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Hi,
We are three families, each with a kid or two are planning a road trip to Niagara from near boston.
Few queries:
1. Looking for places on the way so that I just do not drive up like 16 hours to spend 2 hours at Niagara.
2. If there is nothing, Is it worth going to Niagara ?
3. There are lot of nice Places around Boston and we have seen just one - Downtown boston. Does it make sense to loose that and go to Niagara?
-Shailesh
Welcome to the RTA Forum!
I've got to say, from your questions, I get the impression that you don't really want to go to Niagra. If that's the case, then why don't you just stick around Boston and see some of those things?
I think the falls are pretty amazing, and there are also plenty of other touristy things in the Niagra area. But I can't tell you if its something that you would enjoy, particualrly with the amount of time it will take for you to get there.
Thanks Mike.
It is not that I do not want to go Niagara.. I am just confused about , it is worth the 3 day trip if there is nothing that I can see on the way.
Or should I plan trip when I have more days and then it can be useful ?
-Shail
Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America forum.
The drive from Boston to Niagara can be a very beautiful journey with lots for the kids to do (including learn a little history in a relatively painless manner.) Here are just a few of the possibilities.
As you head out through Massachusetts, there's Old Sturbridge Village a 'living history' recreation of a 19th century town. You can then head on north a bit and use the Mohawk Trail through the Berkshires. Once in New York, you'll be following the Erie Canal or as it is less romantically known today, the New York State Barge Canal, through the scenic wine producing region known as the Finger Lakes, and finally pass by one of the area's great hidden gems, Letchworth State Park.
Are you sure three days is enough to even get you to Niagara?
AZBuck
I'm a little confused here. What is your available time frame to make this trip? Do you have a week? Two? Three days? If you are planning to take three days up and three days back, and spend a day or two there, the drive can be very rewarding. Buck has given some very good suggestions (I've been to all except Letchworth). That said, it still depends on how much everyone in the group likes to travel. "Are we there yet?"
Or, you can explore the Boston area - there is much to see there as well, beyond downtown Boston. Spending a day in that city is very enjoyable - stop in Little Italy for a gelato after a good meal, follow the Freedom Trail, visit the museums, or just hang out and watch the street performers at Faneuil Hall (a couple of months ago, we witnessed someone spinning another person on their head, without holding him up with his hands...ouch!)
Would you be unable to explore Boston if you go to Niagara, or is it something you could do another time? (ie - are you from the Boston area, or just visiting?)
The Canadian side of Niagara is like a carnival - wax museums, kitschy shops, beer gardens, etc. The falls themselves are breathtaking to behold, too.
It just one of those places you need to say you've seen. If you have the time, go see it and get away from the Boston traffic hassle. Also, as AZBuck says, check out the Erie Canal on the way. Toronto's not that much farther away from Niagara Falls. However, upon crossing the border you'll be with kilometers.
Take some of the smaller roads if you can.
At least you were able to spell it correctly. For years, I thought it was spelled Niagra. I have to admit that I just retired as a teacher after 33 years and one day, in class, a student told me I had spelled it wrong. I said that was impossible. I'm the teacher, and I know how to spell it. You learn new things every day. Dumb teacher.
Keep on Down that Two Lane Highway. --RoadDog
I think this sounds like a great trip for our party as well but going in the opposite direction i.e. from Niagara Falls (Canada side) to Boston. Leaving Niagara Falls behind, I have allowed two nights on the road before arriving in Boston. Can you tell me where you suggest we stay and as there appears to be several 'fingers' to the lakes which ones would be best for us given that we are heading for Boston? Thank you in anticipation of your help.Quote:
Originally Posted by AZBuck
Seneca and Cayuga are the two largest of the finger Lakes and each has a worthwhile stop at its southern end. So, while basically following the Erie Canal (US-20) and the Mohawk Trail (MA-2) you could make a nice circuit down the west side of Seneca on NY-14 to Watkins Glen, across on NY-79 to Ithaca and Taughannock Falls and then use I-88 pr I-90 to Albany, which is a lottle over half way and offers multiple lodging options.
