New York and Boston next week- what to wear?

[KnobJockey]

Hi!

I'm travelling to the states on Sunday and need to pack my case for 3 nights in Boston followed by 4 nights in New York. What shall I pack?

I have read multiple threads about this but they all seem to be winter based. I have taken heed about shoes, and I have Clarks Corsio Calm sandals already broken in, and I've bought some skechers go walk 4 in Navy with the white sole.

I'm struggling with whether to take nicer dresses that I feel nice in, but might not be the best for walking all day, or shorts and vests that are comfy but I don't feel particularly trendy in.

Hopefully we'll manage a night out- what do you wear to go out drinking in New York? Dress? Jeans and a nice top? Flats or heels?

Help me please!

Dresses I have are things like the cami dresses from Sainsbury's, and these Zara shirt dresses.

What I loved about New York was that anything goes. I found most restaurants to be smart casual, and only the really upscale ones seemed to want a more formal attire. You can't go wrong with a little black dress just to be on the safe side, but I spent most evenings in jeans and a nice top with heeled boots as it was winter.

I think that's what's bothering me a little- in winter, jeans and a nice coat will pull you through just about anything. But it's around the 25-30 degree mark! I dont particularly want to be mooching around in denim shorts and a vest top, but jeans are going to be no good for the day!

What would you pack if you were going next week?

I have just been to NY (arrived back this morning). It was very hot and humid. If it's like this next week, I'm afraid you will sweat a lot when you are out and about . The metro is air conditioned but the platforms aren't and they get very hot! We took lots of taxis and some of them had no AC or was very inefficient... Wear light cotton clothes, that's my advice. And a hand held fan. In terms of style, anything goes but shorts and t-shirts or sun dresses during the day seemed to be the norm. Bear in mind that you can get the odd heavy shower.

In NYC at the moment. I’m wearing shorts and vests and pumps more than my dresses but I’m running around with kids in tow. Seems quite casual.

It can get hot and humid but then you get caught out by heavy thunder....

I actually went out in a dress and pumps the other night but just for dinner. I guess you could go smarter depending on where you are going.

So far not worn jeans, jumpers or heels I brought.

We are going on Tuesday. Going to pack loose knee length vest dresses, midi skirts and vest tops for day. For evening loose wide leg trousers and smart tops. May bring 1 pair of herls just in case but hope to be in flats/ trainers.

• heels

@Pinkcadillac how was it? How is the jet lag? What was your favourite thing to do there?

@Delatron we are child free, very much looking forward to it! How are you finding the heat? Do you find that you are just wearing the same thing until going to bed, or are you managing to go back to the hotel to get changed?

I think that's one of the big things I'm struggling with, whether we'll end up going back and changing or if we will end up eating in the days outfits full of mucka d sweat!

@Scabetty are you as excited as I am?! Can't wait now! Thanks for your packing list. I have a few midi vest dresses, I'm a bit chunkier than normal at the minute so I don't feel comfortable wearing them, sadly. I think the shirt dresses will come but maybe for evening, of wearing in Boston where it will be a tiny bit less humid (hopefully?)

I am very excited now. We have just drawn up our ‘must see’ list

I'll be very interested to hear that if you want to share? We've booked a football match and we think we're going to Cape Cod for the day, that's as far as we've got 😁

Boston is very casual, you will need a light top for the ac indoors as it is cranked up super high and you get chilly.
If you are going somewhere fancy on Cape Cod, floaty trousers and a fitted t shirt top would be fine, a sun hat and big sunglasses. Dont forget a swimsuit.
In the city, the Isabella Stuart Gardener Museum is fab as is the MFA
Shorts and a t shirt are fine everywhere. Try Clink in the evening, I would wear capris and a nice top. Skirts and dresses are seen as very dressy, but if you are comfy in them then go for it.

@SeaToSki thanks for that, I would never have known that Boston is more casual! Is Clink in Boston or NY? I have a couple of pairs of culottes from Zara, one in black and the other black with large white polka dots, both smart but loose fitting. Would those be about the right look do you think?

Sounds like Cape Cod is fab understated glamour, I like it!

Culottes would be perfect. Clink is in Boston and Cape Cod is great fun, which part are you going to? Dont drive down on a Friday night or back on a Sunday - the traffic will be horrendous. Are you going to Gillette Stadium to watch the football?

