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We are an Aussie couple early 40s planning a 28 day trip down the East Coast in May/ June 2013, we are fortunate to have a spare 4-5 days and would like some assistance on how to best spend this time. We fly into NYC and fly out of Miami.
Our plan thus far is 6 days in NYC our first trip & a long list of things to see & do. Train to Boston spend 3.5 days here to walk the freedom trail, see museums & art galleries & possibly a sporting event baseball or basket ball. Fly to Washington DC for 3 days to see the Smithsonian Museum, War memorial etc.
Then down to Florida to Orlando to do 3 days of theme parks, 1 day Daytona ( him) , 1 Day Everglades, then hire a car down to Key West for 2.5 days snorkelling, then back to Miami for 1.5 days before flying home.
So the spare days would we best to head to another destination between Washington DC and Florida such as Philadelphia or Savannah & Charlestown? Or Spend more time in the New England region Cape Cod or Catskills? Or in the Florida region? ( We are not interested in New Orleans, and partner has done Nashville & Memphis). We do enjoy beautiful scenery, museums & theme parks not so much the shopping.
All ideas will be gratefully received.
I would strongly recommend you add your days in New England, since you are going to the effort to get to Boston.
I would probably take two days and one night north (into Maine a bit), then possibly Plymouth MA, then Newport Rhode Island (Cliff Walk) - and then drive to NYC. You could even get a bus (four hours) from NYC to Washington DC.
And if you still have a spare night, add it to Key West or Miami - looks a little rushed as it stands.
Much appreciated.
1. Rent a car in Boston, drive up to Acadia for a few days, followed by a leisurely drive back, stopping along the coast.
2. Rent a car in DC, drive to Charlottesville, then return via Shenandoah and Harpers Ferry.
3. Rent a car in NYC, drive to the Finger Lakes region.
See FAQ 251.
You cannot reach the Everglades without one.
-From Washington DC drive through the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and up into the mountains along the Skyline Drive through Shenandoah National Park.
-Drive out to Cape Hatteras in North Carolina and the sandy beaches on the Atlantic there.
-Visit one or more of the colonial towns of Williamsburg Virginia, Charlston South Carolina or Savannah Georgia for a peek into America's colonial past.
Another possibility:
Fly to Charlotte (or Greensboro, or Knoxville, or whatever's cheapest), head to Asheville and the Smokies.
Yes, New England sounds like a great place for anyone who has 4-5 extra days. I really enjoyed Plymouth, but then again I’ve been doing pilgrim and turkey related activities and celebrating Thanksgiving since before kindergarten. http://www.amazon.com/Desperate-Crossing-Untold-Story-Mayflower/dp/B000JU7JE6
In fact Boston has a number of nice side trips, (Plymouth, Lexington-Concord, Salem). Typically these are seen by car, but I suspect there are tour busses too.
Note however that New England north of Boston is best travelled by car.
True, but that is car country. Virginia (history in the east, mountains in the west) is one of my favorite places on the planet, but i wouldn't want to see it by bus.
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US East Coast Trip
Hi All,We are an Aussie couple early 40s planning a 28 day trip down the East Coast in May/ June 2013, we are fortunate to have a spare 4-5 days and would like some assistance on how to best spend this time. We fly into NYC and fly out of Miami.
Our plan thus far is 6 days in NYC our first trip & a long list of things to see & do. Train to Boston spend 3.5 days here to walk the freedom trail, see museums & art galleries & possibly a sporting event baseball or basket ball. Fly to Washington DC for 3 days to see the Smithsonian Museum, War memorial etc.
Then down to Florida to Orlando to do 3 days of theme parks, 1 day Daytona ( him) , 1 Day Everglades, then hire a car down to Key West for 2.5 days snorkelling, then back to Miami for 1.5 days before flying home.
So the spare days would we best to head to another destination between Washington DC and Florida such as Philadelphia or Savannah & Charlestown? Or Spend more time in the New England region Cape Cod or Catskills? Or in the Florida region? ( We are not interested in New Orleans, and partner has done Nashville & Memphis). We do enjoy beautiful scenery, museums & theme parks not so much the shopping.
All ideas will be gratefully received.
1
Hi - welcome to the forum - Ian from Melbourne, and we have done a number of US road-trips.I would strongly recommend you add your days in New England, since you are going to the effort to get to Boston.
