Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > United States
Reload this Page >

Help for a 2 weeks NYC to Washington itinerary

Search

Help for a 2 weeks NYC to Washington itinerary

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 27th, 2013, 08:51 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Help for a 2 weeks NYC to Washington itinerary

Hi

We, 2 of us, need help for a 2 weeks itinerary from NYC - Philadelphia - Baltimore - Washington.

We are planning a trip from 23 Dec 2013 to 7 Jan 2014. Will be reaching NYC on 23 Dec evening and flying back from Washington DC on 7 Jan late morning. Tickets had been booked.

It's close to the travelling and we are still clueless if we should be spending both Christmas and New Year in NYC or should we be heading somewhere else for New Year instead. If so, where should we spend our New Year. We aware that the accommodation in NYC would be pretty expensive during this period.

Really appreciate some advice and suggestion for the trip. Thanks.
mApleblue is offline  
Old Sep 28th, 2013, 03:26 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,039
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What kind of experience do you want for New Years? If you want a big party, then D.C. is not the place to be. The biggest celebration around D.C. is First Night Alexandria, a family-friendly event which, while fun, may not be what you are looking for.

http://www.firstnightalexandria.org/
longhorn55 is offline  
Old Sep 28th, 2013, 01:32 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It woul help if your gave us some more info.

Ages?

Interests?

Budgets for hotels?

What things you already know you want to do?

Where you are from?

You will be here in midwinter - it will be cold - to possibly very cold everywhere - and sleet, ice and snow are quite possible since you are staying 2 weeks.

Are you traveling from one city to another by train? I can;t reco car - since they are expensive and useless in center cities. And in winter train is less subject to weather problems than plan, more comfy and at lest as fast.
nytraveler is offline  
Old Oct 2nd, 2013, 10:24 PM
  #4  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks you both for the suggestion.

Well, we are between the age of 25 to 30 from Singapore and would definitely like to experience some skiing since it's winter. Any nice and reasonably priced places to recommend? =)

We had previously been to NYC and had visited most of the tourist attraction and sightseeing area.

We would still like to visit any recommended places of interest in Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington if the places are not affected by the cold weather.

The mode of travel from city to another had not decided yet. However, will definitely consider train as suggested.

Once again, thanks for the suggestions. And your questions had set me thinking too. =)
mApleblue is offline  
Old Oct 3rd, 2013, 03:49 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The whole northeast will be chilly (40s) to cold (20s?) - perhaps lower at night - and you will all need warm winter clothing and boots.

Don;t know what you mean by "not affected by cold weather". It's winter and it will be cold. Nothing is shut down - but there will be no flowers or leaves on the trees and grass is brown and crunchy.

As for skiing, the closest place I can think of off-hand is Hunter Mountain - but it will most likely by man-made snow. For real snow VT may be better - but you need to go to the Rockies to be pretty sure of the real stuff.
nytraveler is offline  
Old Oct 3rd, 2013, 05:09 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 10,210
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The northeast is definitely not the best place for skiing in the early winter, though Vermont is by far your best option, and it's reachable by train from NYC. This will be a particularly expensive time to visit Vermont and NYC, but it will be pretty cheap in Philadelphia and DC. So I'd spend a few days in NYC, 2 days on a little skip trip, and then head to Philadelphia for a few days, and then finish in DC for a few days. Spend Christmas day in NYC, where you'll have the most options for activities and dining. This itinerary would probably place you in Philadelphia for New Year's, and it might not be so horribly expensive as NYC can be (though it will be plenty expensive to go out that night). Or you could plan your skip trip around New Year's and travel to Philadelphia on New Year's Day, which will be pretty quiet.
doug_stallings is offline  
Old Oct 3rd, 2013, 06:27 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,445
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I have friends who go to NYC every year just for New Years, so I would be there that nite if possible.
dwdvagamundo is offline  
Old Oct 3rd, 2013, 08:05 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 22,984
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Don't miss the Barnes Collection in Philadelphia.

http://www.barnesfoundation.org/
Michael is offline  
Old Oct 3rd, 2013, 09:53 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 29,599
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I've always heard that if you can ski in the East Coast of the U.S., you can do it anywhere! I agree with Doug's suggestion above for itinerary. There are so many things to do in NYC, it's still possible you could easily stay from the 23rd to the 1st there and see new things. New Year's Eve there looks like soooo much fun.

Also, there are a couple of ski places in PA and Western MD that would be reasonable drives from Philly, Baltimore or DC. Weather is a big factor.

If you like art, I'm with Michael also about the Barnes in Philly. All of the American Revolution might be of interest to you?

Baltimore has the Walters and BMA both with world class art. So many museums (and most of them free) in DC so give yourself several days there.

Pray that our Congress has restored funding to government--the Mall and museums like Smithsonian won't be open.

If you haven't booked your NY hotel, don't wait any longer--it's a popular visit that time of year.
TDudette is offline  
Old Oct 3rd, 2013, 10:00 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
NYE hotel prices in NYC will be huge - and you do NOT want to try to go to Times Square to see the ball drop. It is - at best - incredibly tedious, waiting 6 ot 7 hours standing n the stret packed into pens - and at worst ghastly - if the weather is bad.

If you're in NYC on NYE get a hotel uptown find a nice place for a dinner (but expect high prices and fixed menus) and then go to Central park to see the fireworks.
nytraveler is offline  
Old Oct 3rd, 2013, 11:43 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 10,210
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
New Year's Eve hotel prices are not always horrendous if you aren't staying near Times Square. It's always worth looking around to see what's available at what price. but I don't think you will want to structure your trip to spend so much time in NYC proper if you are only going to be here for 2 weeks.

But it bears repeating that Christmas is a busy time here, so if you don't make a hotel reservation soon, you simply will not have one in NYC for a reasonable price.
doug_stallings is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
nonib
United States
26
Dec 27th, 2015 04:38 AM
LakesideChick
United States
18
Jun 15th, 2015 03:41 AM
trishalambi
United States
6
Jun 2nd, 2015 07:38 PM
drvenkman
United States
16
Sep 24th, 2009 01:19 PM
msjend
United States
7
Jan 24th, 2006 12:06 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On



Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -