Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, also known as Philly, has lots to offer travelers in many ways. Philadelphia is home to some of the best shows, attractions, and restaurants in the country. Another nickname for Philadelphia is “The City of Brotherly Love.” This nickname comes from the Greek meaning of philos meaning love, and aldelphos, meaning brother. Philadelphia is the seventh most populated city in the United States. The population is currently over one million and is not slowing down as more folks move in. People are attracted to the big city ways, and the dream of a better future in Philadelphia. Philadelphia has produced some pretty famous athletes and entertainers. Another thing that has brought more people to Philly is its exposure through the hit television show, “It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” The characters own a bar in Philly and are rather horrible people. Regardless of their characters, the show sparks people's curiosities about the area. The climate of Philly is typical of a city in the north with hot and muggy summers and cold winters. Snowfall is sporadic, and can be very light one year, and bring an all-out blizzard the next. The average temperature in January is thirty-two degrees. The spring and fall are pretty mild, so if you do not like extreme weather, those might be the best times to visit Philadelphia. Whatever brings you to Philly, there is something to do for everyone! Come and see what the City of Love has to offer.
In the early 1600s, Europeans came to Delaware Valley. The Dutch, English and Swedish founded the first settlements there. The Swedes occupied and took control in some areas of the west side. The Swedes named their territory, New Sweden. The new colony, New Sweden, supported the Susquehannocks in their battle of the English province of Maryland in 1644. The Swedes built the Fort Nya Korsholm named after a town in Finland. After 11 years, the Dutch invaded Delaware River and took control although the Finnish and Swedish dwellers pursued to have their own land, court and religion. The new colony was conquered by the English in 1663-1664; however, the situation had not changed until William Penn included the area in his charter for Pennsylvania.
William Penn's request was granted by Charles II of England in 1681 that would become the Pennsylvania colony. Penn bought the territory from the Lenape to ensure peace with the Native Americans and his colony. Penn wanted a place for everyone to freely worship despite religion differences and led to healthier relationships with the Natives. Later, Philadelphia became America's most important city. The city was named Philadelphia which is Greek for brotherly love. Penn laid out plans to make Philadelphia more like an English rural town, but the inhabitants refused and moved to Delaware River. They instead subdivided and resold their lots. Before Penn left Philadelphia, a Charter of 1701 was issued establishing Philadelphia as a city. Then in 1750s, Benjamin Franklin led in improving the city services and founded new industries and services.
The city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania offers a comfortable and good quality of life. Philadelphia is a home to sports fanatics. The city of Philadelphia is one of only eight cities in the United States having four professional sports teams in baseball, football, basketball and hockey. The city also is a home to excellent public golf courses that golf lovers may take pleasure in. Philadelphia has good transportation system, making other local destinations, within and outside the city, accessible and convenient.
There are readily available transportations for commuters. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, SEPTA, is serving the city with buses, subways, trolleys and trains with affordable passenger rates. Many commuters leave their cars at home when they go to work since other means of transportation are available with reasonably priced fares. There are many things to do in Philadelphia after work. Locals can dine at the famous restaurants and enjoy the beautiful city. The city has a vibrant nightlife with trendy bars, expensive lounges and upscale fine dining establishments. These awesome places are all in here to make the night loaded with excitement and surprises. For those who wish to pursue their education, they can earn their degrees in the popular and outstanding colleges and universities of Philadelphia. The advantages of living in Philadelphia range from economic to social, making this a perfect place for individuals and families who have been staying here or those who are contemplating to relocate in this beautiful city. Children can also enjoy the different attractions that the city has in store for them.
Local jobseekers and new settlers can have the opportunity of securing a job in Philadelphia. There are several major companies in search for new workers. The six largest employers in Philadelphia, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, are Philadelphia International Airport, United States Post Office, ACE International, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Health System and CIGNA Group Insurance. The Bank of America, Johnson & Johnson, Wells Fargo, Staples, and Bayada Nurses are also among the most popular companies with Philadelphia jobs. The top ten occupations with most job openings are personal care and service occupations; community and social services occupations; transportation, tourism and lodging attendants; counselors, social workers, community and social service specialists; computer specialists; air transportation workers; airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers; personal and home care aides, and computer and mathematical occupations.
