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The Rocky
Statue at the Museum of Art1
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The "City of
Brotherly Love" is the fifth largest city in the United
States and is the largest city in Pennsylvania.
It has an incredibly rich history and a population of 5.8 million. During
the 18th century, Philadelphia
was the largest city in the country, the national capitol of the United
States and the birthplace of democracy, the American Revolution and the
Philly cheesesteak sandwich. Today it is a hotbed of culture, history,
technology and art.
Europeans began arriving
in the Delaware Valley during the early 1600s. In 1681, William Penn developed
the Pennsylvania colony and decided to build a settlement on the banks
of the Delaware
River that would act as a port and a seat for the colonial government.
Philadelphia then became a meeting place for the First and the Second
Continental Congress that would see the signing of the United States Declaration
of Independence during the American Revolution. The city was even captured
briefly by the British
during the war, but English forces had to retreat and abandon the city
in order to reinforce New York,
which was threatened by French
naval power.
Today, Philadelphia
has plenty to offer visitors looking to learn about the area's past and
present. It is home to Congress
Hall, where congress conducted their sessions from 1790 to 1800.
Other historical venues include the Eastern
State Penitentiary, the Independence
National Historic Park and the Franklin
Institute Science Museum, which is dedicated to the works of Philly's
own Benjamin Franklin.
USEFUL ACCOMMODATION
LINKS
- Accommodations
Directory—This is a complete Philadelphia accommodation directory
containing detailed information about hotels, B&Bs, luxury resorts,
campgrounds and more. With links to accommodation websites and interactive
maps, this directory is designed to help visitors find the right place
to stay based on their personal preferences.
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Secure Room Reservations—Check for Philadelphia room availability
and then make secure online room reservations for participating properties
with this convenient link.
- Maps—The
Philadelphia map can assist visitors in choosing where to stay by not
only indicating where accommodations are located, but also where they
are in relation to attractions, restaurants, shops, tours and transportation.
ORIENTATION AND
CLIMATE
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A Peaceful
Day on the Delaware River2
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Situated between New
York and New Jersey,
Philadelphia's southeast is located directly on the border with Jersey.
When driving to the southwest, Pennsylvania gives way to Delaware.
Philly is arranged
into four quadrants with a predominant downtown core located in the south-central
portion of the metropolis along the banks of the Delaware River. Two major
areas extend to the northeast and the northwest and a single area lays
south of the city's center. Spanning the entire city from south to northwest
is Fairmount
Park, one of the largest municipal parks in the world.
Philly is humid and
subtropical, meaning it experiences hot summers and frosty winters. During
the summer, it's best to wear light clothing and sunscreen as tepid mugginess
and blaring sunshine prevails. Average highs are usually around 87ºF (31ºC).
Springs and fall are moderate seasons in Philadelphia. On warmer days,
a t-shirt is more than sufficient. However, sweaters and light jackets
must be worn in case of cooler weather. Winters are marked by snow, wind
and freezing temperatures. Average lows rest around 24ºF (-4ºC). Heavy
coats, gloves or mitts, hats and warm footwear must be donned to prevent
serious chills. Due to the area's humidity, fabrics like wool or polypropylene,
which whisk moisture away from the skin, are essential in maintaining
warmth and dryness. Precipitation is spread evenly throughout the year
and each month sees an average of ten days of rain or snow. During the
winter, icy road conditions are prevalent and caution should be exercised
when using roadways.
ACCESS AND TRANSPORTATION
The Philadelphia
International Airport is only moments from the city. The airport
is serviced by taxis
that charge a nominal flat rate from the airport to the downtown core.
There is also a railway serviced by Amtrak
right at the airport. The city core can be reached in 20 minutes when
riding the rails. Inbound trains from New York and Washington
arrive and depart every hour as Philly is a major hub on Amtrak's north
corridor passage. Philly also has a massive public
transit system with buses that span the city from its inner depths
to its outlying edges.
Philadelphia is accessed
by major Interstate Highways 95,
76
and 676.
Highway 95 winds through the eastern portion of the city and bends south
along the coast to Florida
and north to Maine.
However, driving to or renting a car in Philadelphia can create an array
of problems. Traffic is constantly congested and getting around can be
somewhat of a pain. Being such a large city with a dense population, legal
street parking is virtually impossible to find downtown or near attractions.
Private parking is available, but carries a hefty price tag with it. Philly
can also be accessed by Greyhound,
who maintain a large depot in the inner city. Riverlink
offers transportation to Camden,
New Jersey by
ferry from April to September.
