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philadelphia & the countryside
“Philadelphia is nicely
positioned between New York, the financial capital, and Washington DC, the political capital. We enjoy four seasons, the ocean is just an hour away, and we have the mountains and a beautiful city to explore”
MARY FLANNERY, PUBLIC AFFAIRS MANAGER, PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Market traders: Visit the Reading Terminal Market – the nation’s oldest
farmers’ market – for pancakes and eggs for breakfast. Or try the Pennsylvania Dutch speciality ‘scrapple’, made from pork scraps mixed with cornmeal and mashed into a loaf. A sip of history: To tap into the city’s history sign up for a Historic Philadelphia
tour, led by costumed interpreters in character. The Tippler’s Tour includes visits to city ‘taverns’ and encounters with important characters from America’s past.
downtown neighbourhoods are easy to explore – and best appreciated – on foot. Or for an orientation of its distinctive neighbourhoods suggest a Big Bus Tour, which begins at the corner of Fifth and Market Streets in the heart of Independence and National Historical Park. You will discover a city that has a story to
tell and many different ways of telling it. To immerse yourself in early American history, sign up for a National Constitutional Walking Tour. You’ll hear the stories of Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the nation’s fi rst bank, the burial site of the city’s favourite son, Benjamin Franklin… and much more. This nation-forming history really comes
alive at the National Constitution Centre, with interactive exhibits, hands-on experiences, rare artefacts and live performances. It is unlikely that the Pope will stop by the popular City Tavern during his visit this September but if he does he would be served food inspired by the culinary traditions of the eighteenth century by staff in period costume. Those who have visited Boston’s Beacon Hill will fi nd similarities in Philadelphia’s old neighbourhoods, such as Society Hill. The cobbled streets are narrow and lined with characteristic historic town houses and graceful red-brick buildings. Or they could walk around Chinatown, the third-largest in the US, before browsing for a possible treasure on Antique Row or hitting Old City’s funky boutiques for something more contemporary. And for a stroll that takes you through several neighbourhoods, walk the length of South Street,
which will take you from the Delaware River to the Schuylkill River. The stretch of South Street that runs from Front Street and Seventh Street has long had a bohemian edge and a retro-punk-style ambience, along with a heady mix of colourful shops, bars, and eateries. With its unique mix of the old and new, Philadelphia hopes to build on the 88,000 UK visitors who stopped by in 2013. The city is certainly booming for trade-
specialist Funway. Comments Rebecca Evans, Marketing Executive: “Passenger numbers to Philadelphia have increased threefold since Funway increased its USA product range last year.” Funway is one operator now taking advantage
of Delta’s new Heathrow-Philadelphia service, which launched in late-April. The fl ight brings the number of daily services from the UK to the city – British Airways and American also fl y there – to seven (fi ve from Heathrow, one from Manchester and a seasonal Glasgow service). Jina Sanone, Managing Director, Partner
Development at Delta, said: “It’s great to be serving another destination from London, the eighth for us. I am excited that we will be bringing more UK passengers here – Philadelphia is a fabulous city with a lot of history and heritage.”
Perfect ten Packing a punch: It may be one of the country’s top art institutions, with several unique treasures and masterpieces, but the Philadelphia Museum of Modern Art’s best known ‘exhibit’ is the Rocky statue at the bottom of the steps that featured in the original movie. This spring Rocky 7 was being shot in the city.
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Street cart called satisfy: Stop by one of several street food carts for a
Philly Cheese Steak, or try a ‘hoagie’, a submarine sandwich invented in Philly. Brewing up a storm: Philadelphia has a thriving craft beer movement. Suggest The Dandelion on 18th Street, Nodding Head Brewery on Sanson Street or, for one of the biggest ranges of German beers in the US, Brauhaus Schmitz on South Street. Art for art’s sake: Take a guided mural tour. Over 3,500 are dotted around the
city, many writ large on huge walls fronting tenement buildings or public car parks.
Opening page: a mural showing the making of a mural, one of over 3,500 oversized paintings in Philadelphia; this page; Philly looks a picture in spring; the Liberty Bell, which was fi rst used in 1776 to celebrate the fi rst public reading of the Declaration of Independence; next page: Reading Terminal Market; the ‘Love’ sign is one of the city’s most photographed sites; shopping at King of Prussia Mall, Valley Forge
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