9 Days Boston to Washington suggestion...

It was one of the ones on my list. With the reward points going up, I went ahead and looked, and there were G's available to Boston next August on the exact date I wanted, and same with back from Washington.

So it's booked.

Now I try to avoid driving, since I can't, but I also try to avoid making the missus driver because I can't. So plan would be the Amtrak between the two, perhaps with some stops. Might be 3 days Boston, 3 Days Philly, 3 days Washingon. We've done New York twice, so reckoned just skip that. Does this sound sensible to anybody? Any suggestions about where to stay, what to see in Boston/Philly/Washington? Anywhere else to stop if say Philly isn't much cop?

Ta.

Boston is a great city that you can easily cover by foot & public transport is great.
Lots to see - but it depends what you type of thing is. All 3 are rich in American History (all 150 years or so 'o))

Philly has the Liberty Bell + a few other things like the 'Rocky' steps & a statue of the guy. There is also a lot of pop-ups/beer gardens for the evening.
Again, I found public transport was easy to use - Phily has the 'blocks' system, so quite easy to get around. I stayed in The DoubleTree which is quite central.

Washington has tons to see & I didnt scratch the surface. Do get tickets in advance if you plan on going to the top of the Monument. You can get them for a few dollars delivered to the UK from US Nationals Park website. If I had more time I would have liked to have gone out to George Town. Make sure you have comfy footwear if you plan on doing the monuments. Its a lot of walking - in baking heat!

Train is a good option, I got the train from DC to Philly, it does not take to long - just check the luggage allowances as it seems different from different trains!

It takes 7-8 hours by train from Boston to Philly so that's most of the day.

Not saying don't do it as some of the scenery on the BOS-NYC leg is well worth it. Just something to bear in mine. It's then a couple of hours to get to DC from Philly.

It takes 7-8 hours by train from Boston to Philly so that's most of the day.

Not saying don't do it as some of the scenery on the BOS-NYC leg is well worth it. Just something to bear in mine. It's then a couple of hours to get to DC from Philly.

I didn't realise it was quite that long. Then again, looking at the drive on google maps, it's longer than LA to San Francisco the fast way, which is about 8 hours too. Just always didn't seem that far to me. Might be a good reason to take a fancy class of travel if exists (ie: beds) and maybe stop off in NY on the way, for Katz's Diner. Though one of my friend was always ranting about Carnegie Deli....

The Acela Express Business Class may be for you then. No beds but comfy seats. Plenty of info on the Amtrak website.

I’d be more inclined to spend longer in Boston and DC and then just fly between the two. Use DCA rather than IAD. Both airports (BOS & DCA) are well positioned and you can quickly get into both city centres within 15 minutes. It says a 90 minute flight but I think we were up and down in less than an hour. Personally, I’d look at 4 nights in Boston and 5 nights in DC. You can pick up fares for $74 pp excluding any hold luggage.

If you’re set on the Amtrak / Philly idea, I'd potentially swap one of Philly's 3 nights for an extra night in DC. Nothing against Philly but it doesn't really come close to the other two.

I'd tend to agree with mikethe3rd. Philly can easily be done as a day trip from New York next time you're there, should you feel inclined.

There's more to do in DC & Boston, and I'd also suggest flying between them to save time. Although the Boston-New York-Philadelphia-Washington corridor is considered Amtrak's flagship "high speed" route it's still slow by UK standards and will take the best part of a day.

If you'd prefer the train - and it is a nice way to travel - I've always steered clear of the Acela Express because it's only marginally quicker yet much more expensive than the North East Regional service which I've always found extremely comfortable with big, reclining seats and lots of legroom.

Might be a good reason to take a fancy class of travel if exists (ie: beds) and maybe stop off in NY on the way, for Katz's Diner. Though one of my friend was always ranting about Carnegie Deli....

You'll be too late for the Carnegie. Closes New Year's Eve 2016.

[honey lamb]

Another vote here for a BOS-DCA flight rather than Amtrak.

I've done BOS-NYC on Amtrak once and NYC-WAS about three times. OK, there are some stunning views especially when crossing Chesapeake Bay on the NYC-WAS trip as well as along the coast from BOS to NYC but even in Business, I've been on better train journeys on this side of the Atlantic (albeit cheaper! - well until I got free travel! )

DCA is a great airport to fly into. Apart from the fact that it is easily accessible to DC on the Metro, the views on landing are stunning whichever side you are sitting. On one side you get the White House, the Capitol, the Washington Monument and the Mall and loads more besides; on the other side you get the Pentagon and Arlington, both iconic in their own way.

Ditch Philly and go to Washington. There's loads to see and do there.

Acela Boston to DC is a great train ride! Fast train, nice cars and you are downtown to downtown. If you book now it's 25% off. Flying--best bet is JetBlue but then you have to deal with airport transfer. Acela puts you right on the metro.

I agree re Boston being place to spend more time in, but that's me, Beantowner. Even if you don't drive you can walk (driving in Boston takes practice) or take public transport throughout the city and to south or north shores on the T for a night or two, cab to a nice inn? Or book an inn on the Cape and take the bus--August there is fantastic. Rec Outer Cape.

I'd give Philly a miss if on Acela, but if you're looking for a between stop why miss NYC, although August is... hot, as will be DC. Heading out of town to the Maryland shore on the Chesapeake might be a good option.
Enjoy!

