East Coast trip for first timers
 

We are planning a 4-5 week trip to the east coast. Last week of September into October. Our wish lists consists of:

New York - maybe a week?
Fall folige - Vermont, Connecticut? Best options
Boston
Washington DC
New Orleans - we realise that this is a long way but maybe a flight there at the end?

So many places to choose from but don't want to be rushing either. We will rent a car where needed and don't mind flying also.
Is this a good time to travel. Must admit high on my wish list is the fall folige so that is why we are chosing this time of year.

Am only really in the early planning stages, have done some reading but we are really open to any suggestions.

Thank you in anticipation

> New York - maybe a week?
Would be about right.

> Fall folige - Vermont, Connecticut? Best options
IF you can maintain flexibility, you can wait until the time you are here, and then head for where the colors are at their height. Even a month in advance, it'd be impossible to say where that would be.
Problem is, lodging gets to be a problem in the areas where colors are at their best. So you can either pick a spot now, and HOPE the colors will be good; or wait till a week or so in advance, and hope you'll be able to find a place to stay.

In either case, this will be only part of your trip you'll need to rent a car. New York, Boston, Washington, Philadelphia, and New Orleans are all easy to visit with walking and mass transit. Indeed, for most of what you'd want to visit in these cities, a car would be an expense and a major problem.

It's a near perfect time to visit the northeast as weather can be warm or cool, but few extremes on either end.

I don't think you should waittoo long to book lodging. Many hotels, inns and motels at all price levels fill up months in advance for peak foliage time. If you're somewhere in Vermont, even if the immediate area isn't peak, it will probably still be beautiful and you can always drive an hour or so in a different direction for more variety in scenery.
Vermont and New Hampshire have the varied terrains you'll want for beautiful drives. Connecticut has some nice drives, but not the mountains and if you're coming all the way from Australia (my assumption based on your screen name) you should go for the best leaf peeping.

You might fky into Boston or even Hartford CT or Manchester NH to get a car and start your drive. You can spend a full week in Vermont & NH. Try to fit in a couple days on the Maine coast. Many of the small resort towns like Ogunquit and Portsmouth NH are still pretty lively until Mid October at least.Lighthouses are great to visit at that timeof the year with fewer crowds.
Then drop off the car in Boston,stay a few days, take a train to NYC after that, a week in NYC, train after than to DC, then fly to New Orleans.

Now we need more details from you. Who is "we"--adults, kids senior citizens? Your interests--museums, hiking? Budget per room per niight and for meals, etc.

Thank you for your replies - great suggestions!

Yes was wondering how to put it all together e.g. which direction first.

Flying in to Boston is a great suggestion, but would that be too early for the fall folige? And thanks for the suggestion of New Hamshire and yes we would like to maximise our folige peeping.
Would love to visit the coast of Maine, thanks for the suggestions of towns.
Is Niagara Falls doable or too far?
We are thinking of maybe renting an apartment in New York. Good suggestion then to travel on to DC and then fly to New Orleans (DH wish list).
Yes we are Australian so wish to maximise our stay. The "we" is myself & husband and possibly our good friends for part or all of the trip.
I think we would want to book accommodation ahead if there are 4 of us. Maybe B&Bs?

Trying to piece the pieces together.
Thanks again for your ideas.

If you didn't want to fly from DC to New Orleans, you could take the Amtrak Crescent.

Well, it may be too early for "peak" but I am always happy with the view a week or so on other side of peak.It just means a different percentage of trees will have changed color. So you may have more red, less yellow, still some green. It's all good! Besides, if you take a drive further north or to higher elevations where they get the frost earlier, the scenery will be different, There's no way to time it all prefectly.

Niagara Falls is the opposite direction of the rest of your trip.

Nicer inns in Vermont at that time of the year can be $200 and up per room per night. Is that in your budget?

Apartment rentals of less than 30 days are mostly illegal in NYC. There are dozens of posts about that topic on this forum so I suggest that you look at them . People get into some heated arguments on that topic so better that you look at the information already posted so this thread doesn't get overun with comments on that right now when you have so many things to consider. There are apartment style hotels that people can suggest.

Again, more details when you have a better idea of a budget and what you actually want to see and do. Fall foliage is beautiful, but I doubt you want to spend 6 or 7 days just looking at leaves.

