trip from NE to DC

We are from California. We are thinking to take a sight seeing trip from NE
to DC, stopping at the major cities. Can you please tell me when is the off
peak seasons this fall? We are thinking taking the train, but rent a car if
must. We have been to NYC some 20 years ago, but never been to Boston, Pitt
& DC. Are there any must-sees for mature folks? Thank you kindly.

A. Wright wrote:
We are from California. We are thinking to take a sight seeing trip from
NE to DC, stopping at the major cities. Can you please tell me when is
the off peak seasons this fall? We are thinking taking the train, but
rent a car if must. We have been to NYC some 20 years ago, but never
been to Boston, Pitt & DC. Are there any must-sees for mature folks?
Thank you kindly.

I have been to DC twice and will go anytime we are in the area. If
walking around is okay (how "mature" are you?) you can spend a lot of
time walking the mall area, and the Smithsonian buildings are worth days
of visits, in my mind. Depends on what your interests are - You should
tell us your time frame and your interests. If you haven't seen NE
colours in the fall, be sure to make that part of your trip, too.



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Thank you. We are part of the boomer generation. Now thinking the last week
of October to the first week of November.
Do you think 4 days in DC is enough - see all the regular tourist stuff?
We are thinking of 2-3 days in Boston, 3 days in NYC, 1 days in
Philadelphia?
I prefer driving to the minimum. Any train I should look into?
For NE - any sight should I must see?
We love culture & museums, etc. Thank you.

"TheNewsGuy(Mike)" wrote in message
...
A. Wright wrote:
We are from California. We are thinking to take a sight seeing trip from
NE to DC, stopping at the major cities. Can you please tell me when is
the off peak seasons this fall? We are thinking taking the train, but
rent a car if must. We have been to NYC some 20 years ago, but never been
to Boston, Pitt & DC. Are there any must-sees for mature folks? Thank you
kindly.

I have been to DC twice and will go anytime we are in the area. If
walking around is okay (how "mature" are you?) you can spend a lot of time
walking the mall area, and the Smithsonian buildings are worth days of
visits, in my mind. Depends on what your interests are - You should tell
us your time frame and your interests. If you haven't seen NE colours in
the fall, be sure to make that part of your trip, too.



--
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sawyer Nicknames - http://sawyer.xtreemhost.com/
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++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Do you think 4 days in DC is enough - see all the regular tourist stuff?
We are thinking of 2-3 days in Boston, 3 days in NYC, 1 days in
Philadelphia?
I prefer driving to the minimum. Any train I should look into?
For NE - any sight should I must see?
We love culture & museums, etc. Thank you.

Don't want to drive at all ? Amtrak has a 10 day trip: ( when you call tell
them - no Newport News,VA)

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/Conten...=1080842092684

I just had this conversation with someone at a party this weekend.
I'd start with a schedule of "What's happening" in your destination town for
time frame you are considering. Do a google search and you'll stuff sites
this this:
http://www.washington.org/visiting/events-calendar That will guide your
dates.

If you love museums , you COULD spend a lot more than 3-4 days in Wash DC.
I can spend a day in each Smithsonian Museum
http://www.si.edu/visit/

Hotels downtown - not only pricey ( and pay to park?) but depending upon
'what's in town' there may be no rooms available.

Let tour busses do the driving. ( you could EASILY spend hours commuting in
D.C. traffic) All of the hotels will know about tours. If you want to "do
it yourself", I like Old Town Trolleys - especially for Day One:
http://www.trolleytours.com/washingt...tour-works.asp
http://www.trolleytours.com/washington-dc/ ( Don't be surprised at sound -
turn down your sound)

Old Town Trolley is in Boston too. ( 6 cities)
http://www.trolleytours.com/
Off/on whenever you like and trolley comes by about every 20 minutes.

NY times travel section has good info on many sities, check each town
there - note the DATE of the article - might be old - but main suggestions
probably still apply to a first time visitor. Example:
http://travel.nytimes.com//2006/11/2...l/26hours.html

Another site I use is:
http://www.hemispheresmagazine.com/c...-perfect-days/
read each town - pick the highlights if limited time.
Recently updated - now slideshows, interactive maps.
Here's recent Wash DC story:
http://www.hemispheresmagazine.com/2...washington-dc/

If you do not want train AND do not like driving, then arrive in off hours
and stay near "wherever you decide that you want to visit" and walk. Same
thing in Philadelphia. Just stay near historic area .