I would probably take two days and one night north (into Maine a bit), then possibly Plymouth MA, then Newport Rhode Island (Cliff Walk) - and then drive to NYC. You could even get a bus (four hours) from NYC to Washington DC.
And if you still have a spare night, add it to Key West or Miami - looks a little rushed as it stands.
2
Thank you Ian - Further afield into New England does sound like a nice way to go. I will also look into an additional day in Key West.Much appreciated.
3
I hope you are remembering to account for travel time between these places.We do enjoy beautiful scenery, museums & theme parks not so much the shopping.
I counted about 6 days free, plus maybe one more. Possible options:1. Rent a car in Boston, drive up to Acadia for a few days, followed by a leisurely drive back, stopping along the coast.
2. Rent a car in DC, drive to Charlottesville, then return via Shenandoah and Harpers Ferry.
3. Rent a car in NYC, drive to the Finger Lakes region.
possibly a sporting event baseball or basket ball
Fenway is one of the best places to see a baseball game.See FAQ 251.
see the Smithsonian Museum
Which is actually a collection of many museums.Then down to Florida to Orlando to do 3 days of theme parks, 1 day Daytona ( him) , 1 Day Everglades, then hire a car down to Key West for 2.5 days snorkelling
You'll want a car for this whole stretch.You cannot reach the Everglades without one.
5
Another option: bus from Boston to Montreal (2 days), do a side trip to Quebec City (2 days), then train from Montreal to NYC and onward to Washington from there. Fun and beautiful cities, no car required, a different country!6
There are some lovely smaller gems on the Gulf Coast of Florida which I think are well worth a couple of days. We did a week there at Christmas and really loved it. I would recommend Siesta Key (just below Tampa), Sanibel Island (stunning!) and Naples (small town, nice for a night's stay) - if you need hotel recommendations, just ask! Key West is also lovely - have fun :)7
Other posters have you taking a side trip to the north. If interested in spending your 4 - 6 days seeing sights along your route south towards Florida there are endless possibilities in June. Here are just a few of them (I assume you are driving - it sounded like it):-From Washington DC drive through the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and up into the mountains along the Skyline Drive through Shenandoah National Park.
-Drive out to Cape Hatteras in North Carolina and the sandy beaches on the Atlantic there.
-Visit one or more of the colonial towns of Williamsburg Virginia, Charlston South Carolina or Savannah Georgia for a peek into America's colonial past.
8
Psst, Bob, look at my second suggestion.Another possibility:
Fly to Charlotte (or Greensboro, or Knoxville, or whatever's cheapest), head to Asheville and the Smokies.
9
First off, welcome to the forum.Yes, New England sounds like a great place for anyone who has 4-5 extra days. I really enjoyed Plymouth, but then again I’ve been doing pilgrim and turkey related activities and celebrating Thanksgiving since before kindergarten. http://www.amazon.com/Desperate-Crossing-Untold-Story-Mayflower/dp/B000JU7JE6
In fact Boston has a number of nice side trips, (Plymouth, Lexington-Concord, Salem). Typically these are seen by car, but I suspect there are tour busses too.
Note however that New England north of Boston is best travelled by car.
- Six days in NYC can be expensive. If you’ve got the budget, go for it. If you need to trim, that’s where to start.
- There are a couple of nice hikes north of NYC in the Hudson Valley. Bear Mountain is nice for beginners. Breakneck Ridge is said to be spectacular, but is not suitable for the non-athletic. Both are accessible by public transportation.
- Baltimore makes a nice’ car-free side trip from DC. See the aquarium. Walk the harbor, take the water taxi Fort McHenry. Enjoy some seafood at McCormick’s and some pasta in Little Italy.
10
Would second the suggestion about Baltimore - spent a lovely few days there last summer! The aquarium is seriously good and a boat trip up to Fort McHenry was also nice :)11
If the OP had more time I'd agree with Baltimore (prounced Balmre locally). But with only 4- 6 days and the whole eastern seaboard to explore, I'd pass on Baltimore this trip.13
You don't have enough time as it is so focus on the areas on the way. There are a million things to do in Virginia, North Carolina, etc....14
There are a million things to do in Virginia, North Carolina, etc....There are a million things to do in Virginia, North Carolina, etc....
True, but that is car country. Virginia (history in the east, mountains in the west) is one of my favorite places on the planet, but i wouldn't want to see it by bus.