Hi aussie_10, I am soooo envious! New England is one of our favourite parts of the world!

Back in 2004 before I had heard of Fodors, we did a five week trip starting in New York, trained to Boston and then picked up a car and covered New Hampshire,Vermont and Maine in October.
I mention 'before I had heard of Fodor's' because we made NO advance bookings (probably a cardinal sin during foliage season) but found beautiful 'New England Inn' accommodation everywhere we stopped. Ironically the only place we had a little trouble was in Bethlehem NH - there was literally "no room at the Inn!"

Obviously if there are four of you this may be more of a risk but seriously, there was a plethora of accommodation.

With regard to timing, we had apparently "missed the peak by a week" according to local experts but it was still spectacular and if they hadn't told me, we would have been none the wiser. The advantage of not booking of course was that we just wandered at will.....

Obviously there are experts with much greater knowledge on this area than me but just giving the Aussie perspective! If you have any other questions that you think I could help with feel free to yell out.

Amtrak Crescent I looked it up. Interesting options but a long trip, says 26 hours from Washington DC $226.

nyer I just assumed that you could rent an apartment in New York but as suggested I will research that elsewhere and not on this thread.

Budget: would be happier spending $120 to $150 per night than $200 but I guess it would depend on availability and facilities. We are not ones to spend a lot of time indoors would rather make the most of outdoors. We are in our 50s and do like to walk and long walks. Love your national parks. Have spent several holidays visiting the Nationals Parks of the West Coast.
I have had a look at some suggested fall folige drive itineraries. But just trying to get a feel for what is doable and how much we can fit in the time.

I guess a week in VT, NH & Maine maybe
a couple of days in Boston?
1 week New York
3 days DC?
3-4 days New Orleans

Still probably leaves a week for somewhere?

ozgirl just saw your post. Sorry didnt see it earlier.
Yes we do like the travel & stop, free wheeling. We just did that in Ireland in September. But agree it may be a little more difficult with 4.
So you spent 4 weeks wandering in the area? Lots to see and do?
I will check out your trip report as well. I love reading trip reports and you get lots of good ideas reading them too.

I will be back with questions.

Hi aussie_10, it was pre joining Fodors so no trip report unfortunately! I do have all of our maps at home with routes marked but at work at present.

Basically, we had a few days in NYC caught Amtrak to Boston, (I think 2 nights there, definitely could have done with longer) and then headed off to see New England.
We didn't have the full 4 weeks there because we had to make our way down to Washington DC for a conference afterward.

From memory, and I can check more details when home, we went from Boston to Stockbridge NH, then headed north including White Mountains, lake Winnepesaukee and then across to the coast (at Kennebunkport I think) and right up to Bar Harbor, Maine - our favourite!

There is lots of detail in there that I can't remember without my map but it was all gorgeous. Leaving Bar Harbor we headed south, skirted around Boston and headed inland on a route which took in Gettysburg PA (fascinating) before arriving in DC.

Could easily have spent twice as long I think.

That might be Stockbridge MA. You'll be here during a variety of foliage. The color starts in the north at highest elevations so if you want color you might spend first week in NYC or Boston. I think I would head up the Maine coast first although Yankee magazine voted Camden ME one of the prettiest foliage spots. Not sure when the windjammers head south but it would be nice to see Camden harbor when they were around. You can watch boat traffic from top of Mt Battie (take the auto road).
There are different foliage and harvest events. If this interests you, you might pick one or two to visit. Keene NH has a famous pumpkin festival toward the end of Oct, like the weekend before Halloween. Some towns in VT and NH put out leaf or hay people (scare crows).
Plan your foliage drives for mid-week. Avoid the weekends. You might find a room mid-week but I doubt it on weekends in popular areas. If you like cheese, wine, beer or ice cream, you could get the appropriate trail maps from the state dept of agriculture. Some of the wineries we have visited in Maine are in nice locations and fun to find.
You need to know NH's White Mountains are tall and craggy granite. VT's Green Mountains aren't as tall and craggy. Both are beautiful. The area of western VT along Lake Champlain is beautiful farming country. Although NH has farms you don't see as many big ones as in this area of VT. This gives you long distance views of the countryside. Haven't been to the Great Vermont Corn Maze is years now but that's a fun "walk" in northern VT not far from Littleton NH at the top of the White Mountains. See their website.
Foliage "cruises" and/or harbor tours are relaxing. Portsmouth NH and Portland ME are two good choices. Food tours of Boston and Portland ME are a lot of fun but pricey. I like the ones in Boston best (the Chinatown tour ends with a dim sum lunch). Don't miss the Tenement Museum in NYC. Also good food tours in NYC. If you want a fun ghost tour, do the one in New Orleans. We have been disappointed in the ones we've gone to in New England.
Visit Yankee Magazine's website for some suggested drives and foliage pictures. You might pick where you want to go based on the photo. Jeff Folger also specializes in foliage photography and has a website.
The other thing you might check into that I keep forgetting is hawk migrations. There are a couple of hill tops with viewing areas. The Audubon has info on this. I think NH has two viewing sites. I have to admit that living here, we tend to forget about the tourist attractions but when Canada geese fly low, we always stop to watch. They will circle a spot before landing. Drive slowly on the backroads to avoid wild turkey flocks and deer. I've only seen a moose once but you'll see signs warning that they might be in the road. OTH the rule is if you see one deer, there's probably another one right behind it. I almost hit a group once. My passenger yelled for me to stop. It was night and we were looking for a restaurant near Lake Winnipesaukee. If he hadn't been looking, he wouldn't have seen the deer starting to run across the road. The last one just barely cleared my car.