I stopped there a few months ago ( Comfort Inn downtown) and thought I'd
play tourist ( American history buff). At the Franklin Museum that week - a
Star Wars exhibit : not what I had in mind so after a quick visit to
Independence Hall area, I left town. Lousy (no) planning on my part - but I
was driving back from FLA and was just 'winging it'.

Enjoy.


"A. Wright" wrote in message
...
Thank you. We are part of the boomer generation. Now thinking the last
week of October to the first week of November.
Do you think 4 days in DC is enough - see all the regular tourist stuff?
We are thinking of 2-3 days in Boston, 3 days in NYC, 1 days in
Philadelphia?
I prefer driving to the minimum. Any train I should look into?
For NE - any sight should I must see?
We love culture & museums, etc. Thank you.

"TheNewsGuy(Mike)" wrote in message
...
A. Wright wrote:
We are from California. We are thinking to take a sight seeing trip from
NE to DC, stopping at the major cities. Can you please tell me when is
the off peak seasons this fall? We are thinking taking the train, but
rent a car if must. We have been to NYC some 20 years ago, but never
been
to Boston, Pitt & DC. Are there any must-sees for mature folks? Thank
you
kindly.

I have been to DC twice and will go anytime we are in the area. If
walking around is okay (how "mature" are you?) you can spend a lot of
time
walking the mall area, and the Smithsonian buildings are worth days of
visits, in my mind. Depends on what your interests are - You should tell
us your time frame and your interests. If you haven't seen NE colours in
the fall, be sure to make that part of your trip, too.



--
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sawyer Nicknames - http://sawyer.xtreemhost.com/
Seinfeld Lists - http://seinfeld.xtreemhost.com/
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

They changed the site and while "trying to find how it USED to look", I got
to see this:

http://www.hemispheresmagazine.com/3...shingtonDC.pdf


"- Bobb -" wrote in message
...
Do you think 4 days in DC is enough - see all the regular tourist stuff?
We are thinking of 2-3 days in Boston, 3 days in NYC, 1 days in
Philadelphia?
I prefer driving to the minimum. Any train I should look into?
For NE - any sight should I must see?
We love culture & museums, etc. Thank you.

Don't want to drive at all ? Amtrak has a 10 day trip: ( when you call
tell them - no Newport News,VA)

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/Conten...=1080842092684

I just had this conversation with someone at a party this weekend.
I'd start with a schedule of "What's happening" in your destination town
for time frame you are considering. Do a google search and you'll stuff
sites this this:
http://www.washington.org/visiting/events-calendar That will guide your
dates.

If you love museums , you COULD spend a lot more than 3-4 days in Wash DC.
I can spend a day in each Smithsonian Museum
http://www.si.edu/visit/

Hotels downtown - not only pricey ( and pay to park?) but depending upon
'what's in town' there may be no rooms available.

Let tour busses do the driving. ( you could EASILY spend hours commuting
in D.C. traffic) All of the hotels will know about tours. If you want
to "do it yourself", I like Old Town Trolleys - especially for Day One:
http://www.trolleytours.com/washingt...tour-works.asp
http://www.trolleytours.com/washington-dc/ ( Don't be surprised at
sound - turn down your sound)

Old Town Trolley is in Boston too. ( 6 cities)
http://www.trolleytours.com/
Off/on whenever you like and trolley comes by about every 20 minutes.

NY times travel section has good info on many sities, check each town
there - note the DATE of the article - might be old - but main suggestions
probably still apply to a first time visitor. Example:
http://travel.nytimes.com//2006/11/2...l/26hours.html

Another site I use is:
http://www.hemispheresmagazine.com/c...-perfect-days/
read each town - pick the highlights if limited time.
Recently updated - now slideshows, interactive maps.
Here's recent Wash DC story:
http://www.hemispheresmagazine.com/2...washington-dc/

If you do not want train AND do not like driving, then arrive in off hours
and stay near "wherever you decide that you want to visit" and walk. Same
thing in Philadelphia. Just stay near historic area .

