5 days NYC/DC
 

What is the best way of visiting both NYC and DC in five days?

Priorities: Historical sites (NYC- Grants Tomb, Liberty/Ellis Island, DC- SCOTUS/Lincoln/Jefferson/Korean/WW2)

Is taking Acela from NYC to DC a good solution to getting from one city to another?

The current plan is 3 days NYC, 2 days DC.

Acela takes you from Penn Station to Union Station without wasting time getting to and from the airports and waiting time at the airports.

Liberty Island/Ellis Island will occupy one day. While at Grant's Tomb be sure to go St. Johns and the campus of Columbia.

You can also go to the library and get a copy of the AIA Guide to NYC which includes every major building including those of historical importance.

Trinity Church and the adjoining cemetery which includes Alexander Hamilton, John Jacob Astor and Robert Fulton.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_Church_Cemetery

A Jewish cemetary from the 17th Century which is near the Theodore Roosevelt house, the smallest National Park.
http://www.tabletmag.com/news-and-po.../76248/buried/

I'm moving this trip to next year, and working on a new trip. Thanks for 'basics'.

Grant's Tomb is really not very much of a sight. There are many more places of greater interest in NY - ranging from many of the museums to the NY Historical Society.

Also try the reading room and exhibits of the main branch of the Public Library, Grand Central Station - and some of the neighborhoods that have been around since 1850 or so.

Aamtrak is fine - cost less if you buy tickets in advance. there is also Mega and Bolt bus which can be very cheap but don;t have real stations - you pick up on the street.

Train is less subject to traffic and generally has fewer delays/is faster than bus (although problems can occur on the tracks rarely).

I've taken the train from NYC to DC~much less hassle than flying.

You can do all of the memorials in one day, but keep in mind that there will be a LOT of walking involved......

I'surprised no one has mentioned NYC's fine arts museums: the Metropolitan, the Frick, and the Guggenheim. Those would top my list--forget Grant's tomb! I can never think of that without also thinking of Groucho Marx's question "Who is buried in Grant's Tomb?" (At least I think it was Marx.)

I loved the Met and recommend it to anyone going to NYC; however, the OP stated their priorities were historical sites.......

What is the fascination of seeing dead presidents' tombs, anyway? I have seen several~Washington, Kennedy, Polk, Jackson~and I have no idea why I was interested....