Furnished Apartments in Philadelphia

Facts About Philadelphia

Philadelphia, which is colloquially named Philly, is a city in Pennsylvania State, USA. It is the 6th highest populated city in the country and it has had similar geographic boundaries as Philadelphia County from 1854 onwards. It is also the economic and cultural hub for the entire greater Delaware Valley area.

Here are some more interesting facts about Philadelphia:

• Philadelphia is one of the USA’s oldest municipalities. William Penn, the English Quaker, founded Philadelphia in 1682 for being the capital of the Pennsylvania Colony. 
• The city played a crucial role in the American Revolution as a meeting point for Founding Fathers of the United States, who inked the Declaration of Independence at the Second Continental Congress in 1776 and the Constitution at the Philadelphia Convention in 1787. 
• Major events occurring in the city at the time of the Revolutionary War include the preservation of the Liberty Bell, Siege of Fort Mifflin, First Continental Congress and Battle of Germantown. 
• Philadelphia was the biggest city in the entire nation until New York City outstripped it back in the year 1790. It was also one of the capitals of the USA at the time of the Revolution, serving as a temporary capital when Washington D.C. was being built. 
• Philadelphia transformed into a leading railroad and industrial hub in the 19th and 20th centuries. 
• Philadelphia has seen the country’s first hospital, medical school, library, business school, stock exchange and zoo. 

Philadelphia is a major academic hub today with leading colleges and universities and as of 2019, the city’s metropolitan area generated GMP (gross metropolitan product) of a handsome $490 billion. Philadelphia houses 5 Fortune 1000 companies and several other leading businesses. 

Philadelphia International Airport is already going through a major infrastructural ramp-up and expansion for building passenger capacity and experiences. The 30th Street Station is the third busiest Amtrak railway hub in the country. 

Cost of Living in Philadelphia

Restaurant meals may cost anywhere around $10-60 while one-way transportation tickets are priced at approximately $2.25-4. Monthly passes cost around $96 while basic utility costs hover around $150.32 on average. Rentals may hover between $1,300-4,000 approximately. 

Tips for Visiting Philadelphia

Here are some useful tips for visiting Philadelphia that you should keep in mind:

• Venture beyond soft pretzels and cheese steaks- Philadelphia is not just about cheese steaks and soft pretzels. Feast on Israeli, Italian and other delicacies here. 
• The Philly PHLASH will help you explore more conveniently. This bus runs every 15 minutes from 10 AM to 6 PM, May to September. You can only pay a nominal sum for each ride with free rides for children less than 4 years of age and seniors. The bus covers all major sites and attractions in Philadelphia city. 
• The city is tailored for walking and hence bring proper shoes on your trip. 
• Philadelphia is a lot about craft beer and breweries. 
• Fairmount Park is ideal if you wish to hike, walk or bike or simply take a picnic beside the water. 
• There are several blue signs that you should notice while getting out and about. 

Things to Do in Philadelphia

Philadelphia has several wonderful things to do and activities to enjoy. Here’s taking a look at some of them. 

1. What are the most popular things to do in Philadelphia? 

Philadelphia offers several popular attractions and activities including taking photographs before the Liberty Bell, posing with the Rocky Statue and going up the Rocky Steps, enjoying authentic Philly cheesecakes, visiting the iconic LOVE sculpture, touring the Independence Hall and many more. 

2. What are some free things to do in Philadelphia? 

Free things to do in Philadelphia include exploring Independence Hall, Liberty Bell Center, LOVE Sculpture, Rocky Statue and Rocky Steps, Spruce Street Harbor Park, Valley Forge National Historical Park and more.

3. Does Philadelphia have many romantic attractions? 

Philadelphia has several romantic attractions including the Rodin Museum, Boathouse Row, Fairmount Park and Dream Garden. 

4. What are the most family-friendly things to do in Philadelphia? 

Family-friendly things to do in Philadelphia include visiting the Please Touch Museum, Adventure Aquarium, Franklin Square, Philadelphia Zoo, Franklin Institute, Sesame Place and also the Spruce Street Harbor Park. 

5. What are the more unusual things to do in Philadelphia? 

Unusual things to do in Philadelphia include The Moon Tree, Mummer’s Museum, Cave of Kelpius, The Nerve of Harriet Cole, The Whispering Bench, Eastern State Penitentiary and Mutter Museum. 

