New York, Boston, Niagara Falls, Chicago
 

Hi

I am planning a two week trip in June and want some suggestions/feedback regarding whether what I am planning is feasible: Spend 5 days in New York, hire a car and visit Boston (2 days), Niagara Falls and Chicago (2days) and then use the remainder of the time for travelling in between (or spending more time in either Boston or Chicago)and then returning to New York. Is this realistic? I know it is a lot of driving and that I should really spend more time in Boston and Chicago but I really want to do all three and my time is limited. Any advice greatly appreciated.

You should fly to Chicago or skip it; it's a LONG way from NY. Good luck!

Be aware that the Boston to Niagara trip is a very long and potentially tedious one (pretty in the Berkshires, with a few nice places along the Mohawk in NY) -- maybe 9 hrs. or more. You might want to break it up with an overnight in the Berkshires.

Similarly, Niagara to Chicago is another 9-10 hr. hike, whether or not you go through Ontario -- and if you do, remember that border crossings since 9/11 take time.

The Chicago back to NYC trip is a very tough 12+ hrs.

In other words, you'll be spending close to 4 of your 14 days driving like a madman/woman. Why not look into cheap, discount-airline flights between NY, Boston, and Chicago? Or give up Boston or Chicago, one of the other. I love Chicago, but for your purposes, I'd choose Boston.

Do you realize how much driving is involved?
From Boston to Niagara Falls is nearly 500 miles and Niagara Falls to Chicago is over 500 miles!
If your time is limited, then fly!!! Further, two days in either city is a tease!

Yeah, I'm confused. Were you thinking that Niagara Falls and Chicago are somehow adjacent geographically? Or that Boston was some suburb of NYC? Please check your map.

Reality check 1: Boston is well over 200 miles from Manhattan.

Reality check 2: Niagara Falls is over 400 miles from Manhattan.

Reality check 3: Niagara Falls is over 470 miles from Boston.

Reality check 4: Chicago is over 550 miles from Niagara Falls.

Reality check 5: Chicago is about 800 miles away from Manhattan.

Reality check 6: Chicago is almost 1,000 miles from Boston.

Madness to try and drive. Check into flying between the cities.

Well driving New York to Boston is easy enough - about 4 hours dooor to door - the same as the train or the plane (considering time to ariport and check ins etc.). You could certainly drive the other legs of the trip if you have a couple of drivers and drive in shifts (when we were in college we drove from New York to Fort Lauderdale non-stop but there were 4 of use and we were 20 - what did we know?) But it's not going to be pleasant - and I would stongly recommend that a single driver not try it - you'll be nodding off at the wheel before you reach Niagra.

If your time is limited why not fly in 2 hours versus driving for 14/16?

Have you considered going Niagra to Toronto (if you're looking for another cosmopolitin city)? We drove from Niagra to IL on the Canadian side and it was a snooze. Going through the border was extremely easy for us (post 9/11). We must not look too suspicious in a mini van with 3 kids.

Thanks for the advice everybody. Will look into flying or alternatively leaving out Chicago (which I don't really want to do)

Brits' fascination with Niagara Falls baffles me. Are you aware that most Americans consider this a minor attraction, mostly associated with hokey honeymoons? That most Americans who live within a few hundred miles have never visited? Does the Niagara Falls Chamber of Commerce have some sort of special marketing or PR going on over there?

I would suggest that you skip Niagara Falls, drive or take the train between NYC and Boston (if you drive, there are lovely side-trips in the countryside), then fly to Chicago.

Anonymous, I think that's one of those things that works both ways.

I'm planning a trip to Montreal/Toronto in May and really looking forward to a day around Niagara Falls while I am there. Who knows, I may be disappointed when I get there, but for now, nothing will stop me going.

Then I read some of the things that people announce they really want to see and do while here in the UK. Similarly, things most local people may not have done and have no intention of doing.

I agree with Anonymous.
What is about Niagra Falls? We met a young Japanese couple on the way from Paris to NYC and their only purpose of visiting the US was to go to see Niagra Falls for two days.

JOL, if you decide to go to Niagra why not visit Ottawa, Toronto or Montreal?
We are happy you listen to voices of reason and dropped Chicago from your itinerary. We love Chicago but as other said it would be too much driving. Or fly there

You could take Amtrak between N.Y. and Boston or an air shuttle. For Buffalo, check jetblue.com where you can get a one-way flight for $60. Use CHI and NYC to search for fares between all airports in Chicago and N.Y. At travelocity, I see fares between between BUF and CHI at $247 one-way and $243 roundtrip. One-way between NYC and CHI on Air Tran only $123.

Also, try southwestairlines.com because they fly to Chicago and Buffalo. Also, they fly to Manchester NH (MHT) and Providence RI (PVD), both of which are alternate airports for Boston.

And Southwest uses Islip (ISP) to serve NYC. I check their schedule (June 1-11) and they would not work for you for BUF. To get to N.F. you could also fly to Toronto and rent a car or take a tour bus.

Slipperblue beat me to the punch...I was also going to suggest forgetting Chicago and adding Toronto. It's a quick one hour ride from Niagara Falls (NOT Niagra).

Also, just my 2 cents regarding Niagara Falls: It is not a national park, but a New York State park and is the equivalent of a state park on the Canadian side. It is not in a vast natural setting in the middle of nowhere. The Falls is surrounded by high rise hotels and casinos and tacky shops (especially the Canadian side, although the American side is slowly working on it). This, naturally, turns people from the Falls. However, Niagara Falls is one of the natural wonders of the world and they are, in fact, spectacular. You should visit at least once in your life. I advise you to stay on the Canadian side; however, visit the American side. Nothing beats standing at the railing on Goat Island right where the water falls over. It's incredible. Also, stand next to the upper rapids. If you do a search on Fodors of Niagara Falls you'll get a wealth of information. Have a great trip.

JOL-If your plans are to do both chicago and Niagara Falls in a total of 2 days its not possible. 2 days in each is ok but it is about an 8-9 hour drive between the two. You can easily spend two days in Niagara Falls. Be sure to includ a stop at Niagara on the Lake, a beautiful town about 20 minutes from Niagara Falls. In the summer it's home the the Shaw Festival, a large theatre complex devoted to plays from the era of George Bernard Shaw. the town sits on Lake Ontario and is filled with flowers, shops and restaurants. In between Niagara Falls and NOTL is a really cool butterfly conservatory.
If you really want to make it to all of these areas, you might consider spending only 4 days in NYC so you're not so rushed everywhere else.
FLying is a good option, althoug by the time you add in the extra time needed at airpost post 9/11, there isnt that much difference between flying and driving, plus you will have a car. I do not recommend the train as a timesaver. The NY/Niagara Falls train takes about 3 hours more than driving because it stops at every city and town along the way.
Sounds like an ambitious, high energy trip-you'll need a rest when you get home.