Places to visit between New York and Boston

[Timeras]

As a european I will travel to the USA in march. I will spend the first few days in New York City and and the last ones in Boston. What places should I visit between those places? I can spread this out over two days, if neccessary.

Thanks in advance

Timeras

[KillingAScarab]

If you're planning to be driving around the States, I think the first thing you may want is a look at some of the standards for our interstates (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_Highway_System). I hear that it isn't just the usage of miles rather than kilometers on our road signs (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_signs_in_the_United_States) which makes them stick out a bit from other countries. The interstate numbering is distinct from U.S. routes (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Numbered_Highways) and state roads (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numbered_highways_in_the_United_States#State_highw ays).

The New England area should be packed with things to do and see, especially given your start and end points. I see you previously were planning to go to Scotland (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?514410-Visiting-Scotland&p=21682886). Was there any particular type of attraction you favored during that trip? I'm not a native to the area, but I know there's plenty of history.

[Timeras]

Thank you, I will keep the matter of road numbering in mind. I'm travelling with a friend who has been to the United States a few times, so he will probably have some expierience with that.

Scotland is a beautiful country. I don't expect to see something like the castles in the States, but what we also really enjoyed was the countryside. We often just stopped and went for a walk. So if there ist a good place for hiking (probably not ideal in march), that could be interesting.

[In4Dimensions]

There are certainly good hiking places in Massachusetts. I love the Blue Hills (https://www.mass.gov/location-details/hiking-in-blue-hills), and I try and go whenever I’m there.

If you’re into history, Boston also has some great history museums. There’s a great aquarium too.


If you haven’t noticed, I love Boston :smallbiggrin:

[Peelee]

Took my wife on a trip to NYC for her birthday last year, and these are the biggest two things that I'd pass on to other people going:

Don't go to the top of the Empire State Building. If you want to go up high for pictures and/or just to enjoy the view, go to the top of the Rockafeller building. It's not quite as tall, but you'll be able to get the Empire State Building in your pictures/view, and it is still a helluva view.

Don't go to Times Square. We weren't planning on it, but my MIL was insistent that we go when she found out about the trip. It's an overly-crowded strip with not that much going on except some lights, and people in random costumes charging money for pictures. We didn't see the appeal at all.

Everything else I think is personal taste. We had some amazing experiences, but I dunno if you'd care about them. Those two things, though, I think are super handy to know.

[Timeras]

There are certainly good hiking places in Massachusetts. I love the Blue Hills (https://www.mass.gov/location-details/hiking-in-blue-hills), and I try and go whenever I’m there.

If you’re into history, Boston also has some great history museums. There’s a great aquarium too.


Thank you, the Blue Hills look interesting. And I like a museum once in a while.



Don't go to the top of the Empire State Building. If you want to go up high for pictures and/or just to enjoy the view, go to the top of the Rockafeller building. It's not quite as tall, but you'll be able to get the Empire State Building in your pictures/view, and it is still a helluva view.


Thanks. I think my friend has the Empire State Building on his list, I will tell him about your advice.

[Peelee]

Thanks. I think my friend has the Empire State Building on his list, I will tell him about your advice.

To be fair here, the Empire State building is taller, and you do get to say "I've been to the top of the Empire State Building." We just liked the idea of having that building in the pictures of the city. Go with what makes y'all happier.

[KillingAScarab]

If you’re into history, Boston also has some great history museums. There’s a great aquarium too.


If you haven’t noticed, I love Boston :smallbiggrin:As I understand it, in quite a few of the cities on the northeastern seaboard, you can encounter plaques and monuments dedicated to momentus people and places often enough just by walking around, and Boston cab drivers will tell you about the molasses flood (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Molasses_Flood). I haven't had the chance to test that, though.


Don't go to Times Square. We weren't planning on it, but my MIL was insistent that we go when she found out about the trip. It's an overly-crowded strip with not that much going on except some lights, and people in random costumes charging money for pictures. We didn't see the appeal at all.Hm. Perhaps the mother-in-law was hoping to see the naked cowboy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naked_Cowboy). I would hope he has a warmer job in March.

[Peelee]

Hm. Perhaps the mother-in-law was hoping to see the naked cowboy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naked_Cowboy). I would hope he has a warmer job in March.

Oh, I can absolutely guarantee that was not the case. I don't even wear shorts around the in-laws when I visit, even in the hottest Louisiana summer.

[Artemis97]

Boston has some great sites. The Museum of Art has a really nice collection and the Aquarium is great fun. Outside of Boston you might want to visit Plymouth Plantation, they have a living village recreating the original settlement there. I enjoyed it, but I'm a serious history buff. There's also the freedom trail in boston, a red brick line that runs throughout the city linking a bunch of historical sites.

[ereinion]

I really loved taking the Circle Line around Manhattan when I visited NYC. It is nice and relaxing, and the the guide on the boat I was on gave us a great overview of a lot of landmarks and history.

For a bit of a different art exhibition, the Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park (https://www.metmuseum.org/visit/met-cloisters) is really great.

For some shorter hikes in NYC, I quite liked Central Park, and Brooklyn Bridge has a really nice walkway (and view). If you are willing to tackle the logistics of getting there, the High Line (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Line) is a pretty fun walk too.

[Timeras]

Thank you all. We will make our final plans soon and your suggestions will be a great help.