AZBuck
Buck, would these lakes you have suggested be around the wineries?
While there are wineries throughout the Finger Lakes Region, you could do a lot worse than following either the Seneca Lake Wine Trail or the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail.
AZBuck
Where would be the best place to drop off the car when approaching Boston as we don't really want to drive into there as we hear the traffic is quite bad. Also, is Amtrak the best way to get from Boston to New York City without a car? Thanks for your help.
Well, you are going to have to drop the car off where the rental company has an office - probably on or near Logan Airport. I-90 goes right into the airport now through the Ted Williams Tunnel. It's not difficult except during rush hour, you don't have to take city streets any more. There's a MBTA station at the airport to go downtown.
To go from Boston to NYC, you can fly, take the train, or take the bus.
Thanks glc, that is useful information. I didn't know about the tunnel. Which would be the quickest, most convenient and most cost effective to get from Boston to New York in your opinion?
Cheapest is the bus - this is a popular company as is this one. Flying is probably the fastest, but not by that much. The most comfortable (in my opinion because you avoid getting stuck in traffic and don't have to deal with airport stress) is probably the train. I'm not sure how the prices compare between the two.
The bus is an especially good option considering the number of people. Both companies pick up and drop off in downtown areas.
This "reverse trip" is almost identical to what we are trying to plan. If we'd like only 1 night on the road from the Falls (Canadian side) to Boston, what would the ideal stop be? Would if be worthwhile to plan for a stop at the last "finger"?Quote:
Originally Posted by AZBuck
And: we plan on spending 4-5 days at and around Boston. We have 2 kids, both pre-kindergarten ages. Which attractions would be ideal? Our plan was to hit the malls (Wrentham) for a day - most likely the last day, a beach for a day (Wingaersheek? Cape Ann?), and museums / attractions for the rest (am thinking New England Aquarium, Harvard Museum of Natural History, Children's Museum, Museum of Science),
Suggestion for places to stay at / around Boston would be appreciated -- should we try to splurge on a downtown Boston hotel, or stay outside and take the T/drive in? The kids are the main concern -- taking the T or getting stuck in traffic may not be the most pleasant. But neither is paying $300+ a night! Which would be the lesser of the two "evils"?
thanks!
Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America Forums!
Note that the trip you're going to do the 'reverse' of actually had a major option involved, and you're going to have to decide on that before we can recommend an overnight stopping point. The more direct route, but still on 'back' roads which you have time to enjoy rather than the toll I-90 would be US-20 parallel to the Erie Canal in New York, and MA-2, the Mohawk Trail through Massachusetts. The alternative in New York would be to go south early, by way of Letchworth State Park and then across the southern tips of the Finger Lakes through Watkins Glen another great state park), Ithaca (Cornell and Taughannock Falls), to NY-23 to pick up I-88 into the Albany area. If you go over the northern ends of the lakes, then halfway would be around Herkimer,if you took the southern route around the lake, then you'd be looking at somewhere in the vicinity of Oneonta.
Boston can be very expensive to stay in and is a real pain to drive around if you are unfamiliar with it. On the other hand it is very compact once you're in town. So. I'd recommend staying outside downtown where you can find affordable lodgings and then take a cab or the T into the city, hitting a set of sites that are within easy walking distance of each other before returning 'home' in the evening.
As for keeping two very young children amused in Boston, take a look at the Swan Boats in the Public Gardens, the 'duck' tours, maybe a harbor cruise, as well as the sites you listed. Outside of town of course there's the Cape Cod National Seashore. Cape Ann is lovely, but there's not mush there to appeal to toddlers, although there is a house made entirely (furniture included) of paper and that Cape is a whole lot less crowded than Cape Cod and (in my opinion) every bit as scenic.
AZBuck