DW and I are on the west coast; kids live in these cities. We’ve visited in the winter and that’s been fine but now we’d like to schedule a visit when the weather is perfect. Not too hot, not too cold. Goldilocks weather. I’m assuming May, June, September, or October.
Any suggestions?
Those are the best bets. July and August usually aren’t that bad either unless you hit a heat wave. It happens, but this isn’t the sinus belt because the ocean moderates the weather.
If you know the website where you can schedule perfect weather for Boston, please share!
Those are the best times. I’ve lived in NY my entire life and to me Sept/Oct is the best time. Sometimes you get glorious days with just the touch of fall. Of course sometimes all the summer heat happens in early September and these days you can never predict when you’ll have a storm. It seems these days the spring seems to vary between unseasonably cool and chilly/nasty or it can be unseasonably hot and humid.
Boston: any day now, ha. (Right now, temps are better but it’s been a bit grey and rained some, many days.) Early October is usually reliable, but if you might go leaf peeping, as you move through the month, some spots get crowded with tourists. Some places, hard to get a room.
Funny, but unless they’re hikers or there’s some cultural fest, I can’t name friends who go out purposely to see the leaves. We tend to come alive in spring. First chance, crowding sidewalk cafes, light clothes, etc. Joke is, once it hits 40, you’ll see shorts. We’re hardy.
I find July-Aug too hot and humid, in general. Some Junes are cold enough to run the fireplace. Sigh. Otoh, many of us don’t turn on the house heat til late October.
NYC: love the crisp days of fall. Love April, when it’s still good walking weather.
We talk about the weather a lot, lol.
Mid-September through late October is the BEST. May is also beautiful.
I’ve visited NYC many times during all different seasons and I have to agree that the best time is late September or early October.
Another vote for early October. Unusual consensus of opinion above!
I’ve been a New Yorker all my life. Fall is the best time in NYC. Not November, but late Sept, early October. There is something magical about fall in NY.
Fall is lovely in NYC, but so is spring as noted earlier.
If you find yourself here in the mid summer, though, there are a lot of free events, everything from cinema in the parks, to shakespeare in Central park and several other locations; Lincoln Center has a full month of daily free events including dancing out on the plaza, and more.
I’ve lived in the Boston area for 35 years. It can snow in May (it melts quickly, but it has happened a few times since I’ve lived here.) To be safe–stick with June or September/October.
Beware of early September and June visits to Boston. They are freshman arrival and graduation times at area colleges and hotels jack up their rates.
Central Park is beautiful any time of year, but is especially gorgeous in May!
In Boston May 10-17 and Sept 22-Sept 29. All of the other weeks it may snow at any time or be 95 degrees with humidity and bugs, 
I like spring in Boston - late May early June - the outdoor markets are open and most weekends will find festivals and other outdoor events. As others have said the weather can vary wildly (two years ago you needed the heat in late May - last year you needed the AC in early May). Second choice would be October - the weather is nice and again lots of outdoor activities.
I have similar feeling about New York - although I love New York best around the holidays (nothing beats the bustle between Thanksgiving and New Years and the tons of holiday events.) Again, late spring and early fall are good times for visiting NYC.
Thanks everyone! We’ll shoot for September-October.
I spent a weekend in NYC last year in late September. It was 85 degrees when I stepped outside the airport. Whew!
I love both cities and would go there any time. Of course I live in the northeast and am from NYC. Also D1 lives in NYC and D2 lives in Boston ( Somerville).
Both are beautiful in all four seasons. Ok, winter might be a bit too long. But all the seasons are beautiful. Just don’t visit either in Feburary or probably March. All other times, you will get a taste of the different seasons.
Mid September to mid October!
I always kind of liked memorial day weekend in NYC, a lot of people get out of town but there is also a lot to do in town, the weather is usually nice.
In October is a litlle cold but is amazing to see the foliage you can go to NYC an then visit the Berkshires in western Massachusetts, border with NY State, is a paradise and finally Boston.
Enjoy your trip.