I felt utterly horrid with jetlag/travel fatigue the day we got there, but to be honest after a good nights sleep I felt fine the next day.

Don't put yourself under pressure to do too much the 1st and 2nd day..... we had stupidly booked a few things the afternoon/evening we arrived and hadn't for one second imagined that we'd land at 1pm local time but wouldn't get to the hotel to 7pm thanks to a massive immigration queue and Manhattan traffic .

Oh good, I have something I can wear then! The football match is while we are in NY, it's Giants Vs Patriots at the MetLife stadium.

Is Cape Cod do-able for a day trip? We arrive next Sunday early evening, and leave Wednesday lunch, so we thought Sunday night and Monday exploring Boston, Tuesday in Cape Cod (not sure where yet) and then a leisurely breakfast before getting the Amtrak.

We're staying on Cooper Street, do you know the area? Any recommendations for good value food and drinks? We're quite happy with simple and easy food on the whole, and we really enjoy street food.

Thank you for taking the time to post 😊

@TomHardysNextWife jetlag is a killer!

We actually fly in via Dublin, we can complete customs there, and then fly into Boston, which I don't think is quite as busy. We're flying back from JFK though. How long did it take you to get back to the airport/ check in for home?

Boston is much more casual than NY. Will feel comfy all the time in vest and shorts in Boston but will need dresses in NY. NY more humid - bring vest dresses in linen if you have them. Women wear black a lot. I go many times each year and have a NY wardrobe for this time of year which is very lightweight dresses. Became super useful in the heatwave here. I lived in Boston one summer and it's lovely.

Go to Quincy Market in Boston - street food, cheers, little stalls. You're right in the Italian bit of Boston where you're staying and there's fab food all around there. Do the freedom trail. Nice small cafes on Mulberry Street.

I think a day at the Cape is fairly ambitious but the Americans do it lots... There's plenty to do in Boston if you can't be bothered moving. I adore the Amtrak!

Have fun

PS fly from JFK once a month, you're fine so long as you're there 2 hours before. Either get the A train from Manhattan or Brooklyn or just get a cab, it's under 80 dollars from Manhattan including tip

We left our hotel around 2pm and got to JFK around 4pm for an 8pm outgoing flight. The traffic from Manhattan was very very heavy getting there even though it was a Sunday. Security took around an hour. I think we went via Terminal 7 as we flew BA but there was very little in there once through security. Duty free was OK but other than the ubiquitous McDonalds and a couple of other food/coffee outlets, there wasn't much to see or do. Save a book or magazine!

@KnobJockey the heat was a bit much last week (34 degrees) and it gets very humid, I was walking round with a layer of sweat dripping off me! Forecast to be cooler next week (well 26-28).

I like going back and getting changed but you don’t necessarily need to! Enjoy!

Cape Cod is really ambitious for a day trip if you are driving. You could do it if you go early and come back late - go beyond Hyannis though. Or look at the Provincetown ferries, I think there is a 9am one and it takes 90 mins (but passenger only). Provincetown is fun for a day trip if the weather is good. Otherwise you could drive to the North Shore and look around Salem (witch trials) and Marblehead (classic New England sailing town)

You can zoom around Boston on the T (equivalent of the underground) just buy a Charlie Card (Oyster) and you can make good use of it. Def look at Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. Duck tours are fun, go up the Prudential building for a crazy view (if you go at 6:30pm ish you can have cocktails while looking at the view!), Beacon Hill for some cute old world US, Boston Common for some breathing space and then Newbury Street for fancy shopping.

If the Bostonians dont understand you asking for a bottle of water, do an exagerated boaatle of waaader and they will go “oh sure” 😀

Have fun and dont get run over crossing the street.

Just take the subway out to JFK it's cheap as chips! Change at Howard Beach to the monorail.
My favourite thing to do was the High line and it's free, too- win/win!! What are you already planning to do OP?

I've also just left NYC. I thought the best day was walking the High Line (north to south) then catching the subway to Brooklyn (14th St to N Williamsburg, then ferry to Dumbo just to mix it up). You could walk back over Brooklyn Bridge if it's not 100 degrees! Biggest waste of time and money was the Open Top Bus ...