I stopped there a few months ago ( Comfort Inn downtown) and thought I'd
play tourist ( American history buff). At the Franklin Museum that week -
a Star Wars exhibit : not what I had in mind so after a quick visit to
Independence Hall area, I left town. Lousy (no) planning on my part - but
I was driving back from FLA and was just 'winging it'.

Enjoy.


"A. Wright" wrote in message
...
Thank you. We are part of the boomer generation. Now thinking the last
week of October to the first week of November.
Do you think 4 days in DC is enough - see all the regular tourist stuff?
We are thinking of 2-3 days in Boston, 3 days in NYC, 1 days in
Philadelphia?
I prefer driving to the minimum. Any train I should look into?
For NE - any sight should I must see?
We love culture & museums, etc. Thank you.

"TheNewsGuy(Mike)" wrote in message
...
A. Wright wrote:
We are from California. We are thinking to take a sight seeing trip
from
NE to DC, stopping at the major cities. Can you please tell me when is
the off peak seasons this fall? We are thinking taking the train, but
rent a car if must. We have been to NYC some 20 years ago, but never
been
to Boston, Pitt & DC. Are there any must-sees for mature folks? Thank
you
kindly.

I have been to DC twice and will go anytime we are in the area. If
walking around is okay (how "mature" are you?) you can spend a lot of
time
walking the mall area, and the Smithsonian buildings are worth days of
visits, in my mind. Depends on what your interests are - You should
tell
us your time frame and your interests. If you haven't seen NE colours
in
the fall, be sure to make that part of your trip, too.



--
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sawyer Nicknames - http://sawyer.xtreemhost.com/
Seinfeld Lists - http://seinfeld.xtreemhost.com/
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A. Wright wrote:
Thank you. We are part of the boomer generation. Now thinking the
last week of October to the first week of November.
Do you think 4 days in DC is enough - see all the regular tourist
stuff? We are thinking of 2-3 days in Boston, 3 days in NYC, 1 days in
Philadelphia?
I prefer driving to the minimum. Any train I should look into?
For NE - any sight should I must see?
We love culture & museums, etc. Thank you.


Consider a stop in Hartford for the Wadsworth Athenaeum, a very funky art
museum, with Calder's Stegosaurus a few steps away, and both Mark Twain's
and Harriet Beecher Stowe's homes right together. All are walking distance
or very short cab rides from each other and the RR station. If you should
go that way, you'll take the train West from Boston to Springfield where you
might visit the Naismith Museum and Basketball Hall of Fame. The Museum
might still be closed, but the Hall of Fame is great if you're a fan.

If you head due South from Boston instead of to Hartford, look at a
Providence calendar to see if you might chance on a Waterfire night.
Waterfire is a series of many bonfires lit by the walkways along three
rivers, and features recorded music from many genres. On a nice night,
it's really beautiful. It's free, but supported by donations of any amount.
There is, of course, a website: http://www.waterfire.org/

If you're in Providence, then Newport is almost right there, although you
can't go by train. If you're in the area by mid-October or before, Newport
is definitely worth a visit. It's not just mansions, but a very
well-preserved old coastal city.

Thinking of it, you might consider renting a car in Providence and
meandering down to New Haven. There is much to see along the coast there,
and it's all close and approachable, unlike the shoreline south of New
Haven.

There are the mighty Indian Casinos right on the Connecticut/Rhode Island
border, Mystic and Mystic Seaport Museum, the Submarine Museum in Groton
(where you can go on the Nautilus, our first nuclear sub). Then there's
Lyme, and just up the river is Gillette Castle. You can take the Hadlyme
Ferry across from there to visit Essex, which is another wonderfully
preserved town, this time a river town. You can have a snack or a meal at
the Griswold Inn there, which is one of the oldest operating inns in the New
World.

From there, you're practically in New Haven, home of Yale and America's
first pizza place, Pepe's. It's also the home of America's first hamburger
joint, Louie's Lunch. They both still operate from their original digs -
Louie's with little gas-fired 'toasters' to cook his burgers, and Pepe's
with a vast, domed, coal-fired brick oven. Sally's Pizza is right next
door, but it's all the same family just trying to accomodate the crowds.

New Haven is a good place to hop back on the train, and from there you're no
longer locked into Amtrak. Metro-North has more frequent service, and they
bring you to Grand Central in NYC, which you may (or may not) prefer to
Penn.