MAJOR ACCOMMODATION
DISTRICTS
Center City/Old
City
The south-central
quadrant of the city makes up the downtown core. It is one of the most
densely populated business districts in the entire country, and holds
many of Philly's main
attractions. Accordingly, it has accommodations galore. Old
City contains the Independence
National Historical Park. Within the park, there are dozens of
notable sights like the Independence
Hall, the Liberty
Bell, the Independence
Visitor Center and the National
Constitution Center.
Most of the accommodations
around Independence Park can be found at the point where Interstate 95
intersects with Interstate 676. The Comfort
Inn Downtown offers modest lodgings at reasonable rates. They
provide close access to Philly's historic epicenter and outdoor parking
for guests. For a stay in a more luxurious setting, many visitors opt
to drop their bags at the Hyatt
Regency Penn's Landing. The Hyatt's towers provide delicious views
of the Philadelphia skyline. It is also extremely close to Dock Street
with its boisterous nightlife and superb daily shopping. Other finer stays
near the historic old city include the Omni
Hotel at Independence Park and the Sheraton
Society Hill.
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Independence
Hall and Birth of a Nation4
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A few blocks to the
west is Center City and Philadelphia's bustling commercial mecca. Dozens
of upscale restaurants,
shops,
lounges
and nightclubs
can be found here. Rittenhouse
Square is the centerpiece of the area. The park sees a fair amount
of action
with concerts and festivals taking place during the summer months. The
University
of the Arts and the Moore
College of Arts & Design are also located in the area.
Accommodation options
here are virtually endless. For upscale lodgings, the Ritz-Carlton
Philadelphia provides 30 floors of decadence. The hotel was built
in 1908 and still maintains an early 20th century aura. The Rittenhouse
Hotel is another of the area's more popular hotels. Here, they
treat their patrons like kings. Posh Vicotrian-style décor, views of the
Philadelphia skyline and a reputation as one of the best hotels in the
country make this an excellent option when deciding where to stay.
Near the Airport
There are a plethora of hotel and motel options near the airport too,
many of which are less expensive than stays in the downtown core. The
airport is just southwest of the FD
Roosevelt Golf Course and Center City. The Quality
Inn, located within a mile (1.6 km) from the airport, provides
guests with coffee, cable television and modest rates. Alternatively,
one could choose to stay in the Renaissance
Philadelphia Airport Hotel. Laundry service is offered here from
Monday to Friday. The Ramada
provides more contemporary lodgings near the airport and offers a free
shuttle service.
OTHER AREAS WORTH
CHECKING OUT
South Philly
Just south
of Philly's downtown, visitors will discover a collection of neighborhoods
that relish in their widely Italian roots. South of 9th and Christian
streets in the neighborhood of Bella Vista, is the Italian
Market. Here, European-style artisans tout cheap wares, produces,
spices and food ranging from traditional Italian
to spicy Mexican
cuisine. Citizens
Bank Park, home to the bat-swinging Philadelphia
Phillies, is located here also. The Holiday
Inn provides quality economy accommodations right by the stadium
for those selecting South Philly as their main destination.
West Philly
West Philly is large.
It includes three different universities, new developments and wide streets.
The Philadelphia
Zoo, the first zoo in the United States, is located here in Fairmount
Park along with Centennial
Arboretum. If one is looking to stay in West Philly, a bed
and breakfast would be a good choice because they are a little
more personal. But visitors might also consider trying the Howard
Johnson Springfield, which offers disabled access, microwaves
and laundry facilities. For larger parties, the Gregg
Conference Center boasts plenty of rooms and offers free broadband
and a fitness center.
HOSTEL ACCOMMODATIONS
Backpackers unite
in downtown Philly at the Bank
Street Hostel. With 70 beds in dormitory-style lodgings available
throughout the year, the hostel provides great rates on stays. It is close
to dining of all sorts, as well as downtown Philly's nightlife
and is right beside Independence Park. In a wooded area in West Philly's
Fairmount Park is the Chamounix
Mansion. A games room, laundry facilities and a public kitchen
make this a popular option for students or temporary guests of one of
the neighboring universities. There is also the Divine
Tracy Hotel, offering hostel-type stays.
PHOTO COURTESY
- c/o Wikipedia Commons; The Rocky Statue at the Museum of Art; Philadelphia,
PA.
- A Peaceful Day on the Delaware River; Philadelphia, PA.
- Philly's Downtown Stretches Toward the Skies; Philadelphia, PA.
- Dan Smith; c/o Wikipedia Commons; Independence Hall; Philadelphia,
PA.
- c/o Wikipedia Commons; A View From West Philly; Description; Philadelphia,
PA.
