Independence-Yay! Visit the USA with PLAY
Four iconic US cities you can visit from London Stansted with Northern Lights stopover
This Thursday (July 4) is a big day for millions of Americans, as they celebrate Independence Day. With parties, parades, and spectacular fireworks displays, the United States really is the place to be.
If all the celebrations whet your appetite for a trip to the good ol’ US of A and you want to take your experience to the next level, why not combine a trip to one of four iconic US cities with a breathtaking stopover in Iceland.
From the historic streets of Boston to the bustling waterfront of Baltimore, the bright lights of New York and the political hub of Washington DC, all are in easy reach for travellers from London and the East of England with PLAY Airlines via its Reykjavik hub in Iceland.
As an added benefit the low-cost carrier also offers stopovers in Iceland for no additional cost, enabling travellers to visit two countries in one trip.
The free stopovers enable passengers to stay up to 10 days in the country to experience the island’s incredible natural wonders including waterfalls, geysers, hot springs, glaciers, and of course, the Northern Lights.
PLAY operates daily flights from Stansted to the capital, Reykjavik, and has daily connections to all four US cities. One-way fares from Stansted to the USA start at £118 one way.
Here’s a guide to the four iconic US cities you can reach from London Stansted flying with PLAY Airlines:
Boston
One of the highlights of the Boston experience is its people. With their characteristic accent and down-to-earth Irish American attitude, the stereotypical Bostonian is a joy to be around. Just make sure you root for the Boston Red Sox in the vicinity of Fenway Park, and you’ll be alright.
A good place to start exploring this city is Beacon Hill, one of the country’s most picturesque neighbourhoods. Built up in the 18th and 19th centuries, this hilltop area is full of cobblestoned streets lit with antique lanterns and lined with Victorian houses. The area is full of wonderful boutiques and artisan shops and somehow feels both rooted in history and like an unreal theatre production.
To enjoy the historical side of this remarkable town, walk the Freedom Trail, a marked trail in the sidewalk in the downtown area that leads visitors between 16 significant locations to the history of the United States.
After stopping by at the legendary “Cheers” pub on Beacon Street, cross over from the old to the new by strolling through the Public Garden. It’s a wonderful and enchanting park in the heart of the city that leads you west to Back Bay for a full-blown shopping and dining experience.
And for that cultivated higher-learning atmosphere, visit Harvard Square in Cambridge and its surrounding university grounds.
• PLAY flies daily to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) - Terminal E. The airport is less than 8 km from the city centre.
Baltimore
Baltimore is a large seaport city on the eastern shore of the United States. Home to 600,000 people this seaside beauty is nicknamed Charm City by its inhabitants.
It’s the crab capital of the United States and sampling some of the best crab dishes on offer is an absolute must. Get your crab seasoned with Old Bay spice, a true Baltimore original. If crab isn’t your thing, there are plenty of magical eateries in Baltimore, a thriving foodie haven.
Visit Little Italy for a glimpse into one of the most charming Italian neighbourhoods in the USA and enjoy its wonderful restaurants and charming streets.
The harbour and downtown area are a feast of activities ranging from water taxis to paddleboats to boutique shopping excursions. Those that are inspired by this oceanic setting should visit the world-famous National Aquarium that boasts over 20,000 aquatic animal species including sharks, crocodiles and stingrays. The habitats are gorgeous and this glimpse into an underwater world is a true adventure for the whole family.
It’s not all about marine life in Baltimore. Another notable spirit animal of the city is the raven. The Ravens football team is a huge part of the city’s character, named after the famous poem by Edgar Allan Poe who lived here for most of his career. Poe fans can pay homage to the great author at Westminster Hall in downtown Baltimore before catching a football game at the M&T Bank Stadium.
• PLAY flies daily to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) - International Terminal Zone E. The airport is 14 km from downtown Baltimore and approx. 50 km from Washington DC.
New York
The Big Apple, the city that never sleeps, New York, hardly needs introduction. With approx. 9 million inhabitants and nearly 70 million visitors in 2019, this is arguably one of the most happening cities in the world and a mecca for any self-respecting globetrotter.
Every street corner feels like a filmset and for first-time visitors, this city feels oddly familiar. That doesn’t make it any less exciting and fabulous though. But instead of waxing on about Central Park and the Statue of Liberty, the amazing museums, first-class restaurants and romantic bookstores, we’re taking a different approach.
PLAY offers flights to New York Stewart International Airport. It’s a 90-minute bus ride from Times Square, but this small and comfy airport is situated in the southwest of the Hudson Valley, an upstate New York paradise. This area is home to luxury spas, outdoor adventures, scenic boat tours and wonderful ski areas. This is a place of affordable accommodation and beautiful landscapes. It doesn’t hurt that it’s home to the world’s largest Legoland park and Woodbury Common, one of the most popular outlet malls in the United States and of course, just a stone’s throw away from Manhattan.
New York State has so much to offer whether you enjoy the great outdoors, historic sites, a championship-level shopping spree, Lego theme parks or the most vibrant and exciting city in the world. Get a cheap flight to upstate New York, travel through a tiny and friendly airport with minimum waiting times and comfortable service, book great accommodation for less, enjoy the great state of New York or grab a bus to Manhattan and play more because you paid much less.
• PLAY flies daily to New York Stewart International Airport - Main Terminal. The airport is located in the Hudson Valley, approx. 90 min. away from Times Square.
Washington D.C.
This is a monumental city, in every meaning of the word. Home to the White House, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, more war memorials than you can count and probably hundreds of film locations you’ve seen. It’s a city of great modern and historical importance with a lively atmosphere lost on no visitor.
When you’ve exhausted your Instagram with selfies in front of the city’s iconic monuments; at the foot of the giant Lincoln statue, at the Reflecting Pool between the Lincoln Memorial and the huge obelisk of the Washington Monument, in front of the White House and on the steps of the United States Capitol, enjoy an afternoon (or a week even) in the Smithsonian Museum. Make sure to revisit all the monuments at night to see them lit up in all their glory.
Heading west from the White House you’ll reach the city’s famous Foggy Bottom district. It’s one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Washington, D.C., dating from the 18th and 19th century. Walking around this area is a joy in itself but keep an eye out for such famous (and infamous) locations as the Watergate building, the Kennedy Centre and the numerous stately embassies to be found there.
A little further west is Georgetown, another historical neighbourhood with its own distinct charm. Lovers of colonial architecture and charming boutiques should love a stroll in Georgetown but history buffs should equally enjoy walking the same streets as John F. Kennedy, Elizabet Taylor and Alexander Graham Bell once did.
Even the city’s most famous plants, the cherry blossom trees, are a relic of history, a gift from the mayor of Tokyo in 1912. Don’t worry if you miss out on their pink blossoms in spring, you still have an abundance of green spaces and ambitious parks to enjoy.
- PLAY flies daily to Dulles International Airport (IAD), Main terminal. The airport is 42 km (26 miles) from the city centre.
For more information visit https://www.flyplay.com/