Approximately 68 percent of the workers in this city work for companies, 15 percent work for the government, and about 4 percent are self-employed. According to government data, Philadelphia jobs have an average salary of $36,646 and the average household income is $32,573. The unemployment rate of the city is at 12.4 percent, and is significantly higher compared to the national average of 6.9 percent. However, data suggest that Philadelphia, Pennsylvania jobs have increased by 14 percent.
Philadelphia is a home to several eateries and fine dining establishments. These are some of the places voted to be most popular, with savory cuisines and excellent services. The Fountain was voted as No. 1 in a survey conducted by Zagat. The restaurant is acclaimed as one of the best restaurants in the city and a recipient of honors from Bon Appétit, Gourmet, and AAA.
The XIX offers a variety of seafood in its menu. The place is decorated with modern and classic interiors setting a stylish atmosphere along with its well-garnished American dishes. Another restaurant to visit is Ristorante Panorama with an expensive casual style. The cuisine is authentic Italian featuring homemade pastas, fresh seafood specialties and more. Buddakan is an impressive restaurant offering exotic tastes of modern Asian cuisine. This restaurant is recognized as one of America's Top 50 Restaurants by Travel & Leisure. Devon Seafood Grill features fresh premium seafood and spectacular wine cellar. Their most popular specialties are Maryland crab cakes and pan-roasted Alaskan halibut. Everyone can taste these delicious meals all for a moderate price. The Positano Coast by Aldo Lamberti serves an amazing cuisine. This is the only restaurant in the city that offers 2nd story terrace dining making the wine and dine experience memorable with scenes of the Old City.
The city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has different places that showcase its culture. These spots are worth-visiting and a must-see to learn about the arts and culture of Philadelphia. The Barnes Foundation was established by Dr. Albert C. Barnes in 1922 to promote appreciation of the fine arts. The Mutter Museum has a massive collection of over 20,000 objects; more than 10,000 medical instruments and apparatus; with about 900 preserved anatomical and pathological specimens; and many more. The Philadelphia Museum of Art is one of the largest and most important art museums of the country. It has a wide collection of pieces and artworks from different races around the world.
Philadelphia is also a city of entertainment. The Opera Company of Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Ballet and Philly Pops with Peter Nero showcase their performances in the city's Academy of Music, where the locals and visitors can have fun and adore the talents of the people in this great city. The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society offers professional and exceptional concerts for the audience to enjoy the world's most outstanding ensembles, singers, string players, jazz artists and pianists. Philadelphia possesses a very rich culture and extraordinary showcase of talents making this city a wonderful place to be.
Philadelphia is home to different famous attractions that the locals and visitors must never miss. The Liberty Bell Pavilion is famous for its Liberty Bell, a national treasure and one of the city's most spectacular attractions. This is situated outside the Independence Hall. The Philadelphia Zoo is a venue for the entire family. This is America's first zoo and is taking the responsibility of educating the community about exotic animals, and initiating the protection of endangered wildlife. The zoo also has outstanding recreational activities for families. The Core States Science Park offers very educational and interactive science exhibits that make learning a fun process. The Bartram's Garden is one of the city's prides.
It is the oldest botanical garden of America. The garden has wildflower meadow, river trail, majestic trees, stone house and farm building that make the place a magnificent venue. Benjamin Franklin, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson had all gone here. The Longwood Gardens is a 1,050-acre land of gardens, meadows, and woodlands. This attraction has 20 outdoor gardens and 20 indoor gardens with 1.6 hectares of heated greenhouses. There are 11,000 several types of plants housed in this beautiful garden. Longwood Gardens is drawing more than 900,000 visitors every year.
Philadelphia may be well known for the historic places it has and people may think the city is old-fashioned but Philadelphia has a great nightlife. The bar scene in Philly is diverse and plentiful; there's always a place for everyone. College bars, dive bars, live music clubs, sports bars are in the city getting ready to be invaded by locals and visitors especially after 6 P.M. These are some of the most flocked nighttime havens in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 105 Social is a trendy hangout in the city. The club has a pool table, big screen TVs and classic video games for the customers to play with. The club is affordable and has the best priced drinks for everybody.
The club brings in live music and hosts an art show occasionally. 32 Degrees is one of Philadelphia's hottest nightclubs with impressive liquor selection. The Bamboo Lounge is another hip lounge to enjoy cocktails and hang out. The place has an Asian flair with bamboo ceiling. The lounge features DJs spinning cool upbeat music to set the crowd for a night of partying. Cascamorto Piano Bar is a lovely bar and lounge perfect for locals who are interested in entertainment and drinks. The house pianists can perform anything that the customers desire.
