Yogi, So excited for you!!! You'll have a wonderful time. You should definitely do the duck tour in Boston. It's a bus that becomes a boat and you tour both the city and the harbor. You should also do Salem, the site of the infamous witch trials.

Boston and NYC are about 3 1/2 hours apart. However, there are lots of places near NYC that are far less expensive to stay. You could stay in nearby NJ or one of the suburbs. Let me know if you need any help!!