<p>If you have a car, I would not stay in NYC or bring it into NYC. The parking costs alone can break a budget and the traffic is a nightmare. (Next 2 weeks are UN general assembly weeks - gridlock heaven in midtown). </p>
<p>If you really want to visit NYC, maybe stay in white plains and take train into the city for the day</p>
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</p>
<p>If you visit Buffalo after the Falls, check out The Albright-Knox art gallery (great selection of contemporary art) [Albright-Knox</a> Art Gallery](<a href=“http://www.albrightknox.org/]Albright-Knox”>http://www.albrightknox.org/) then right across the street is the Burchfield Center, which is dedicated to the art and vision of Western New York artist, Charles Burchfield:
[Burchfield</a> Penney Art Center](<a href=“http://www.burchfieldpenney.org/]Burchfield”>http://www.burchfieldpenney.org/)</p>
<p>You could visit both then stroll down Elmwood Avenue where there are plenty of restaurants, shops and galleries. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>If you have a car, would definitely NOT base in NYC–you’d just have to pay a lot to park it. The drive to Niagra Falls is nice and its especially lovely from Canadian side. Bring your passport–you need it crossing the border.</p>
<p>I agree…a car in NYC (or Boston) is more of a headache than a plus. I like the suggestion of flying into Portland Maine. Excellent idea! Lots to do there as noted above. </p>
<p>Cleveland is NOT New England!</p>
<p>If you fly into Boston, you don’t have to STAY there. You can pick up your rental car…make a trip to Cape Cod, go to Gloucester and Salem, visit Lexington and Concord, drive to Newport. Go to Plimouth Plantation. Go to Sturbridge. </p>
<p>All are easily accessible from Boston.</p>
<p>Another thought if you are going to be based in NYC, you can head up the Hudson Valley and catch some foliage. New Paltz is a cute town and Mohonk Mountain House is lovely but pricey. Saratoga Springs is a great town to visit anytime, we recently went to the Sagamore Hotel in Bolton Landing on Lake George which should be beautiful this time of year. You can also go to the Berkshires where there is so much to see and do- Mass MOCA, the Clark Museum, the Norman Rockwell Museum, lots of nice walks and hikes… </p>
<p>Coincidentally to this discussion, I am about to leave to go to a convention in Niagara Falls this week and I am adding on vacation time in both Toronto and Niagara on the Lake…I’ve always wanted to go to both places and this is a good excuse. Hotels in both are all booked, getting tickets to the Shaw Festival…but haven’t yet made any dinner reservations, so open to suggestions. Have looked at several nice places.</p>
<p>Rintu…where are you traveling from? Do you have any other stops you are making on this trip…or is it a dedicated vacation?</p>
<p>A few hours north of NYC (by car or train) is Poughkeepsie. The Bridge Walkway over the Hudson River is a cool attraction there - [Walkway</a> Over The Hudson](<a href=“http://www.walkway.org/]Walkway”>http://www.walkway.org/)</p>
<p>A short drive north of Poughkeepsie is Hyde Park. Traditional tourist destinations there are Vanderbilt Mansion and Franklin Roosevelt home.</p>
<p>HImom- If the weather is good in Chicago do the Architecture Tour. It is great!</p>
<p>There are some other Chicago threads that HImom could look at:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/1522329-help-week-end-chicago.html?highlight=chicago[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/1522329-help-week-end-chicago.html?highlight=chicago</a> </p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/1487166-chicago.html?highlight=chicago[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/1487166-chicago.html?highlight=chicago</a> </p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/1225519-27-hours-chicago.html?highlight=chicago[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/1225519-27-hours-chicago.html?highlight=chicago</a> </p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/1211295-restaurants-chicago.html?highlight=chicago[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/1211295-restaurants-chicago.html?highlight=chicago</a> </p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/1089195-chicago.html?highlight=chicago[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/1089195-chicago.html?highlight=chicago</a></p>
<p>There are more, but these are the most recent. Say “hi” to the U505 if you visit it, it is my favorite thing! (My kid’s call it “Mom’s submarine” since I always want to go there when we are in Chicago.) :)</p>
<p>Thanks. I loved the week we spent in Chicago this past May. We are excited about seeing more and revisiting a lot of places and things we enjoyed–we will be staying at Moroco Hotel near the Chicago Art Institute and theaters.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the tips.</p>
<p>One of my favorite destination drives from NYC is Storm King, an outdoor sculpture museum. It is spectacular, affording a rare opportunity to see monumental modern sculptures in an expansive outdoor setting. There are also more intimate spaces. And it is a great place for a picnic. It is near two other visit-worthy sites: Bear Mountain Park and West Point.</p>
<p>We find each of the suggestion as interesting and we would like to do all of them, if time and fund permit 
Unfortunately, we have of paucity of both! </p>
<p>As of now, we are thinking of a 2 day trip to Niagara (ex-NYC) and followed by a 2 day trip to Boston. In fact, we have incorporated in our plan, a number of suggestions received in response to my post.</p>
<p>We hope our short vacation is a success and the credit would go to all of you.</p>
<p>When in Boston, check out the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum, the Institute of Contemporary Art, and the Fogg Museum at Harvard. Let us know how it went!</p>
