My husband and I are looking for some ideas for traveling in the US...we are open to anywhere. We have a week and do not want to do amusement parks etc....looking more for history...like Boston...Philly etc. I was thinking of flying into Boston (from Detroit) and then driving around...any suggestions?

Go to Boston!! There is a lot to do there historically, but also the Kennedy Library, the Arboritum, the 2 famous Museums, Harvard Square at night, the Aquarium. The "T" (subway/trolley)is the way to get around the city.
Rent a car and drive up the coast as far as Ogunquit, ME, which is less than an hour and a half away. Plan to stay at least one night there. Take the fast ferry across to Provincetown on the Cape or rent a car and drive out to the Cape. Do this during the week only not on the weekends! Enjoy a great city and area of the US.

Washington DC

Boston .. Boston .. Boston ... And you can stay in Boston .. travel to the North to Maine .. NH .. or Vermont .. or travel South to Cape Cod .. You won't be sorry .. Boston itself is a wonderful .. wonderful city .. easy to get around with something here for everyone from the very young to eldery .. Swan Boats in Boston Public Gardens .. Paul Revere's house in the North End .. (if you go .. don't miss Mike's Italian Pastry Shoppe ) .. Fenway Park .. etc .. etc ... etc .. Boston has so much history .. walk the Freedom Trail .. If you decide on Boston .. post again for more specifics ... !

Another suggestion since it's summer would be Portsmouth NH area: Strawbery Banke, harbor cruise, drive thru Newcastle, maybe stay at the recently renovated and historic Wentworth-by-the-Sea. Boston could be a day trip. You could also visit places like Canterbury Shaker Village (near Concord NH). I would fly into Manchester NH.

Philly has a lot of history too, but not a week's worth. if you like the city and public transportation is okay with you, boston is your town, driving is not very good with a lot of construction, traffic and narrow streets! The T can get you around fine.

you might want to consider virginia. home of Robert E. Lee and George Washington, sites of many important civil war battles and revolutionary war sites - these are mostly based around country side driving. not a city to be seen.

Boston is observing their 375th anniversary this year and they're planning various events around the city this summer to celebrate.
kenm

Olivia:

I'd second D.C., if you haven't been there before there is easily days worth of historical places to see.

If you want short travel from there and want to get to the ocean in 2-3 hours drive you could get to Rehoboth Beach, DE. My family use to go there all the time in the 1970s and I went back in 1999 and it has really grown but the boardwalk is short and there is plenty of pleasant shop walking on Rehoboth Avenue.