There are many hiking trails in addition to the famous ones in the White Mountains. You can pay to hike The Flume which is a beautiful gorge or you can check local areas for trails. In NH in addition to parks there are federal flood control areas which are hundreds of acres people can enjoy for walking, horseback riding, etc. A lot of them are old roads that run along the river (which flood in the spring because of the dams that were built for flood control). If you buy a state atlas and gazetteer from DeLorme (available at many gas stations, book stores and markets) you will have very detailed road maps including seasonal roads and hiking trails. We use them when we travel in VT, NH and ME because we don't like to drive on the interstate highways all the time. Good to use if you're looking for a farm that sells cheese. (we don't use gps gadgets).

I owuld start in Boston, follow the Maine coast north, cross the White Mountain of New Hampshire to the middle of Vermont. If you take this trip at a modest pace, exploring rather than rushing, you will see plenty of color though it won't be at peak. Except some years. It is not an exact measurement.

When I had enough of Vermont, I would drive south to Albany NY, where I would return the car and take the SPECTACULAR train trip down the Hudson Valley to New York City. After NY, I would take the train to Philadelphia for a night, then on to Washington.

Save New Orleans until the end. You will be in the US during hurricane season, and it is possible that you will not be able to get there. In general, the later in the season the better. Yu are not in so much danger of a hurricane in NO itself but of extended air travel delays and rerouting.

With five weeks, you could spend a week in Boston, a week in the New England hinterlands, a week each in New York and Washington, and a week in New Orleans and environs, subtracting a travel day here and there.

If you hit Vermont mid-week, especially if it is not the week of the Columbus Day holiday, you should be able to find lodging without serious problem. As I learned the hard way last year, this is not true on the weekend or the holiday. Lodging will be easier to find farther north than mid-state.

Because virtually all the important attractions in Washington are free, it is a nice place to spend time to recover from NY! Also lots of casual eating places for government workers help the budget; some Federal office buildings have cafetierias and food courts that are open to the public.

You may find that there is a big price differential between weekend and weekday hotel rates in most large cities. Business travelers pay full price, but their rooms go begging on the weekend unless there is some event. If you spend a week in the same hotel, ask if they will give you a lower rate for the weekend. If not, and you are on a budget, you may want to change hotels for the weekend. Have you used Priceline?

Wow thanks dfrostnh and Ackislander so many fantastic ideas and suggestions.

Yes we love festivals and events and food trails, cheese wine etc. Lots of great driving suggestions and we love the smaller back roads.
Love scenic train trips and some great routing suggestions. Boston for a week? Is there lots to see?
Would love to visit Philadelpia and of course DC didn't know most attractions are free.
Hmmm hurricane season? not so enthusiastic. When is hurricane season? How long?

Hurricane season in the Atlantic runs from June through October with September being the "busiest" month. I would in no way let it affect how you plan your trip. The chance of your visit being disrupted is very small and ultimately that is what trip insurance is about.

Although the train trip through the Hudson Valley would be gorgeous, I'd also suggest you might want to continue driving from Albany to NYC, because there is a lot to see in the Hudson Valley, loads of good restaurants, and it's phyically spectacular. Here's my thread from our short trip last June:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...y-262177-2.cfm

Boston might be too expensive for a week. On Friday and Saturday, the push cart vendors are in Hay Market Square near Quincy Market. You won't find much to buy since it's mostly fresh veggies and fruit but on Friday's it's not too crowded and the market has been there for a long long time. You can walk across to the Italian North End to buy wonderful pastry, dine and generally explore. You can have a dim sum lunch on your own in Chinatown on Saturday.

Oops, sorry dfrostnh, it was Stockbridge MA. Great info in your post!

Thanks for the suggestions.
A few questions for the folige road trip and surrounds would it be better to split a week in say Maine, VT, NH say 3,2,2 nights. or 3, 3 & 2.

I am now going to have a look at the Hudson valley also.

I will not let the hurricane season worry me I hope!

I will be back

We returned from a month long trip to the US about 6 weeks ago. We left 30th Oct returned back to NZ on 26th Nov.
We flew into San Francisco spent three and a half days there, then flew to New Orleans for four days. Then flew to NYC and stayed there for three weeks, but did a side trip to Boston. We drove one way, you could take the Megabus, or Bolt Bus, and flew back to NYC after about three days.

We didn't get to Washington DC as we had been there on a previous trip but you could take the Amtrak there from NYC.

For what it's worth, sounds like you are doing it all yourself so feel free to ignore.

Last season, I did a bunch of airport meets and half day city tours for customers from COSMOS, Globus and Archers who were starting or ending trips in NYC. Folks were mostly from UK, Australia, New Zealand South Africa etc Their busiest time was fall foliage to and from NYC. You might want to look at their website for ideas on hotels and routes and/or as a way to make a part of the vacation no think on your part. I will say that I met many repeat visitors at the airport and the people on the tours I gave at the end of their trips were still talking to each other and enjoying each other's company.

Say hi when you are in the city: thestarryeye.typepad.com/explorenyc

Thanks Nelsonian & SueNYC for your replies.
Yes there does seem to be some good train options and also bus options to get to major cities like Boston & Washington. I am looking at different mixes.
I will also look at a tour to add to the plan, definitely if our friends dont come along. We have done a lot of independent travel but sometimes it is nice not having to think it all through.

Thanks for your suggestions

Here is our 2011 trip report with photos on our week in NYC. Maybe it will help give you some ideas. Our hotel was full of Aussies (from Perth), and the price is affordable (for NYC) and the location is great. Terrific service, too. Hotel is a little funky, but...well you'll see in the report. Have fun!


http://www.travelswithmaitaitom.com/...City_2011.html

((H))

Hi Maitaitom
I have just finished reading your excellent France report (we were actually in the Loire, Normandy & Paris at the same time)

I will now read your NYC report, an affordable hotel in NYC would be most welcome!

We've just come home from a wondrous 8 weeks in the US, including many of the spots you're intending to visit. Unfortunately we were just too late for most of the Autumn foliage, maybe next time. My trip report is ridiculously long but if you skim through to the Boston/ NYC bits there may be something useful for you.
Be sure to visit the Quincy Markets in Boston, the chowder was brilliant!

Thanks Kwaussie I will check out your trip report.

Thanks for sharing I know from experience, trip reports take lots of time and effort.

Vermont and Connecticut you could skip; unless you are _really_ into Fall foliage.

Add Philadelphia, Atlantic City, Pittsburgh, Virginia, Maryland.
In NYC spend 10 days, other cities 2-3 is fine.

You truly have picked a great time to visit our neck of the woods. Boston in October is great - if you time it right you might see the Head of the Charles, the largest crew regatta in the US.

Other things to see and do in Boston include the Museum of Fine Arts, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the JFk Library, shopping on Newbury St (nice but nothing compared to NYC.

Our gardens/parks are very nice too - Public Garden, Boston Common, Esplanade. Harvard Square in Cambridge is worth the trip on the Red Line.

The most recently developed area of the city is the Seaport - there are a number of nice trendyish restaurants there. The view from Sam's at Louis is really great, though its a bit removed from most of the "scene". Legal Seafood has an outlet there and I hear the rooftop deck offers great views. By the time you arrive Ming Tsai's Blue Dragon (asian bistro pub) should be opened.

