If you’re a Red Sox or Yankees fan, you’ll be well versed in New York and Boston’s epic rivalry. Existing far beyond the beginnings of baseball and the creation of the United States (it seems that New England and New Netherland weren’t on great terms either), New York vs Boston has become something of a tradition. At first glance though, there’s not much between them. Both occupy a piece of craggy coastline and are filled with fast-moving fast-talking locals who will never turn down a steaming bowl of hot chowder. But dig a little deeper and you’ll see that their similarities stop there. While Boston likes to linger in the past, New York looks firmly into the future. Fortunately, time travel between the two is just a short 200-mile train ride, making a visit to both in one trip as easy as (Boston cream) pie. So, if you’re after the lowdown on how best to spend your time in these East Coast cities, read on to discover our New York vs Boston breakdown.
Cityscape
You’d think in a New York vs Boston blog, New York would be the easy winner of cityscapes. Home to glinting skyscrapers, famous bridges and perfectly perpendicular parks, New York feels like one giant film set – and it is. Sprawling yet compact with five boroughs, 36 islands and a National Historic Landmark count of over 275, New York feels like a never-ending display of good looks. Perfect for those who love to wander along atmospheric avenues and those who prefer to simply stop and take stock from above (we recommend the Edge Observation Deck), New York seems like it has more than a shoe in for the cityscape award. But add Boston’s postcard pretty Beacon Hill and North End into the mix and it all becomes a little less straightforward. While Beacon Hill’s cobblestoned streets link historic churches to meeting houses that once planned infamous tea parties, a quick hop across the Charles River to Cambridge puts you right in the middle of two of the world’s most prestigious universities, Harvard and MIT, proving that Boston isn’t just a pretty face.
Because they are so different, we struggled to decide a winner of cityscapes so it’s 1-1 in the battle of New York vs Boston.
Food
When it comes to food, New York and Boston speak the same language. They both understand the importance of carbohydrates and aren’t afraid to lay it on thick – at least where the condiments of a hot dog are concerned. While New York is famed for its pizza, cheesecake and bagels (try Bergen Bagels in Brooklyn for a taste of tradition), Boston is known for its take on baked beans (which earned it the moniker ‘Bean Town’), cream pie and lobster rolls. While in the city, don’t miss a night in the fish-centered Seaport District or the slightly more upmarket B&G Oysters. With 360° views of the Atlantic from almost every block, it’s a must-visit. Meanwhile in the Big Apple, the only post-dinner de-tour you should take is to Nolita for a bite of Eileen’s Special Cheesecakes. Both cities have their fair share of Michelin-star fine dining too, but neither have lost sight of their roots. The proof is in the clam chowder (or ‘chowdah’ as the locals say). While Boston keeps theirs traditional with a thick creamy soup complete with salt pork, clams, potatoes, onions and oyster crackers, Manhattan puts its own spin on it with a tomato-based broth filled with carrots, onion and celery. Which one is better, you ask? You’ll just have to try them both to find out…
With such distinct dishes, we struggled to decide a winner. But we’d argue the pastrami and rye served in a Boston diner (à la When Harry Met Sally) doesn’t quite compare to the overwhelming variety of food in offer in the Big Apple, so we’ll give this one to New York. Boston, 1, New York, 2.
Culture
What Boston lacks in size, it makes up for in personality. With its own accent, slang and, for all intents and purposes, the longest history in America, it’s not surprising that Bostonians are so protective of their city. Thanks to its large Irish population, the city turns emerald green come St Patrick’s Day and diehard sports fans flock to the nearest Irish bar or stadium anytime one of the city’s four major league sports teams play. Boston is both a city of patriots (literally and figuratively) and one of the greatest examples of blended cultures. New York, on the other hand, boasts a cultural centre of almost mythic proportions. A trendsetter, dream maker and architectural darling, New York wears many hats. It is where sub-cultures meet (think Chinatown, Little Italy and Astoria – which houses the largest indigenously Greek population outside of Athens) and no one ever sleeps. And while its 10 million locals are savvy and worldly, you’ll have to try and pin them down first to get an inside scoop of this mesmerising metropolis.
New York may have Broadway, famous bridges and the Met, but if you’re after an undiluted insight of a stripped back American spirit that bursts with historic charm and larger-than-life locals, then the culture crown goes straight to Boston, making the score 2 all.
Unmissable experiences
If it’s history you’re after, it’s history you’ll get along Boston’s Freedom Trail. Start at Boston Common and meander through its Public Market to the U.S.S. Constitution and Bunker Hill Monument, where the first major battle of the American Revolution took place. Follow the crowds to Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, and lose yourself in its spirited atmosphere (especially if you happen to catch a New York vs Boston game). Sling a couple of Fenway Franks (the Red Sox’s signature hotdogs), join in the Red Sox rendition of ‘Sweet Caroline’ and consider yourself a Bostonian. In New York, however, deciding where to begin will be the most challenging part of your trip. Whether it be the High Line or the Statue of Liberty – both of which provide breathtaking views over the city –getting lost in literary worlds in New York Public Library or taking time to reflect and remember at the 9/11 Memorial Museum, New York City offers one unmissable experience after another.
There’s something about Boston, undoubtedly, but in a city where even just sitting in a coffee shop off Greenwich Village feels like a rite of passage, unmissable experiences and ultimately the New York vs Boston knockout has to go to New York. In the words of F. Scott Fitzgerald, it is ‘always a city seen for the first time, in its first wild promise of all the mystery and the beauty in the world’ and we couldn’t agree more. Final score: Boston, 2, New York, 3.