I understand completely the recommendation for flying, though I'd tend to prefer a train journey however slow, as part of the experience. It's the ryanair type factor of it. Flew BA first to San Diego, in August, and then flew Southwest to Reno the day after. A terminal with one restaurant, and certainly no PP lounge. Sitting at the back of the plane? Not done that since the 90's. Might consider it business class, but indeed lounges are not ubiquitous in the US so that'll just be front of the plane with a drink...

I suppose I've resolved my uncomfortableness of actual flying with champagne in lounges and onboard in recent years. And fancy seats.

I'll take the balance into consideration for the days. I always had these sort of train from start to other via a couple of stop offs (NY up to Canada down to Chicago might be one), I've done West coast San Jose to Vancouver on Amtrak but I suspect the Amtrak's are different across there. I might consider Chicago to West Coast, stopping off a few points, but I don't think there's much between Chicago and Denver.

Might be a good reason to take a fancy class of travel if exists (ie: beds) and maybe stop off in NY on the way, for Katz's Diner. Though one of my friend was always ranting about Carnegie Deli....

You'll be too late for the Carnegie. Closes New Year's Eve 2016.

For good? I've only heard of it in passing...

You'll be too late for the Carnegie. Closes New Year's Eve 2016.

For good? I've only heard of it in passing...

Shop closing for good but will still be doing on-line delivery as per website

I'd give Philly a miss if on Acela, but if you're looking for a between stop why miss NYC, although August is... hot, as will be DC.

We've done NYC twice, both over a week visit. Plus I passed through on a 22 hour connection via the Babybus onto Vegas last year, and cut it down to an evening around lower east side (Mrsorleys was too busy though, Burp castle always good, for bars) and then grab lunch at Katz's diner and off...

Easy and accessible Man Versus Food venues have also influenced my decisions on whether to go somewhere, but I need to watch Boston, Washington, and Philly's. I suspect the last will have a focus on fried steak and cheese subs.

I passed through on a 22 hour connection via the Babybus onto Vegas last year, and cut it down to an evening around lower east side (Mrsorleys was too busy though, Burp castle always good, for bars) and then grab lunch at Katz's diner and off...

Good to see another fan of McSorleys, even if you didn't manage to get in...

I'd give Philly a miss if on Acela, but if you're looking for a between stop why miss NYC, although August is... hot, as will be DC.

We've done NYC twice, both over a week visit. Plus I passed through on a 22 hour connection via the Babybus onto Vegas last year, and cut it down to an evening around lower east side (Mrsorleys was too busy though, Burp castle always good, for bars) and then grab lunch at Katz's diner and off...

Easy and accessible Man Versus Food venues have also influenced my decisions on whether to go somewhere, but I need to watch Boston, Washington, and Philly's. I suspect the last will have a focus on fried steak and cheese subs.

No need to watch - http://www.tvfoodmaps.com/
From memory I think Boston one being an italian?
I know there was a Steak one between Philly & Baltimore somewhere - which I had planned on going to, but decided to get train from DC to Philly rather than driving...
https://www.facebook.com/The-Great-Stea ... 692219050/

Description
– 26 oz Delmonico,
8 oz filet mignon,
12 oz NY strip,
12 oz veal chop, &
16 oz flat iron

– There is over 74 ounces of delicious & premium steaks!!
– Served with a potato and a vegetable side
– There is a 1 hour time limit
Prizes
– Free Meal
– Free T-shirt
– Picture on Wall of Fame
– $100 cash

Good to see another fan of McSorleys, even if you didn't manage to get in...

I got in, I held my own standing at the bar on a Friday night, but some people eventually squeezed me out of the way when getting their drinks and didn't move after. So I went down Burp Castle instead, which is like 2 mins walk.

No need to watch - http://www.tvfoodmaps.com/
From memory I think Boston one being an italian?
I know there was a Steak one between Philly & Baltimore somewhere - which I had planned on going to, but decided to get train from DC to Philly rather than driving...
https://www.facebook.com/The-Great-Stea ... 692219050/

Description
– 26 oz Delmonico,
8 oz filet mignon,
12 oz NY strip,
12 oz veal chop, &
16 oz flat iron

– There is over 74 ounces of delicious & premium steaks!!
– Served with a potato and a vegetable side
– There is a 1 hour time limit
Prizes
– Free Meal
– Free T-shirt
– Picture on Wall of Fame
– $100 cash

Oh god, I don't do the actual challenges. Those are nightmares. I think I stumbled across the challenge in Honolulu, it was actually at the Wakikki Hilton, some sort of massive pancake thing.

I just take it as a good pointer to go for some great food. I've made three in San Jose, two in SF, one in New York, and sort of one in Vegas (they moved Hash house a gogo). I don't care about indian or sweet restaurants, and places we can't drive to, but it's led to some great food.

Would be a total waste to sick it all back up again due to some mad bravado though....

Good to see another fan of McSorleys, even if you didn't manage to get in...

I got in, I held my own standing at the bar on a Friday night, but some people eventually squeezed me out of the way when getting their drinks and didn't move after. So I went down Burp Castle instead, which is like 2 mins walk.

Thanks for the tip on Burp Castle, I'd not heard of it before. We'll look out for it at Christmas time.

Burp castle serves a lot of Belgian beers, the barmaid often wears monk habits and when it gets too loud she proclaims "SHHHHHHHHHHHH". Everyone quietens down for a bit, then it all continues.... Quite fun, really.

It also serves other beers, allowing americans to taste the likes of uk brewed banana beer.