With roots going back to the colonial England days, the Northeast USA is a treasure to visit. It’s old-fashioned without being backwards, and modern without losing its historic roots. It has gorgeous scenery, especially during the fall, amazing infrastructure, and world-class cities – which New York is just one of – and it is quite worth the visit, no matter who you are!
Start: Boston, MA
Start off in my little old hometown of Boston, which is a fitting because this is the starting point of America, where it all began. Where the colonists threw the tea overboard into the harbor (which you can still see a recreation of!) and where the British troops set off to Lexington and Concord.
Pictured above is the Old State house of Boston, an old relic sitting in the midst of skyscrapers. This exemplifies the atmosphere of Boston, old colonial buildings mixed right in with modern ones.
Although I have yet to write a proper guide (don’t worry, I’m working on it!) there are countless places you should visit in Boston. For its historical significance, for its thriving food scene, for its world-famous universities (Harvard and MIT being just a few). Who ever you are, Boston is sure to have something for you.
Here are some posts about Boston for further reading:
- 10 Places You Must Eat At in Boston
- Boston City Guide*
- 12 essential activities for a weekend in Boston*
Stop 1: New York City, NY
Despite living only a four hour drive away from this world famous city, I hadn’t visited in four years. This all changed during mid-April, during a three day stay in the Big Apple for my birthday. Whatever it is that makes New York so attractive captivated me, and I know I’ll soon be back.
I don’t even think I need to add why you should visit New York – it’s a classic destination. But in case you need convincing, it’s one of the best examples of America’s melting pot, with a thousand different ethnicities intermingling and mixing every day. This is what America truly is.
Read more:
Stop 2: Philadelphia, PA
If you ask anyone what they think of when they hear Philadelphia, they’ll probably say the Liberty Bell. But the original capital of the grand ol’ USA has much more than just historic sites. Once in Philadelphia, you’ll find a bustling modern city that has risen above just the old historic sites. And it’s a surprisingly arty city as well, with street art and art exhibits galore.
Read more:
Stop 3: Baltimore, MD
To be honest I had no real interest in visiting Baltimore before I went on this roadtrip and stopped en route to Washington DC. But as I passed streets with the cutest colonial houses and saw the vibrant city unfold around me, it grew on me. It’s quirky, it’s adorable, it’s charming – that’s why they call it Charm City – and it’s well worth the stop.
Read more:
End: Washington DC
Here it is in all its glory, my nation’s capital. It’s not very much like the usual city – you won’t see any skyscrapers for one – but that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything happening! In fact, quite the opposite; while my country’s leaders are busy trying to figure out what to do about the upcoming election inside their white marble buildings, the city is buzzing around them. With countless monuments, cute and quaint little Georgetown, and some of the best food you’ll find, Washington DC is an epic last stop to this Northeastern roadtrip (even if it isn’t so quite in the north anymore).
Read more:
* = not my blog post
Additional Information
Transportation
I highly recommend that you rent a car; however, if you are not able to, all the stops and more can be reached on Amtrack, America’s train service.
Additional Stops
While the five stops above are plenty enough to fill your time for a week or two, should you wish to add more stops to your trip I recommend:
- Cape Cod, MA – a popular summer destination in Massachusetts
- Providence, RD – the capitol of Rhode Island
- Newport, RD – a gorgeous seaside town
- New Haven, CT – the home to the great Yale University
- Acadia National Park, ME
- White Mountains, NH
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Have you ever been to the Northeastern United States? Where in the Northeast did you go? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.