My husband and I are thinking about taking our 3 teens (16, 15, 13) to the historial east coast this summer. Crowds and NYC traffic would be no vacation, yet if we broke things down to just the highlights between DC , NYC & Philly, it may be manageable. We're thinking about flying to Philly....driving to DC for 3-4 days....NYC...2...and Philly the rest. How far of a drive is it to those locations? We need to fly in and out of the same location. Also, any ideas for family-type suites for lodging?

Any suggestions will be most appreciated!

Why not make D.C. your base, spend about 4 days there (maybe even a day trip to Annapolis or an overnight or 2 days at a Delaware beach) and then head to Southern Virginia (with a stop at Mt. Vernon, Monticello and Fredericksburg along the way)? There is so much more pleasant history in Virginia without the overpopulation of NYC. Your teens would also enjoy and appreciate Busch Gardens as a reprieve from all the sightseeing.

It's about 2.75 to DC and about 2 to NYC. I love Virginia and all those places Stepanie mentioned (except Busch GArdens), but I'd stick with your plan. I'm sure your kids will enjoy DC. NYC is great and we're often there with our teens in the summer. Yes it may be hot and a little crowded, but there are so many wonderful things to do and see. I live near Philly, so I'm a little partial to all there is to see and do there as well. Good Luck

To answer the question that you really asked -

Phila. is about a 3 hour drive to DC. A stop along the way could be Baltimore - you could walk around Inner Harbor for couple hours.

Phila. is 90 miles from NYC and those 90 miles could take 2 hours or could take double that. You could take a train in, from 30th Street Station.

Another option for taking the train to NYC...We take the NJ Transit train out of Hamilton. There is safe and easy parking and it's a short, inexpensive trip into NYC. Leaving your car parked in the city could be pricey. Hamilton is about 30 min. north of Philly. The Hamilton area is also home to the Grounds for Sculpture...a surprisingly terrific display of art in outdoor and indoor settings.

The only suite type hotel I've stayed in in DC was the Embassy Suites near Georgetown...great location but it was so jam packed with little kids we hated it. There is a Marriot Courtyard right across from the Spy Museum (a must) and that's probably where we'll stay the next time. I stayed in The Affinia Dumont (suite type also) in NYC and loved it.

mei - I second your suggestion about NJ Transit from Hamilton. That's how I go to NYC. But, ilowemaui will already be downtown, so it might be easier to just leave from 30th Street Station or Market East.

I can't give any helpful lodging suggestions.

Philly is a good choice as a home base for visiting NYC and DC. But flying to Philly is more expensive than to other cities because USAir has a lock on our airport. You may find better deals flying to Baltimore (BWI)-about 2 hrs. drive from Philly, Newark-about an hour drive from Philly, or DC. On the other hand, compared to DC and NYC, Philly's hotels and restaurants are a bargain. In DC, stay outside the city, right on a metro stop, such as Bethesda MD or Silver Spring MD. You can find hotels with a pool, special family rates, nearby restaurants and stores that appeal to kids, and free or inexpensive parking. The metro in DC is clean, fun and convenient. NYC is a really happening place at night, so that would be a better place to splurge on a hotel right in town. But do not drive into NYC. Park in NJ (there are many places to do this, such as Trenton and take NJ transit, or in north jersey where the ferry goes across), then ride buses and subways while in NYC. Philly's public transportation system is not the greatest, and it's expensive. Try to find a special rate on a hotel in town. Failing that, if you will have a rental car, stay in the suburbs and drive into town. Of the 3 cities, Philly is the easiest to drive in and the easiest for parking. Most of the sights are clustered in the central downtown area, so you can park and leave your car all day while you explore on foot. There are still "early bird" parking deals that are cheap (cheep?!) compared to other cities, plus there are places you can park for hours if you have a few dollars' worth of quarters. To save money, plan on spending most of your time in DC where there's lots to see for free, and the least amount of time in NYC where prices are very high. All 3 cities are hot and very humid in the summer.

stephanie, I like your idea. Where is Busch Gardens? Any ideas for a Delaware Beach?

Thank you all for your suggestions!

Hi Ilove:

I'd recommend Rehoboth Beach best. Delaware is a little place so only a few beaches to chose from. You'll enjoy the Outlets (these are scattered here in there at the side of Route 1? - the main road leading to the beach) and the walk around shopping on Rehoboth Avenue. Dewey Beach only a few miles down the road has Rusty Rudder or Scupper restaurant and it is bayside. Went there in 2000 and they had calypso music playing, and the sun was shining. A more teen friendly place from Rehoboth is only 26 miles south at Ocean City, MD, the boardwalk is way bigger than Rehoboth's. I remember going to Rehoboth in August one year and that is when all the farmer's products ripen and you can travel just a few miles out from Rehoboth (only 2-5 miles needed) and get fresh vegetables, potatoes, fruit and berries. Got a huge juicy watermelon at a side road seller just picked from the farm! Do a search on Rehoboth Chamber of Commerce to find places to say. I stated 2 blocks on a beach renting 1/2 of a house for the week so I can't help you there.

Busch Gardens is close to the Williamsburg area with lots of rollercoaster rides and rides in general. The major theme is European in nature just like the theme in Tampa, FL is African.