Places to Visit in Philadelphia

There are several delightful places worth visiting in Philadelphia. These include:

• Liberty Bell Pavilion: The Liberty Bell has always symbolized independence and freedom in the U.S. It was rung for marking the signing of the Constitution although it tolled while commemorating George Washington’s birthday in the year 1846. The Liberty Bell Pavilion can be accessed free of cost and is one of the best activities to enjoy in Philadelphia. 

• Independence Hall: Independence Hall was originally the State House of the Colony of Pennsylvania and is known as the place where the adoption of the Declaration of Independence took place courtesy of the Continental Congress on the 4th of July, 1776. This is also where the Continental Congress met after 11 long years and the United States Constitution was written likewise. The key attraction is the Assembly Hall where the meeting took place for the Second Continental Congress. This is also where the Declaration was signed and where George Washington was selected as the Continental Army’s Commander-in-Chief. 

• Independence National Historical Park: This is the most historic square mile in the entire country with famous landmarks such as Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and a lot more. There is also Congress Hall where the first United States Congress met between 1790 and 1800 and also where John Adams and George Washington were elected as President. The Old City Hall is also present along this stretch. It was once the Supreme Court’s seat between 1791 and 1800. 

• Philadelphia Museum of Art and Rocky Steps: The Philadelphia Museum of Art has one of the biggest painting and artwork collections in the United States. Amongst the best sections of the museum are the medieval galleries which have pictures of Rogier Van Der Weyden and also the brothers Van Eyck. There are Baroque and Renaissance works aplenty along with artwork dating to the 18th and 19th centuries, inclusive of pictures by Toulouse-Lautrec, Van Gogh, Manet, Renoir, Monet, Cezanne and Degas. There is a collection of 20th century European art, aptly represented by Matisse, Chagall, Picasso, Paul Klee, Miro and other famous artists. American art is represented through the work of local Philadelphia artist Thomas Eakins and Charles Wilson Peale among numerous others. The Neoclassical-style building is also a major draw for visitors and one of the most photographed spots in the city. 

Places to Eat in Philadelphia

Some of the best places to eat in Philadelphia include Raven Lounge, Vesper Dayclub, Brasil’s Nightclub, Ashton Cigar Bar, Hop Sing Laundromat, The Barbary, Assembly, Tap Room, Dahlak, The Landing Kitchen, La Llorona Cantina and Harper’s Garden among numerous others. 

Street Food in Philadelphia

Philadelphia offers a wide range of street food ranging from pretzels and cheese steaks to Israeli delicacies at Zahay or vegan meals at Vedge along with Italian Market for classic Italian fare and Double Knot that serves up tapas. 

Shopping in Philadelphia

Shopping options at Philadelphia include the King of Prussia Mall which has 7 key department stores and 450+ outlets in tandem with several restaurants and boutiques. This is the USA’s biggest retail space while being the biggest shopping mall along the East Coast. Other shopping hubs include Nicole Miller at the Bellevue, DFTI Boutique, The Sample Rack, Sophy Curson, BHLDN, Kiki Hughes, Philly Bride and Dia Boutique among numerous others. 

Transportation in Philadelphia

The Philadelphia International Airport is already going through an advanced infrastructural expansion exercise for scaling up overall passenger capacity and improving passenger experiences simultaneously. The Port of Philadelphia witnessed the highest percentage increase by way of tonnage that was loaded in the year 2017 amongst all major seaports in the U.S. It is already doubling overall capacity for accommodating most super-sized post-Panamax shipping vessels and more cargo. Philadelphia has its 30th Street Station which is the third busiest railway hub for Amtrak after Union Station in Washington D.C. and Manhattan’s Penn Station. This caters to more than 4 million intercity railway passengers every year. 

Weather in Philadelphia

Philadelphia witnesses humid and warm summers with cold winters. It remains mostly cloudy and a little wet throughout the year. The temperatures usually hover between 26 degrees Fahrenheit and 87 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures usually do not fall below 13 degrees Fahrenheit or surpass 94 degrees Fahrenheit. The best time to visit Philadelphia is between early June and early July and also between early August to late September for enjoying the weather and numerous outdoor attractions and activities.