Like others have said, Pittsburg is more in the midwest than the Northeast,
so probably not a great fit with the rest of this trip.

Keith

Yes, thank you. We are also interested in lobster treats. (Its very
expensive here in California compare to NE). Many years ago, we ate at a all
you can eat lobster restaurant (I think it might be in NYC or Atlanta or
Raleigh ?). I think it might be called "Boston Tea Party" of some such.
Actually, this trip is for our 35th anniversary.

A. Wright wrote:
Yes, thank you. We are also interested in lobster treats.

Chinatown is where to go for the freshest and cheapest seafood
restaurants in NYC.

This time we stayed down in the South Seaport area at the Best Western
Seaport Inn which we liked very much. It's walking distance to the
financial district, Battery Park for the SOL ferry, and Chinatown, and a
little further takes you to the Lower East Side and on to Greenwich
Village and Union Square (where the only Trader Joe's in NYC is
located). About an eight minute walk to the closest subway station on
Fulton. It was a good deal for NYC during that week at "only" $200/night
for a large room (by NYC standards where most rooms are tiny) and it
included breakfast, and free wireless (and afternoon cookies). We needed
two double beds and very few hotels in NYC have rooms big enough for two
doubles at under $300/night. The best part was that it was close to an
incredibly good coffee house, Jack's Stir Brew,
"http://www.jacksstirbrew.com/" (the South Seaport location isn't listed
on their web site). If you do end up driving, another advantage is
relatively cheap parking down there.

A. Wright wrote:
Yes, thank you. We are also interested in lobster treats. (Its very
expensive here in California compare to NE). Many years ago, we ate
at a all you can eat lobster restaurant (I think it might be in NYC
or Atlanta or Raleigh ?). I think it might be called "Boston Tea
Party" of some such. Actually, this trip is for our 35th anniversary.

If you find yourselves in the Mystic, CT area, go to Abbott's Lobster in the
Rough. It's great, and you can sit at a picnic table on the bank of the
Mystic river while you enjoy your meal. If it's crummy outside you can sit
indoors They steam their lobsters, and you'll be hard-pressed to beat their
'feast' meal'.

There are a lot of great seafood places in Boston, too, but none that are
particularly cheap. There is a chain called 'Legal Seafood' that to my mind
is over priced and not that great. Try the 'No-Name' restaurant out on the
fish pier while avoiding Anthony's, which is another overpriced and not so
good.

If Jimmy's Harborside is back in business, then by all means splurge. They
are high-priced, but give you some real class and fantastic food for your
money. I think the staff were all born there, and it's great. They closed
a few years back to allow for pier repairs, but check them out. The food at
No-Name is probably as good, but you sit at picnic tables with strangers and
paper towels, where Jimmy's is white linen and crystal all around. Try them
both.

Just a note: From Boston you can take either the train or a ferry up to
Gloucester, which is a real fishing town, and where the story 'Perfect
Storm' originated. Scenes for the movie were filmed there. If it's warm
enough, try a whale watch. They're always fun, and you always see whales,
sometimes a lot of them. Try a Portuguese restaurant if you go.

Thank you. We are part of the boomer generation.
Do you think 4 days in DC is enough?
We are thinking of 3 days in Boston, 3 days in NYC, 2 days in Pitt?
I prefer driving to the minimum. Any train I should book?

"TheNewsGuy(Mike)" wrote in message
...
A. Wright wrote:
We are from California. We are thinking to take a sight seeing trip from
NE to DC, stopping at the major cities. Can you please tell me when is
the off peak seasons this fall? We are thinking taking the train, but
rent a car if must. We have been to NYC some 20 years ago, but never been
to Boston, Pitt & DC. Are there any must-sees for mature folks? Thank you
kindly.

I have been to DC twice and will go anytime we are in the area. If
walking around is okay (how "mature" are you?) you can spend a lot of time
walking the mall area, and the Smithsonian buildings are worth days of
visits, in my mind. Depends on what your interests are - You should tell
us your time frame and your interests. If you haven't seen NE colours in
the fall, be sure to make that part of your trip, too.



--
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sawyer Nicknames - http://sawyer.xtreemhost.com/
Seinfeld Lists - http://seinfeld.xtreemhost.com/
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++