gogoellen

We live in Ca. and will be in NYC for a week. We have a week after that and are trying to decide what to do! We love history and museuems! We are trying to decide whether to hit Boston or Philadelphia before we head to S.C. for a family reunion. Any thoughts? Thanks!

Cranachin

Who is "we" - does it include children? If so, what ages?

When will you be traveling?

How do you plan to get from the Northeast to SC?

djkbooks

Well, Philadelphia is closer to NYC, and also on the way to SC.

But, if you're planning to fly point to point, it wouldn't really matter.

Boston does, I think, have much more to see and do, with interesting day trips, especially the beautiful nearby seaport towns, and if you're coming during the summer, Boston is a little less humid and has the benefit of ocean breezes. You'd have to study the museums to determine which you, personally, would find most appealing. Both cities have fine museums, and beautiful architecture.

Philadelphia is wonderful, too. But, you'd want to determine whether you want/need to spend an entire week there.

dfrostnh

dkbooks makes a great point about day trips. On a Boston trip you could include Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth NH (about an hour away), Plimoth Plantation, and/or Sturbridge Village or even Canterbury Shaker Village in NH (about 1 1/2 hours from Boston). The JFK Library in Boston is wonderful. We have also enjoyed culinary tours of Boston's North End and Chinatown (I wouldn't take young children).
p.s. don't miss the Tenement Museum in NYC

Vttraveler

If you love history and museums it is hard to go wrong with either destination.

I agree with dkbooks that Boston would probably be more pleasant/cooler in the summer. i also agree that Boston has lots of great day/side trips. In addition to those mentioned you should consider Concord and Cambridge and Fruitlands museum in Harvard, MA.

I don't agree with the suggestion that there are no interesting day trips from Philly. My husband grew up about an hour from the city and I am most familiar with outings near his home town--Pennsylvania Dutch country, Valley Forge, Brandywine River museum and Brandywine Battlefield, Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, Ephrata Cloister, etc., etc.

Our son just started at UPenn this year and we are enjoying the excuse to go to Pa to visit him. If you do decide on Philadelphia, I will put in a plug for the Penn museum of Archeology and Anthropology which we toured for the first time last November and which has an amazing collection.

yk

What TIME OF YEAR?

I've lived in both cities, and I can recommend both - HOWEVER, it may make a HUGE difference depending on when your visit is.

Daniel_Williams

Hi gogoellen

I've been to Boston twice and Philly about a dozen times. To my eyes at least, the two cities have quite a distinct character, although they share in common that early 13-colonies historic aspect and are two of the cities in the US that have reminded me most of Europe in places (although not quite). Philadelphia and Boston are both terrific cities in my opinion, especially for one who loves history and museums, and I like them both equally. I appreciate that in both, one can see many sights in both using only public transportation.

Philly has a much larger proportion of African-Americans than Boston (if you take the subway in both, the difference in ethnic makeup is striking!), feels a bit rawer/tougher/edgier in an old New Yorkish sort of way to my eyes than Boston (think Rocky Balboa), but with a simultaneous elegance (my Mom would always describe the elegant parts as "Philadelphia" while Rocky Balboa is "Philly") and stimulating cultural makeup.

I know that I would have no trouble whatsoever filling a week of time in either city & vicinity. In fact with Philly, I would typically have trouble escaping Center City to explore further afield, so much did I appreciate being surrounded the energy of this section of town (Art Museum, Rodin Museum, Independence Hall, Society Hill, Reading Terminal Market, Italian Market, South Street, Rittenhouse Square, heck I even enjoyed just being in 30th Street Station)...I honestly couldn't get enough of it. I did enjoy one excursion to Manayunk (even accessible by public transit) however and am annoyed with myself that I have yet to visit Chestnut Hill.

Boston to me has a very civilized, intellectual air to it, with elegant parks, narrow, winding streets in North End, charming courtyards with captivating homes in South End... some great seafood, riverwalks.

Honestly you won't go wrong either way. I say choose one and visit the other at some later occasion!

Best wishes, Daniel

PaulRabe

As I Philly resident I have to say: either place would be great. As noted above, the time of year can make a big difference. August in Philly can be downright miserable, as can March in Boston. If expected weather at the time of your visit is not an issue (let's say, June or September), then choose one and save the other for another day.

bachslunch

Good advice above for the most part -- both are great cities rich in history, with excellent museums and historic houses to tour, a strong sports tradition (baseball games at either are great), plenty of universities (with worthy accompanying museums and architecture), good places to eat, and worthwhile day trips. Only major differences I can think of:

-you'll need a car for the Philly day trips but likely not for the Boston ones. Otherwise, being car-free in these two cities is highly recommended.

--it'll be easier to get tickets to a baseball game in Philly than in Boston if that's of interest.

--Philly may be a little less picturesque in certain ways than Boston, though it's not off-putting.

