East Coast of the US recommendations
Discussion
My better half and I are heading to the East coast of the US in 10 days for a two week holiday. We are doing 5 nights in Boston, 2 in New Haven CT, 3 in NYC and 3 in Washington DC.
It's my first time travelling there so I'm interested to hear things to do, places to see and good places to eat and drink.
Thanks
It's my first time travelling there so I'm interested to hear things to do, places to see and good places to eat and drink.
Thanks
I've been to a lot of the USA and find Boston itself disappointing because it's too much like lil' old England! Harvard Uni is a good place to visit.
Head northwest out of Boston to spend a day in Kennybunkport, a really nice small town just inshore on a river estuary. Must have a lobster burger when there! Many years ago the wife and I spent a week based in this town: great!
You could get the train from Boston to Rockport, a small seaside town, really nice place for a day trip.
A day trip out to Cape Cod is doable, maybe 2 hours each way to the island.
Any coast town in Connecticut is really nice too, so this is possible as your in Newhaven.
If this is your first trip to NYC then go for the typical tourist things: they are all better than expected! If you're into art then the Frick Museum is just fantastic (my favourite museum anywhere!). For the best steak try Smith & Wolanski's.
I suspect there will be many more PHers coming along with their recommendations!
R.
R.
Head northwest out of Boston to spend a day in Kennybunkport, a really nice small town just inshore on a river estuary. Must have a lobster burger when there! Many years ago the wife and I spent a week based in this town: great!
You could get the train from Boston to Rockport, a small seaside town, really nice place for a day trip.
A day trip out to Cape Cod is doable, maybe 2 hours each way to the island.
Any coast town in Connecticut is really nice too, so this is possible as your in Newhaven.
If this is your first trip to NYC then go for the typical tourist things: they are all better than expected! If you're into art then the Frick Museum is just fantastic (my favourite museum anywhere!). For the best steak try Smith & Wolanski's.
I suspect there will be many more PHers coming along with their recommendations!
R.
R.
agree Kennebunkport is very nice but its going to be closed it way out of season.
Head a bit further up to Portland which is nice and will be open.
We stopped here http://www.portlandharborhotel.com its a 2 second walk to the centre
Head a bit further up to Portland which is nice and will be open.
We stopped here http://www.portlandharborhotel.com its a 2 second walk to the centre
Thanks for all the replies guys, much appreciated...plenty of great recommendations.
I'm a huge seafood and craft beer fan...and recommends along those lines would be great
davepoth said:
It's a good question. This late in the year the weather can be really quite difficult.
We're travelling by train. It worked out cheaper than renting wheels for the two weeks, not to mention it removes the weather element which could make driving quite difficult.I'm a huge seafood and craft beer fan...and recommends along those lines would be great
Oops, yes, Kennybunkport will be closed down now.
Re seafood, a great place in Boston for lobster is Legal Seafoods. I think there may be more than one restaurant with this name in the group locally.
Great to see you're using the train. The journey from Boston to NYC can be done quickly or slowly, I prefer the latter given the time. You can get out at several stops to stretch your legs!
R.
Re seafood, a great place in Boston for lobster is Legal Seafoods. I think there may be more than one restaurant with this name in the group locally.
Great to see you're using the train. The journey from Boston to NYC can be done quickly or slowly, I prefer the latter given the time. You can get out at several stops to stretch your legs!
R.
Not sure why you would want 2 nights in New Haven? The only thing there is Yale University which is nice for an afternoon stroll around but at that point you have covered most of the town. I would look at swapping it for Philadelphia - its still on the Amtrak lines between DC and Boston and has far more to explore. Independence Hall and the old part of town, riverfront with the old ships, galleries, better dining scene, etc.
A thumbs up from me for Portland Maine - great little downtown and Old Port area. Lots of brew pubs with microbrews. I lived there 2 years on the edge of Old Port and had a fantastic time. There used to be a bus to go to Freeport for LL Bean. Also you could take ferries out to some of the islands for a short excursion.
Edited by LostCroc on Thursday 21st November 09:26
[quote=LostCroc]
Not sure why you would want 2 nights in New Haven? The only thing there is Yale University which is nice for an afternoon stroll around but at that point you have covered most of the town. I would look at swapping it for Philadelphia - its still on the Amtrak lines between DC and Boston and has far more to explore. Independence Hall and the old part of town, riverfront with the old ships, galleries, better dining scene, etc.
A thumbs up from me for Portland Maine - great little downtown and Old Port area. Lots of brew pubs with microbrews. I lived there 2 years on the edge of Old Port and had a fantastic time. There used to be a bus to go to Freeport for LL Bean. Also you could take ferries out to some of the islands for a short excursion.
We're stopping in New Haven to visit some friends living there, it's really the only thing that's bringing us there. I would love to go to Philadelphia, but time doesn't allow.
Not sure why you would want 2 nights in New Haven? The only thing there is Yale University which is nice for an afternoon stroll around but at that point you have covered most of the town. I would look at swapping it for Philadelphia - its still on the Amtrak lines between DC and Boston and has far more to explore. Independence Hall and the old part of town, riverfront with the old ships, galleries, better dining scene, etc.
A thumbs up from me for Portland Maine - great little downtown and Old Port area. Lots of brew pubs with microbrews. I lived there 2 years on the edge of Old Port and had a fantastic time. There used to be a bus to go to Freeport for LL Bean. Also you could take ferries out to some of the islands for a short excursion.
