PHILADELPHIA
Area: Cities
Country: United States of America
Location:
In the SE corner of the NE state of Pennsylvania. 75 mls SW of New York City; 160 mls NE of Washington, DC. Philadelphia International Airport is 8 mls SW of the city centre.
Telephone code from UK:
1 215
Website:
http://www.pcvb.org
Position:
On reasonably flat land at the confluence of the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers, and surrounded by gentle green hills.
Description:
One of the oldest cities in the US, Philadelphia played a key role in the nation's founding. It was here that the Declaration of Independence was signed in July 1776 and the Constitution drafted in 1787; for a brief spell, it was even the nation's capital. Today, it is the 5th largest city in the US, a thriving metropolis measuring roughly 22 mls by 17 and home to nearly 1,600,000 inhabitants. Sleek modern skyscrapers stand among historical old buildings; charming little cobbled streets intersect wide, bustling avenues. Lots of green areas _ among them 8,579-acre Fairmount Park _ dot its width and breadth. The city's more than 150 distinct districts have earned it the nickname "City of the Neighbourhoods"; one of these, Society Hill, is Philadelphia's original residential area, with hundreds of restored 18th-century houses. The historic NW section of the city is filled with architectural and cultural treasures and upmarket shopping and dining. As well as being the site of a respectable number of world-class attractions, the city also boasts a rich ethnic diversity, from the animated Italian market to the vibrant African-American festivals, from China Town to the nearby Amish communities. Philadelphia also has its fair share of university credentials, being home to over 88 colleges and degree-granting institutions.
Suitability:
Especially for those who appreciate architecture, American history, museums and the benefits of a mid-size city.
Accommodation:
A wide variety, from luxurious to moderate. Over 10,000 hotel rooms in the city centre alone. Just outside the city, numerous B&Bs provide reasonably priced accommodation.
Shopping:
A shopper's dream come true. Antiques, artwork and gift shops, boutiques, craft emporiums, upmarket clothing outlets and gourmet food markets abound. A handful of quality department stores. The historical shopping area of Philadelphia Bourse has a wide range of speciality shops. China Town Mall for Asian goods and food. The Italian Market has fresh produce, home-made pasta, clothing and spices. Liberty Place has one of the city's most elegant malls. Outside the city limits is the King of Prussia Mall, the nation's largest shopping complex, with 8 department stores, 400 boutiques and speciality stores and 40 restaurants.
Entertainments:
Daytime: lots of fine old historical homes. The Liberty Bell. Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution were signed. The late 19th-century City Hall. The impressive Masonic Temple. The Academy of Natural Sciences has an outstanding exhibit on dinosaurs. The Franklin Institute Science Museum. Independence Seaport Museum for the maritime history of the Delaware River. The renowned University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Philadelphia Museum of Art (one of the world's best); the Rodin Museum; the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Fairmount Park has archery, bicycling, canoeing, fishing, golf, hiking, horse riding, lawn bowling and tennis, plus cricket matches. Spectator-sport enthusiasts can see home games of the Phillies (baseball) and Eagles (American football). Polo. The Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Zoo. Lots of tours by foot, boat, bus, carriage or trolley. Mummers Parade on New Year's Day; Thanksgiving Day Parade (late Nov). Nightlife: the Philadelphia Orchestra (one of the country's finest symphonies); opera nights, the Pennsylvania Ballet. Summer concerts on the Great Plaza. The Forrest Theater for pre-Broadway and hit shows. National touring companies perform at the Annenberg Center and the Merriman Theatre. Discos, comedy and music clubs clustered mainly in the popular Penn's Landing area, near the downtown waterfront.
Eating:
Philadelphia's culinary reputation in the past was based on cheesesteaks and cream cheese, but now it's become a real restaurant town. Fashionable restaurants are scattered throughout the city centre, the suburbs and out on the Main Line, where the wealthy still live on rolling estates. Ethnic areas, especially China Town and the Italian section in S Philly, provide delicious and inexpensive cuisine; you can also sample Cajun, Southwestern, Pennsylvanian and Colonial-era fare. Japanese, Indian, Moroccan, Brazilian and vegetarian restaurants can also be found.
Public-transport:
Streets in the city centre can be busy and congested, so it's best to go on foot or use the city's comprehensive public transport network, with buses, an underground system and trams. The SEPTA day pass offers unlimited travel on all public transport, plus a one-way trip on the Airport Line. Commuter rail service to the suburbs.
Local-excursions:
The Brandywine Valley has Longwood, the former estate of industrialist Pierre du Pont; it includes his country home, gardens and a 3»-acre conservatory. Valley Forge, a Revolutionary War battlefield. The Pennsylvania Dutch country, filled with traditional villages and wonderful family restaurants. Over the state border into New Jersey: the Garden State Discovery Museum; the New Jersey State Aquarium; and (overnight) casinos and entertainments of Atlantic City. Winter: downhill skiing at Montage Mountain Ski Resort in Scranton, NE Pennsylvania.