Have a wonderful trip!

And I should add that other than Boston, DC is my favorite East Coast city (I find it more accessible to a visitor than NYC for some reason). I love all the Smithsonian museums and monuments. Had a very nice dinner in Oct. at DC Coast on K St NW.

In DC, NYC and Boston the subway/transit systems are great. Don't be afraid to use them.

Definitely try to visit some of Maine. Like ozgirl, Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park was our favorite part.

http://www.acadiamagic.com/

Pomah yes we would like to see fall foliage, hence picking that time of year to visit. But we do want to see as much of the East Coast cities and towns as we can. So the fall foliage is only part of the trip. Thank you for the tips of other cities

bennie thanks for the Boston ideas, Boston is definitely on the list. As well as DC. We like to catch the local transport and walk a lot. Soaking up the atmosphere. Thanks for the eating ideas.

travelerfromtx. I must admit I didnt know much about Maine but have been reading quite a lot of trip reports & websites and it is definitely on the list!

It is very hot here in Oz 44C and lots of bushfires, so its hard to imagine it being cold over your way at the moment.

For some reason I tried to post this 4 days ago and it didn't post. I wanted to let you know I was still interested and appreciated your suggestions

aussie_10 - I think a number of people were having trouble posting a few days ago.

And I'm going to add to the chorus of fans of Maine. We have a vacation home there and adore the coast. We started going to Acadia a few years ago and really enjoyed our trips up there. Haven't been that far north (or as the locals say "downeast") since we bought a place in Kennebunkport as we've been exploring that area.

We love Winter Harbor and the Schoodic Pennisula, the popevers at the Jordon Pond House, the hike around Jordon Pond, and the Blueberry pancakes as Jordon's in Bar Harbor.

Portland has a lot to offer as well but our favorite thing are the Portland SeaDogs minor league bseball games. Campy fun combined with good baseball.

Would Miami and Orlando and Key West fit in? Be aware after Sandy(the hurricane) the coast is not yet clear in NYC. Many people are still freezing, and havent showered in months.

You might look at a short cruise 3/4/5 nights up to Canada and back from NYC. It would almost surely be more reasonable than the cost of hotels, food and gas and a nice break from driving in a multi-week vacation. I think the seven day cruise includes Maine and Boston as well.

You might look at a short cruise 3/4/5 nights up to Canada and back from NYC. It would almost surely be more reasonable than the cost of hotels, food and gas and a nice break from driving in a multi-week vacation. I think the seven day cruise includes Maine and Boston as well.

I thank you all for your great ideas and suggestions.
Sadly we may have to put this trip on the backburner until next year as our friends who will be joining us, now have a wedding to plan this year (exciting for them). As we would like to share the trip with them it will now be put off until next year.
But you have all given me lots of ideas to research.

POMAH -

I'm afraid you're exaggerating. Although there are a couple of neighborhoods - right by the water - which are still in bad conditions - since a siagnificant number o fhomes were destroyed or suffered major damage - the parts of the city most frequented by tourists are by and large 100% and have been for a couple of months.

Granted the South Ferry subway station is still being worked on and Liberty Island need repairs - but there is nothing esle that would affect tourists.

Sadly, many of those people whose homes are gone have to face a difficult decision and the city has offered - and many accepted - the value of the home to move somewhere else - that is not subject to major flooding. One of my work colleagues is such. And while they wanted to rebuild where their home had been they discovered that the new house could never be insured against floods - and have now bought a house elsewhere. The property they lived on will not become part of an area built into dunes to protect other areas behind them

Pier17 is not yet back to normal. Bars are closed, and the place looks empty.
Also, Rockaway beach is gone. Oh, and the Coney Island pier is shut down as the right side has collapsed. It will possibly be condemned and re-built.
Gravesend section of Brooklyn has lots of businesses shut down, as does Manhattan beach. But Brighton Beach looks back to normal.

The city has said the beaches will be usable by Memorial day. But the boardwalks are gone - and perhaps only small parts would be back by then. None of the buildings or services will be reconstructed - but temporary modular buildings for basic services will be put in place - no one knows how many.

A lot more work will be necessary before the beaches are back to the way they were - if ever - and then new cement "boardwalks" will be constructed, then new building with services. Who knows exactly when - not all expected for this summer.