff I am hard put to tell you what to cut since there is a lot of history in the area. First I would cut Wilmington unless you just really feel you have to see it. Forget Cape May and Atlantic City. For one thing, it is going to be January, not exactly beach weather for the Jersey Shore. You also don't have time for Richmond, Monticello or the Chesapeake Bay.So now we are left with NY, Philly, Baltimore and DC.
If you are into history it is hard to tell you to skip Philly. You can do the historic center of Philly in couple of hours, so if you are driving you could it it on your way from NY to DC. You could certainly spend more time in Philly, but you really don't have more time.
If your only reason to spend time in Baltimore is to have crabs, skip it. You will be getting crabs from either Carolina or Louisiana at that time of year anyway. On the other hand as a history buff you might enjoy Fort McHenry and some of the other historic sites in Baltimore. The problem is time.
DC - first there is no way of knowing what the ticket situation is for the Inaugural. That will be decided after the election by the Inaugural Committee. It has been handled different ways. Your best bet to decent tickets for the actual Inaugural is if you have some kind of political connections with your senators or reps. They always get some tickets to distribute. If you don't get those tickets there is most always public area on the Mall but you will be watching on big screens. Not bad, and you can always say you were there, but much more comfy to watch in a bar. Ticket for the parade will be available, but again you won't be able to find out how to get them till much later.
Either way DC will be crazy busy that week. Personally I would avoid it, but it that is when you will be here, then that's that. Book your lodging very early. Your other items can be done in the three or four days that you will be here.
Once you have some more specific questions give a shout.
By the way, what part of Louisiana are you from? I lived in Houma for five yeas and spent three semesters at LSU before I found my way to the DC area.
4
When you say road trip, that doesn't mean you're planning on renting a car, does it? You don't want a car in NYC or DC and can manage Philadelphia fine without one. You would want one for the Jersey shore, probably, but as bzookaj points out you don't have time and it will be January. You can get buses NY-Philadelphia-DC for around $15-20.I have the feeling you don't know what cold weather is like. Avoid Coney Island. And why would you go to Yankee Stadium in January? Both of those are a schlepp from most NYC tourist destinations.
I would cut Philadelphia back from bzookaj's recommendation to one night and add the other to NYC.
5
Thanks for the responses everybody.I'll cut out Coney Island, Yankee Stadium, Cape May, Atlantic City, the Virginia branch of my trip, and Wilmington. I suppose that should give me substantially more time. I suppose I'll try exploring the National Mall and watching the Inauguration at the same time to save time for the rest of the Washington-area. So four days in New York and Washington, and two days outside.
Thanks VinnyD for the bus suggestion, I'll look into that and it could save us a lot of money. :D
StanInMaryland, I'm from the Lafayette area.
Oh yeah, what's a confederate troll?
Edited by: TheVoyager123
7
exploring the National Mall and watching the Inauguration at the same time
That won't work. Although I don't think this will be as crowded an event as 1/20/09 (whoever wins, it's not going to be the first time a black man has been inaugurated, and DC is majority-black, not majority-Mormon), it's still going to be a day of crowds and ridiculous security.
The last 3 Democratic inaugural weekends have featured some level of music festival on the mall. (I don't recall what happened with the Republicans; memory blots pain.) That would be the time to mix in some touring of the monuments (or in the evening, if it's warm enough).
9
I'll play party pooper and note that there's always the possibility of an ice storm or a nor'easter messing with your trip for 1-3 days. Have a sightseeing plan B in case roads (or airports) are closed and you're stuck somewhere longer than planned. Bring layered clothing and a good waterproof pair of boots or shoes.10
Fortunately there's no shortage of things to see in NY, DC, or Philadelphia. OP would have no problem filling one more day in any of those places.And off the top of my head I would put the odds against that on any particular day in January at well over 100 to 1.
11
#6 Thanks, wasn't sure if that was to be taken literally.#7 I'll keep that in mind going to Obamneys inauguration.
#8 Yeah, UL's nice (they've since changed their name), but the Tigers are the best. :)
In the event of a snowstorm, I wouldn't have any gripes about being stuck in New York or DC. looking at the climate, though, I'll have to bring some heavy coats and I'll consider moving the trip to a later date. I don't want to be naive and say I can stick it out.
Edited by: TheVoyager123
13
I would not go to NYC/Boston and DC in January, are you nuts? Go to California...14
Weather isn't everything, solohobo. And there is a non-negligible chance of quite pleasant weather in January. Well, almost negligible in Boston.