<p>Rintu…is that two separate trips now of two days duration each?</p>
<p>I cannot imagine what you would do in two days at Niagara, except look at all of the visual pollution on the Canadian side. It really is not worth the time, IMHO. Maid of the Mist = half a day at most.</p>
<p>What do you mean by “ex-NYC”?</p>
<p>I agree it’s a half-day to look at Niagara Falls along the walkways. It’s one of the 7 natural wonders of the world, so I understand why it draws visitors. Like the Grand Canyon, it’s in its own category of size and scale, not to be found elsewhere. It’s unforgettable. </p>
<p>It just hasn’t been tourist-developed to good advantage, and some places around look tacky and annoying. The Canadian side is nicer to walk than the American, IMO. Don’t drive around the City of Niagara Falls, NY unless you want to weep for this country, it is a collapsed city. Niagara Falls Ontario, in Canada, is a prettier area but mostly just points you back to the Falls.</p>
<p>The two countries offer different viewing advantages: standing on the Canadian side you see the panorama of several Falls; and on the U.S. side you can get closer physically to the water, either at the big Falls or by exploring in more detail, for example: geology tour (hour), a modest cozy trolley tour around Goat Island on the U.S. side (hour, not remarkable just relaxing). Casinos have national-level entertainers performing. It really depends on how intensely you want to explore after the initial “Wow” of seeing the Falls.</p>
<p>Buffalo offers good food at good prices in Allentown, the art museums mentioned above (Albright Knox and Burchfield-Penney), as well as two Frank Lloyd Wright houses. My personal favorite is the Darwin Martin House (take the tour) for its new educational Visitors Center. An evening at the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra at Kleinhans Halls is very satisfying and affordable, relative to major cities. For professional Sports, check out schedules for Buffalo Bills (football) or Sabres (Ice Hockey).</p>
<p>You need excellent street directions to make a day in downtown Buffalo pleasant, as these destinations are surrounded by run-down neighborhoods. Buf, now the third poorest city in the nation, was a regal city 100 years ago so tourists need to know exactly where they are going and not just “wing-it” while driving downtown.</p>
<p>I liked the Butterfly Conservatory in Canada (hour). Niagara-on-the-Lake is interesting and attractive. The Canadian wineries are nice to tour, some with upscale restaurants. The region’s specialty is Ice Wine, delicious for dessert.</p>
<p>For inexpensive pleasures, check out the Lake Effect Diner in Buffalo, the wax museum in Niagara Falls NY (has mixed reviews), or Buffalo Chicken Wings from Anchor or Duffy’s. The Obama motorcade made a special stop for them, I think at Anchor - and he bought them take-out. </p>
<p>There’s a large Indian population around Amherst, NY (a suburb between Niagara Falls and Buffalo, aim for Sheridan Rd or Main St. in Williamsville). One can find good Indian restaurant choices, especially at lunchtime, in Amherst/ Sheridan Rd. The University of Buffalo has had a strong relationship recruiting students from one province of India for the past 30 years. Many professional graduates remain and practice in Amherst. </p>
<p>I never did it, but watching a professional game on TV in a Buffalo sports bar with local fans is crazy loud fun.</p>
<p>Reflecting that I know most of this from living there for 8 years. It is a flaw of the region’s tourism industry that so many wise CC readers/travellers above miss some of the good parts of a 2-day trip to this region. It’s poor marketing that so many tourists do come and go, without finding the “hidden gem” features. If you do your research in advance, string together some activities/destinations of interest (all in different neighborhoods), and prepare good driving directions, you can construct a good two day experience.</p>
<p>I think the prettiest midway highway stopping point, as you drive from Buffalo to Boston, is in the Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts. Aim for the towns of Lee or Stockbridge MA. WOrth it to leave the highway for them.</p>
<p>The actual half-way point is at Albany/Troy NY, not so pretty around the highway. Instead, if you push an hour longer, you’ll enjoy a stop in a Berkshire Mountain town, classic rural New England.</p>
<p>Do you need a passport to go the Niagara Canada? Bring it if you have one.</p>
<p>I am going to Myrtle Beach, SC next week. Forecast around 80! I can’t wait. Love the idea of extending summer and if OP is wide open Re:east coast, the shore would be on my list. Mid 70’s could be probable a bit south in mid Oct. I want to RELAX! No timetables, no hustle or bustle or rush to see this or that. And there is some history to be seen in NC and SC if they cant just chill out. The OP might like it, especially if they are from a state without beaches. But, it sounds like they might have business close to NYC.</p>
<p>You need either a passport or an enhanced drivers license (not every state issues these) to get into Canada. </p>
<p>I also prefer the Canadian side of NF but it’s very touristy. </p>
<p>Albany is not the half way point. It’s 300 miles to NF from here and about 160 miles to Boston.</p>
<p>Honestly Rintu…a trip to Boston and Niagara Falls, each for two days, might not be a great use of your time. You will spend ONE full day driving from Boston which IS on the east coast to the opposite end of NY state on the western end of NY. </p>
<p>There are so many wonderful things you can do within an hour, or two of Boston. I can’t imagine driving 8 hours or so to go to Niagara Falls on a trip which includes Boston.</p>
<p>Look at a map…you will see,that Boston is closely situated to so much…and Niagara Falls is not really close by.</p>