maoriqueen

Thanks to my replies I think I have managed what nytraveler suggested. After checking out flights we have come up with:
Leave NY on July 27 train to DC
Leave DC on July 29 to fly to Chicago
Leave Chicago 31 to fly to Buffalo for my Niagara trip ,hire a car stay on Canadian side ,
leave Buffalo on 2 August to go to Boston then back to New York by train on the 4 August
Leave New york for Los Angeles on the 5.
Does this look like enough time to stay in these places and can we have help with places of interest in Chicago and Boston and the best places to stay. Also car hire in buffalo would be appreciated

tchoiniere

Logistically that works, but there is way too much moving around. I would skip Chicago here (while a great city, its too much) and spend more time in DC

Id recommend
Leave NY on 7/27 train to Boston
Fly Boston to Niagara Falls on 7/31.
Fly to DC 8/2 (as early as possible)
Train back to NY on 8/4

Even then that feels like too much. I may even suggest skipping either Boston or DC on this.

maoriqueen

Well we definetly want to see the White House so DC is definitely in. I thought that as boston was only a couple of hours away from New York it would be doable. Also the only reason Chicago came into the equation was the flights from NY seemed to stop in Chicago so I thought why not, obviously Washington has got more going for it??? S

travelbuff

And quite honestly I'd skip Niagra. The falls are beautiful, but not alot there otherwise. Get a video and a spray bottle and you'll think you are there. I'd just do Boston, NY and DC, so much to see and you would have more time to see everything.

tchoiniere

Boston is almost a 10 hour drive from Niagara Falls. And about a 6 hour drive from NYC. As much as I love Boston, if you feel that Niagara is a must (Ive never been) then skip Boston and spend more time in DC. Do not even try to add Chicago to this mix. I spent 5 days in DC last year and didn't put a dent in the sights.

nytraveler

As far as the White House is concerned you can certainly see the outside - but for a tour of the inside you must have reservations far in advance - made through either your congressperson's office or your embassy. Note that nothing - not even a tiny purse - may be take inside the White House - you need to check everything elsewhere (your hotel? Union Station?).

And a plane should NOT stop in Chicago - look for altrnate flights - or reorer the trip. IMHO you need at least 3 nights to see much in Boston and 4 in DC.

doug_stallings

As I said in my other answer to your previous post, this itinerary will work---if by "work" you mean it's physically possible to do all this traveling in such a short amount of time. But you're talking about having 1 full day in each place and spending at least 1/3 of your waking hours for the entire period in transit. Just insane in my opinion. But if you want to pack in the cities, this itinerary will do it.

I, too, would suggest simply NYC plus Boston and DC. Skip both Niagara Falls and Chicago and see them another time.

sf7307

>>

Chicago has PLENTY to see, but it's just too far out of the way on this trip. Stick to NY-Boston-DC and Niagara Falls if you must Spend at least 2 full days in Boston, and at least 3 full days in DC (more would be better).

maoriqueen

Thanks guys for all your input. Have cut everthing back and am now being more realistic.
27 July go to Niagara via buffalo leave the 29 July
Fly to Washington and stay there till the 4 August.Maybe if we are lucky we will see boston next time. Once again thanks
because without your input I think we would have rushed around and not seen very much at all. Now that this side is organized I can now look forward to answers for my Los Angeles trip

tchoiniere

Sounds a lot better. Check under my user name for a trip report on DC that may help you.