Will disagree slightly with an observation from djkbooks above, though -- I think one would have no trouble filling a week in Philly with things to do and see. In fact, I don't think you can go wrong visiting either.

Grassshopper

You've gotten some great, well thought out responses here. I'll be brief: I've been to both and for my money it would be Boston all the way.

gogoellen

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO RESPOND!
Wow! So much good information!! I am going to print this out and peruse all the info with my hubby! Both cities sound wonderful! (We will be going at the end of June...just my hubby and myself! We will be flying to S.C.) Thanks again!

Amy

I can't speak to the differences between the two, but I will mention that I've been 44 years in Philadelphia and haven't exhausted the possibilities yet, not to mention the huge number of day trips within a two hour drive radius. (That would include everything from the Jersey Shore to the State Capitol--gorgeous building--to the Pennsylvania Dutch Country, Valley Forge, the Barnes Foundation, Brandywine, New Hope...etc, etc, etc!) Center City Philadelphia can keep you going for days, not to mention the University City area (U of PA museum, yes!, Chestnut Hill, Manayunk, the Art Museum neighborhood, again etc cubed!)

Here's a good itinerary making post for Philadelphia; lots of links included:
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-itinerary.cfm

and then there's the food one: http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...iladelphia.cfm

Vttraveler

I think for most of the day trips from either Boston or Philadelphia you would want to rent a car rather than rely on public transit

bachslunch

I've done many day trips from Boston, and the only attractions that seem hard to reach without a car are Walden Pond (as part of Concord), Plimouth Plantation (as part of Plymouth), and some Cape Cod towns (especially Sandwich or other bay-based locations on the lower Cape). From Boston, one can easily take a subway and bus combination to Lexington, a city bus to Marblehead, commuter rail to Concord or Salem or Gloucester or Rockport or Manchester-by-the-Sea or Newburyport or Worcester, a ferry to Provincetown, or Greyhound type buses to New Bedford or Portsmouth NH or Plymouth or certain Cape Cod destinations (especially Hyannis or Falmouth).

Philadelphia day trips strike me as more car-necessary.

cw

I live in Boston and have visited Philadelphia only two times, so I'm biased for Boston. The end of June is probably a good time to visit either city.

Here's a link to a thread about things to do in Boston: http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...and-beyond.cfm

It includes some of the famous sights as well as those not as well-known.

Without a car you can easily take the train or a ferry and visit Salem, an easy day trip. You can also take a day trip to Provincetown at the end of Cape Cod and tour their beautiful sand dunes, beaches, and interesting shops.

Boston has loads of great restaurants, among which are good seafood places, if that's of interest to you.

The Museum of Fine Arts, the Gardner Museum, and the new Institute of Contemporary Art are great museums. For history, you have the Freedom Trail. You can easily spend a week without having to rent a car to go elsewhere (unless you want to). Look for a hotel in the Back Bay or near the Waterfront to be in the best area for sightseeing.

Enjoy your trip no matter where you choose to go!

gregs317

If you decide on Philadelphia, the Phila. Art Museum is fantastic. You'll be there just in time for the Renoir Exhibition.

Chinatown and the Italian Market are fun to visit. Don't miss a Philly cheese-steak - they sure are yummy!

For history, don't miss the National Constitution Center, just 2 blocks from the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. I haven't got to visit yet, but have heard lots of great things about it. Happy Travels. Greg

Vttraveler

I agree you can get to many destinations outside of Boston via subway, train, bus or ferry. Getting around once you have arrived seems more difficult and limiting.

Songdoc

No one has mentioned another great day trip from Philadelphia: Atlantic City, NJ.

I agree--there's more than enough to do in both of these cities.

HowardR

"Philly has a much larger proportion of African-Americans than Boston."
Tell me, what is that supposed to mean or indicate?

Daniel_Williams

Hi HowardR

Just as having Cuban-Americans, Mexican-Americans, Cajun Americans bring certain historic influences to various parts of the United States in terms of music and culture, the same I think can be said to be true of the African-American community: as examples, I think of the unique style of Gospel music, Motown, and traditions in spoken word that have uniquely burgeoned from the African-American community. (And Philadelphia has produced some great musicians! I'm a big fan of Clara Ward who sadly was taken from this earth too young http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhrJ8qITUUs.)

For example, there may be Cuban-Americans in Minneapolis and perhaps a Cuban restaurant or two in that city, but having a larger proportion of Cuban-Americans in Miami brings the unique Spanish language cadence, Cuban music, dance-styles and food abound even at a mall like Bayside Marketplace in Miami that one would not see in Mall of America in Minneapolis.

Similarly, I think the larger proportion of African-Americans in Philadelphia offers a different cultural experience from Minneapolis that is to be treasured. As one might say the larger proportion of Irish-Americans in Boston creates larger St. Patrick's Day parades, a greater abundance of Irish pubs and interest in Irish culture and music than one might find in Minneapolis, which contribute to the unique vibe that is Boston.

Best wishes, Daniel