Edited by LostCroc on Thursday 21st November 09:26
[/quoteWe're stopping in New Haven to visit some friends living there, it's really the only thing that's bringing us there. I would love to go to Philadelphia, but time doesn't allow.
RonanF said:
Thanks for all the replies guys, much appreciated...plenty of great recommendations.
I'm a huge seafood and craft beer fan...and recommends along those lines would be great
Train is a good call, but even then you might have issues if there is a big storm. Also, take a lot of coats.davepoth said:
It's a good question. This late in the year the weather can be really quite difficult.
We're travelling by train. It worked out cheaper than renting wheels for the two weeks, not to mention it removes the weather element which could make driving quite difficult.I'm a huge seafood and craft beer fan...and recommends along those lines would be great
Did something similar back in '11 except went to Phili and Watkins Glen.
Absolutely loved boston - more than NYC. We stayed at the Taj Boston which is in a perfect location if you are after a hotel. Try and see the Red Sox if you can - great atmosphere!
In DC make sure that you apply for White House and Pentagon tours way in advance. Best shopping is the big mall in Arlington. Midweek you should have it to yourself.
In NYC - we stayed at the W on 42nd, which was good base. Top of the Rock is probably better than empire state. Make sure you visit Soho/Greenwich, some great places to eat down there
Absolutely loved boston - more than NYC. We stayed at the Taj Boston which is in a perfect location if you are after a hotel. Try and see the Red Sox if you can - great atmosphere!
In DC make sure that you apply for White House and Pentagon tours way in advance. Best shopping is the big mall in Arlington. Midweek you should have it to yourself.
In NYC - we stayed at the W on 42nd, which was good base. Top of the Rock is probably better than empire state. Make sure you visit Soho/Greenwich, some great places to eat down there
Washington DC.
Try and find the Raven Grill in MT Pleasant.. Mt Pleasant is a Latino Community just off 16th street and very easy to get to by bus, The Raven is one of the worlds great dive bars. Just be aware of your surroundings
Smithsonian, 15 museums, all free all great.
Arlington National cemetery
Vietnam Wall- deeply emotional.
Adams Morgan, a great restaurant and club area. Home to The Diner- perfect.
The Martini bar at the Mayflower Hotel- awesome martinis, free nibbles
The Bar at the Jefferson hotel- its very small, and tucked down a non descript stair well at the back, it is THE power bar in DC.
Noras' Restaurant- awesome and not cheap ( 5 years ago we spent over $400 for two.)
The Crab Shack, St Michaels- a short trip from DC, tables topped with brown paper you order crabs by the dozen, they dump them on the table.
Annapolis-its one of the few cities that the founding fathers would still recognize, well worth a day, go and watch the racing on the bay. THe Davis Pub is an institution
Baltimore has been wonderfully regenerated but still retains an edge. THe Rusty Pelican on the harbor is a good place to watch from.
Try and find the Raven Grill in MT Pleasant.. Mt Pleasant is a Latino Community just off 16th street and very easy to get to by bus, The Raven is one of the worlds great dive bars. Just be aware of your surroundings
Smithsonian, 15 museums, all free all great.
Arlington National cemetery
Vietnam Wall- deeply emotional.
Adams Morgan, a great restaurant and club area. Home to The Diner- perfect.
The Martini bar at the Mayflower Hotel- awesome martinis, free nibbles
The Bar at the Jefferson hotel- its very small, and tucked down a non descript stair well at the back, it is THE power bar in DC.
Noras' Restaurant- awesome and not cheap ( 5 years ago we spent over $400 for two.)
The Crab Shack, St Michaels- a short trip from DC, tables topped with brown paper you order crabs by the dozen, they dump them on the table.
Annapolis-its one of the few cities that the founding fathers would still recognize, well worth a day, go and watch the racing on the bay. THe Davis Pub is an institution
Baltimore has been wonderfully regenerated but still retains an edge. THe Rusty Pelican on the harbor is a good place to watch from.
Fantastic recommendations guys, thanks!
I didn't realise you can do tours of the White House and Pentagon. We're out of time to apply for the WH one but I've the application gone into the Pentagon.
I never knew how vast the Smithsonian is, however I'm very disappointed at how inaccessable the Air & Space centre beside Dulles is. I was really looking forward to seeing the SR-71, Concorde and the Space Shuttle. Oh well, you can't have everything.
I didn't realise you can do tours of the White House and Pentagon. We're out of time to apply for the WH one but I've the application gone into the Pentagon.
I never knew how vast the Smithsonian is, however I'm very disappointed at how inaccessable the Air & Space centre beside Dulles is. I was really looking forward to seeing the SR-71, Concorde and the Space Shuttle. Oh well, you can't have everything.
RonanF said:
Fantastic recommendations guys, thanks!
I didn't realise you can do tours of the White House and Pentagon. We're out of time to apply for the WH one but I've the application gone into the Pentagon.
I never knew how vast the Smithsonian is, however I'm very disappointed at how inaccessable the Air & Space centre beside Dulles is. I was really looking forward to seeing the SR-71, Concorde and the Space Shuttle. Oh well, you can't have everything.
The air and space museum intown has enough cool stuff, the msrs lander, jet plane cockpit, etc etcI didn't realise you can do tours of the White House and Pentagon. We're out of time to apply for the WH one but I've the application gone into the Pentagon.
I never knew how vast the Smithsonian is, however I'm very disappointed at how inaccessable the Air & Space centre beside Dulles is. I was really looking forward to seeing the SR-71, Concorde and the Space Shuttle. Oh well, you can't have everything.
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