suggestions needed for our Orlando to Boston trip

[cheryl.UK]

OK so we are starting to plan next years's trip.

We are hopiong to go from around the 7th July to 7th August.

We will spend 12 nights at SSR then start the road trip to Boston.

We want to spend at least 3 nights in NY and 7 in the Boston area

But where ti visit en route? (we are in no rush) And where to visit around Boston?

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

Never been to NY but loved Boston - the science museum, aquarium, duck tours and faneuil Hall all worth a visit. Used a "Charlie" card in Boston - bit like a London Oyster card and the underground system is fab. We stayed at a beautiful Hyatt across the water with water taxis and underground close by - near to the airport with own airport shuttle service. ALso don't know how far you are going but when we went it was Easter and we drove to Killington, Vermont for skiing - there were some gorgeous villages around that area, I would love to go back again in Summer/Fall and see them.

 

[cheryl.UK]

Thank you Stitch'e GF! We will be going in summer, so no skiing But we are maybe going to get as far as providence and we laos want to visit the coastal area

 

[disneyholic family]

Washington DC - it's right on the way...lots to see there..

 

[dixonsontour]

We've done washington DC and enjoyed it.

Also enjoyed Philadelphia and Boston.

As you are driving through Virginia maybe stop at a civil war battlefield if you are into history (we did a tour of them one year as DH like millitary history)

St Augustine in florida as you head north?

We've done several road trip type holidays in US. I used to get the virgin brochure with fly drives in and titan tours (few more companies do them aswell) gives you an idea of key places to visit and what is driveable in a day.

Happy planning.

 

[Kath2003]

I love New York and Washington DC. New York is one of my favourite cities of all time. Washington DC isn't as nice to walk around but once you're there, all of the museums etc. are free. Boston was meh. The duck tours are fun and it's a pretty city but a couple of days there was plenty.

If you want to see some real America, try spending a few days in the southern states. Totally different from the North East and the tourist-trap of Florida.

 

[wdwfan101]

Some suggestions:

Hilton Head, South Carolina
Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D.C.
Baltimore Aquarium, Baltimore, Maryland
Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
National Constitution Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Mystic Seaport, Mystic, Connecticut
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts

 

[disneyholic family]

baltimore is ok, but i wouldn't waste my precious time there..
DC is much more interesting..

(i lived in baltimore for 4 years - i went to Johns Hopkins University).

lets see - it's not really on your way, but Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the nicest national parks. I spent a lot of time there growing up.
But it's definitely out of your way. But if you're a hiker, all of the national parks are amazing and the rangers are fantastic.
no matter what national park you go to, there are ranger walks and ranger lectures.
but again, only if you're a nature nut like we are

actually, when you're in washington DC, you'll encounter national park service rangers - they're at all the national sites. You'll recognize them by their hats!!! (they look like smokey the bear)

 

[WiganTony]

Last year, we visited NY, Southern Maine and Boston.

Really enjoyed NY (much more than I expected) during our 6 days there - loads to do, but if you only have three days, you may have to be a bit "choosy" about which attractions/landmarks you visit. Note that if planning to visit the SoL and walk up to the Crown, you will need to book tickets in advance (we booked around 4 months ahead).

We used the train (Metro North) to leave NY to get to Stamforf (CT) where we picked up a rental car to drive to Ogunquit (about 75 miles north of Boston) for 4 nights which is a seaside town very much like a British seaside resort (think West Country or Wales). All three of us were totally surpised by this location and would thoroughly recommend it.

Then drove back to Boston for 3 nights (turned our car in to avoid the heavy parking charges!!). Stayed at the Sheraton in Back Bay which was right by the Prudential Centre and a short stroll from some excellent restaurants on Boyleston Street. We did the Boston Ducks tour, went up the Prudential Skywalk, visited the Aquarium, and spent almost a full day at the science museum. Also visited Boston Common and walked part of the Freedom Trail.

We then had a one-way car rental back to JFK before our daytime flight back to the UK.

 

[cheryl.UK]

Wow!

Thanks for all the help guys.

Washington hadn't occured to me but it's now on the list as is Cape Cod and Mystic. The battlefields aren't my thing but DH is in the military so no doubt that will be on his list.

Thanks for the Heads up on the SOL.

Would love to get some hiking into the schedule but it would mean taking extra luggage.(DH never hikes lightweght!!!!) I'm trying to keep bags to a minimum as I really want to hire a convertable. There will just be the two of us so we can sling one bag on the back seat when we are on the move.

Hilton Head is also on our list now, as is Charleston.

I've bought a new road atlas and I.m busy on the planning of the route. I'm not going to book every hotel in advance just the main ones (Disney, Hilton Head, NY, Cape Cod, Washington and Boston . I 'll sort the rest over the internet a day in advance. We are aiming to drive every other day at the most.

 

[disneyholic family]

check out the travel books by what's his name...hmmm...
what is his name...
an american expat living in the UK...he also wrote a brief history of nearly everything or something like that...

what's his name...off to google..

oh wait....i just remembered.....is it bill bryce?

off to google...

ah,...close....Bill Bryson..

so he has some travel books in america....the very first one i read by him was The Lost Continent - about a road trip that he took around america....very entertaining and interesting, although it's about 20 or 30 years old in terms of when he took the trip..

http://www.billbryson.co.uk/books_lostcontinent.html

 

[neydis]

Love Boston we drove from Canada through Vermont. We have driven from DW to Hilton Head on many occasions as we love Disneys Hilton head resort. We like Charleston but prefer Savannah even used the name as my daughters middle name.

 

[rex008]

We did a Boston to DC road trip a few years ago and enjoyed Colonial Williamsburg as an interesting non-city stop:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonial_Williamsburg

 

[sharon78]

Hello, fellow GREEN DAY fan!!!

We went to Boston in January this year to see American Idiot, it was AWESOME.
After we booked it they then announced they we're bringing the tour to the UK so we booked again for December in London

Boston was not on my "To Do" list but when I found out American Idiot was playing there we priced it up for 4 nights, 5 days and got a right bargain for the four of us. It was our girls christmas present, they we're 16 & 14 at the time and they we're soooo excited, they did'nt even know about Boston let alone American idiot.
Boston is a really lovely place so much to see and do. We managed to fill our five days, no problem.
We had a five day trollytour pass and used that to get around, Fenway park is also a good tour as well as the Freedom Trail tour.
If you want to know more about Boston let me know.
Sharon

 

[JeanfromBNA]

Savannah, Georgia is unique.