USA East Coast itinerary suggestion

movilogo

I am planning to visit USA around Easter next year.

Can some please suggest a suitable itinerary for the following places?

New York
Niagara falls
Washington DC

Ideally I want it to be within 6 days max.

How much time is required for New York? Will cover only standard tourist attractions. Should I land at Washington DC and return from NY or land/return from NY only?

jackieblack

You could scratch the surface of NYC and DC in six days.
Personally, I'd forget about Niagara and just pick one of the cities.

movilogo

My aim is to cover following in NY

• Times square
• Central park
• Satue of Liberty
• Museum of modern art OR Metropolitan museum of art
• Natural history museum
• Manhattan skyline
• Empire state building
• Brooklyn bridge
• Grand central station

and these in Washington DC

• White house
• Smithsonian museum
• Capitol

Can stretch to 8-9 days if necessary.

jackieblack

movilogo wrote: »

My aim is to cover following in NY

• Times square
• Central park
• Satue of Liberty
• Museum of modern art OR Metropolitan museum of art
• Natural history museum
• Manhattan skyline
• Empire state building
• Brooklyn bridge
• Grand central station

and these in Washington DC

• White house
• Smithsonian museum
• Capitol

Well I guess if you just want to see them, get a selfie and move on that's doable, but if you want to spend any meaningful time.......

You do realise that The Smithsonian is not a single museum? It's an institution that includes 19 museums and a zoo.

Not planning on seeing any monuments or memorials in DC?

movilogo

I'm interested in Smtithnosian Air/Space museum and possibly natural history (as it is free) only.

Can skip any other monument if time is an issue.

stevie11

movilogo wrote: »

My aim is to cover following in NY

• Times square
• Central park
• Satue of Liberty
• Museum of modern art OR Metropolitan museum of art
• Natural history museum
• Manhattan skyline
• Empire state building
• Brooklyn bridge
• Grand central station

and these in Washington DC

• White house
• Smithsonian museum
• Capitol

Can stretch to 8-9 days if necessary.

Agree with Jackieblack comments. You need to plan your visit to get the most of your trip.

Take into account walking around or taking subways eats into your time.

Re DC I would advise checking the relevant agencies to book onto a tour of the White House and Capital building. Although you can stand outside and take pictures to actually go on a tour you need to book in advance and give all the details of all in your party and they will give you a time and date to visit. If stuck for time I would opt for he Capital building as IMO it was far more interesting than a 20 minute walk through the Whitehouse which took about 2 hours queuing up and going through security.

There are two air and space museums, one in the city and one on the outskirts, I only visited the latter but it was well worth the visit.

Even for a 6-9 days trip I would suggest going to Niagara Falls on a future visit if possible, as it is a long drive from either NY or DC, although you could fly to Buffalo.

richardw

Where in the UK are you?

PeacefulWaters

I'd do two separate six day trips for NYC and DC.

You can fly from JFK to Buffalo, hire a car to Niagara Falls and drive back to Buffalo airport ahead of your return flight.

movilogo

Why my UK location is relevant here?? Near London though.

Not planning to drive there.

Looks like Niagara + NY + DC is indeed too much in given time frame. The question is which one to drop! Can't drop NY.

richardw

There's much more choice of flights from LHR!

Day 1 Fly United to WAS
Day 2&3 see sights in Washington
Day 4 travel to NYC
Day 5&6 see sights in NYC
Day 7 travel to Niagara
Day 8 up early to visit falls, evening travel to Toronto Airport stay in airport hotel.
Day 9 up early for daytime AC flight to LHR.

michele-p

Hi, we did a similar trip last year, it doable, but tiring. We flew into Jfk new york, had 3 nights in Ny, then amtrack train to wahington dc. Arrived Lunchtime and spent the afternoon on bikes frkm the hotel going round the memorials off the Mall, seeing the whitehouse etc, also a free display by the Marines that night.

We had a 10pm flight the next day, so a whole day for museums, which was enough for us. We spent most of our time in the space/flight museum. It was so hot and humid that day.

Arrived at the airport in a tropical storm to fly to Buffalo, long story short we got re routed to Toronto! We drove to Niagra for a full day next day, again its enough. Stayed at The Oaks overlooking the falls, wow! We planned to be there on a fireworks night. Next day, drive to Buffalo and fly to Boston for road trip part of the hols.

We ended up back in Jfk 1 week later to fly home.

We do enjoy moving around, and had a great time. Ny is very tiring, but worth it.

For us the time in DC was enough, we feel no need to return, but then we arent huge museum fans!

Hope it helps, if you want to do all 3, do it!