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- Destinations
- North America
- United States of America
- Philadelphia
Philadelphia
Over the years numerous taglines have been coined to apply to
America's most historic city, Philadelphia. It has been called the
'Athens of the Americas', the 'city of brotherly love', 'the
friendliest city', the 'most honest city', 'the safest city' and,
most recently, 'the city that loves you back'. Fabulous 'Philly',
fifth largest metropolis in the United States, is all these things
and more, which is why it is regarded as one of the world's most
dynamic destinations and the happy home of more than three million
people.
The city is sensibly sited 60 miles (97km) inland from the
Atlantic coast on a protrusion of land at the merging of the mighty
Delaware River and the Schuylkill River, land granted to William
Penn, an English Quaker, back in 1682. Penn's vision was to
establish a 'green countrie towne', but because of its location
controlling the Delaware Valley and its good freshwater port
facilities, Philadelphia soon outgrew its original boundaries and
by the 18th century was the second largest English-speaking city in
the world.
Today Philadelphia draws tourists mainly for its historical
wealth, centred around Independence National Historical Park,
regarded as the most significant historic square mile in America
where the United States was conceived, declared and ratified. The
Constitution of the United States was written here in 1787 and the
city was the nation's first capital between 1791 and 1800.
Philadelphia is also a shopper's paradise, featuring the world's
largest mall, as well as offering some of the finest dining
establishments in the country, thousands of acres of beautiful
parkland, attractive boulevards where street fairs and parades are
common events, and a vibrant arts and entertainment community. In
short, to add to all its other tags, Philadelphia can justifiably
be said to offer something for everyone.
Information & Facts
Climate
Summers tend to be hot and often muggy in Philadelphia, the
humidity tending to be high during July and August. Fall and spring
are mild and the most pleasant seasons. The rainfall pattern is
generally spread throughout the year, with between six and nine wet
days in every month. Winters are cold, but seldom does the mercury
drop below freezing. Snow is unpredictable, some winters
experiencing little and others characterised by continual
snowstorms. The city centre and inner New Jersey suburbs generally
have light snow, heavier falls being experienced to the north and
west of the metropole.
Getting Around
The city of Philadelphia is well equipped with public transport,
most of it run by SEPTA. There is a subway system, but this does
not serve the city centre and is mainly useful for accessing the
extremities of the city. Good, reliable buses are the main standby,
particularly the purple minibuses of the PHLASH bus service that
are designed for visitors. PHLASH runs in a circuit from the
Philadelphia Museum of Art on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway through
the downtown area to Penn's Landing. The route includes 33 stops
and buses arrive every 10 minutes every day from 10am to midnight
during summer, and till 6pm in winter. Unlimited ride day passes
are available. Through the rest of the city and suburbs SEPTA buses
cover 110 routes. A useful one for tourists is the Ben FrankLine
(Bus No. 76), which runs between the zoo and Penn's Landing taking
in some top attractions on the way. SEPTA also runs a good network
of commuter trains serving the suburbs. Taxis are plentiful in the
city centre, but scarcer elsewhere, particularly at night.
Language
English is the most common language but Spanish is often
spoken in south-western states.
Money
The US Dollar (USD) is the unit of currency and is divided into
100 cents. Only major banks exchange foreign currency. ATMs are
widespread and credit cards and travellers cheques are widely
accepted. Travellers cheques should be taken in US Dollars to avoid
hassles. Banking hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm.