Holiday In New York and East USA in August

[NewYorkInAugust]

Hi Everyone, I am planning a holiday to New York, Philadephia, Washington DC and Boston in mid August with DS17. We plan to travel by train between cities. I have seen an organised trip which includes accomodation and train travel. I am wondering whether to book that or if it is easy enough and cheaper to organise the accommodation and travel myself? My other question/worry is that it's quite a bit of travelling and time in big cities and I do actually want a bit of a break and rest before we come home and go back to work/college etc. I was therefore wondering if there are any beaches nearish to these places where we could stay at the end of the trip and spend a few quieter days relaxing? We plan to go for 2 weeks plus a few days. Any suggestions gratefully received :) Thank you

That's a lot to pack in for two weeks.
Do you have to do all of those cities?
NYC is a lot. Washington there is tonnes to see. Never been to Philli.
The weather is full on in Aug so it will take its toll on you.
Beaches wise around Boston , cape cod but it's heaving in the summer. Rhode Island /Providence are nice.
It is a lovely area to spend time in but I'd narrow down what I want to do.

I went on a similar route last year and it was HOT. We had 2 days in Washington (40 degrees outside, not as interesting as I thought it would be, great air con in many free museums, but the best ones - spy and aerospace - you have to pay for) and 3 days in New York (amazing, full on, expensive) and in between we fitted in a few days in Shenandoah valley and this was unexpectedly fabulous. A little cooler, slightly country, interesting, beautiful and I wish we’d had longer there. Been to Boston before and really enjoyed it.

It will be hot!
Head to Provincetown on the tip of Cape Cod. You catch a ferry from Boston. I would recommend Maine too but that's another train and maybe too far off your path.