Northern East Coast USA in winter???
Replies: 21 - Last Post: Aug 27, 2012 1:59 PM Last Post By: ianw6705
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15
OP, the only place I would truly worry about ice would be at xNiagara Falls. The spray from the falls coats the promenade, and if temps drop (which they will), could make it hazardous.but was also planning on the walking Boston Freedom trail
Most of the stops along the xFreedom Trail are indoors.He is very interested in modern history & fascinated by guns & warfare so perhaps we could plan our trip around American Civil War sites
Why limit yourself to the Civil War?Also consider Revolutionary War site xBunker Hill (which is on the xFreedom Trail). xLexington and xConcord are an easy train ride away.
I think the Maids of the Mist tour is not operational though at that time - do you know off the top of your head?
It's not operational.There was a walk through the caves(?) at the side/back of the falls that I did there some years ago. Would that still be operational?
Yup.
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If he wants to see NYC, go and enjoy the time together. But make your reservations soon since it's a destination for the Thanksgiving parade and day-after Thanksgiving shopping (Nov 23 this year). If the weather is great you can do more walking, if it's awful use tourbus transportation between famous sites. Try not to have domestic flights Nov 20-21 or 24-26 (heaviest travel days of the year). If you decide to go to Orlando/Disney parks, plan that for sometime between Nov 28 - Dec 15. Before that you'll get crowds on vacation around Thanksgiving, after that those who are on-vacation before Christmas.The Washington, DC reflection-pool/monuments mall area was wonderful walking after a light snowfall - we had the place to ourselves. Just add warm scarf, hat, gloves, windproof jacket over warm sweater and good-grip walking shoes.
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I agree with Mr. Penny, don't be all that concerned with the weather, just be prepared for it. It is not that cold and there is a strong possibility you will not see snow. http://www.ny.com/general/weather.htmlFor what it is worth, Niagara Falls is a long way out of your way and would recommend you reconsider. If your son wants to see Disney it would give you more time for that.
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The weather should be perfectly fine at that time of the year. It may slightly uncomfortable for you, but late November / early December really isn't that bad, and it's not a time when you'll have to worry about getting hit with a major snowstorm (anything can happen of course, but it's highly unlikely). Most days the high temperature should be above freezing. I would expect daytime high temperatures will likely be somewhere in the high single digits, low teens Celsius for most of the days on your trip. Absolutely no safety issues to worry about as far as the weather is concerned.New York is an incredibly popular destination from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day. I don't know the exact statistics, but it certainly feels like the most crowded time of the year in NY. The city is usually quite beautiful at that time of the year though, with lots of Christmas displays and the like drawing in the tourists. I've never been to the other cities at that time of the year, but I imagine they're pretty similar (with smaller crowds).
Niagara Falls is a bit out of the way for this trip. It might make more sense to add a stop in Philadelphia instead, or to use the days in Niagara to better squeeze in a trip down to Florida for Disney if that's something you really want to do.
There are numerous discount bus services linking DC, Philly, New York, and Boston. Two of the better ones are Megabus and Bolt Bus. You can often find fares between each city for $10-20 or less (sometimes substantially less if booked far enough in advance).
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November will not be bad in most these places, in fact, they could be almost in the 60's, its not a major factor, its sweater jacket weather, usually not hat n gloves weather.Maybe a scarf..But I would skip Niagara falls, this area is not only very tourist and just so so, its also in the path of lake effect snows as the arctic winds start to push down in the US from Canada....just asking for trouble...
DC in Nov can be pleasant...
NYC Thanksgiving weekend is a good time, and blast.
21
We have done fall-winter US trips and they were all good - especially in the deserts ... and coming from the Australian tropics where its 90F plus every day and never below 70F, the novelty value was great, as is the chance to put on some proper grown-up clothes.But I think the OP shouldn't be under any illusions ... what the locals call "not bad - it's only November" can be damp and chilly anywhere near the coast. Rain and clouds spoil your day ... I would take -10C in a desert with blue skies, over 10C in a coastal city, any time.