Philadelphia has several shops for the locals and visitors to check out and get fashionably hot, posh and polished. These are some of the hot fashion boutiques in Philadelphia. The Boyds is the city's shrine of fashion. The store is dedicated on quality designers and exemplary customer service. This is both a shoe haven and a dress boutique. Gowns and dresses by Armani, Bottega Veneta bags and knits by Autumn Cashmere are here. There are jewels and timepieces by Govrberg in Boyds as well. Cozy and stylish coats or killer cocktail dresses are in Joan Shepp. The shop offers edgy but wearable wardrobes. Sophy Curson was established in 1928. It has collections of gala gowns by Marissa Baratelli. The shop is luxurious yet enticing. Smak Parlour is the shop for the young and well-off. The shop is flirty and full of hip original designs. Per Lei is for the mainline fashionistas.
The shop has a massive collection of designs by Philly's talented fashion designers. There are other awesome places for shopping in Philadelphia where eclectic retail chains, antique boutiques and fashion boutiques are, and the most popular places for shopping are Chestnut Hill, Franklin Mills Mall, Main Street Manayunk, Old City, Rittenhouse Square and South Street.
Some of the best spas are in Philadelphia, offering state of the art services for customer satisfaction. Terme Di Aroma is a day spa offering aromatherapy to restore health and achieve well being. Several therapeutic massages are offered like deep tissue massage, warm stone massage, Thai massage and aromatic scalp massage. They also have a number of skin care and body treatments ideal for both men and women. Adolf Biecker Spa/Salon has offered great services for more than 60 years. Their services include massage therapies, skin care treatments, body treatments and salon services like cutting and styling, waxing, hair and nail care, and hair color. 3000BC is also one of the best spas in Philadelphia. They use pure essential oils for creating a healthy body, spirit and mind.
Fitness centers are also great places to enjoy healthy lifestyle in Philadelphia. There are a number of premier fitness centers for both locals and visitors in Philadelphia and these are some of the best choices. City Fitness is a 20,000 square foot state-of-the-art fitness center situated in Spring Garden. Fitness fanatics and first timers are welcome in City Fitness with 52 cardio machines with TVs, on-site tanning; four group exercise studios like the Zumba, Spin, and Kickboxing; personal trainers, diet to go meal program and affordable membership options. The Aquatic and Fitness Center is a full service health club featuring the latest best weight training systems, cardio machines and group exercise classes with over 100 classes per week.
At the heart of Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love, is its history. Located in Pennsylvania, it is one of the oldest cities in the United States and home to our nation's Constitution. People visiting have many options for fine dining and accommodations throughout the city. Cobblestone roads lead to Rittenhouse 1715, an intimate and cozy boutique hotel overlooking a park. Museums, shopping, and historical attractions are all within walking distance, and with only 23 guest rooms in the hotel, intimate service and luxurious amenities capture the essence of this elegant hotel.
Hotel Palomar Philadelphia in Rittenhouse Square is an eco-friendly hotel with world-class, organic dining on site at the Square 1682 Restaurant. The hotel's décor reflects the cities love of art, blending in well with the vibrant culture of the area. Rittenhouse Square Park is lined with beautiful trees and benches for visitors to relax, read a book, and take in the scenery. With restaurants, bookstores, and shopping, Rittenhouse Square is a wonderful place to stay and experience. Omni Hotel at Independence Park, nestled in the historic district of Philadelphia, is only a few steps from the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. With European-inspired décor and elegant rooms, guests are well-rested, pampered and ready to explore the city. Visitors can take horse-drawn carriage rides and visit the Benjamin Franklin House. Excellent dining options and family-friendly attractions are close by. Philadelphia's long history, rich culture, beautiful hotels, and inns make for the perfect excuse to take a trip to the city.
There are a large amount of options in education within Philadelphia, provided by varied amounts of private and public institutions. The School District of Philadelphia is what runs all of the city's public schools. The School District of Philadelphia has over 347 different public and charter schools, being at the eighth largest school district in the US. For secondary or higher education it has a multitude of different options for those seeking it in Philadelphia. This city is one of the largest college towns in the USA and one with great student concentration, having over 420,000 students in all within it. Three solid examples of the institutions within Philadelphia are that of its top research schools, The University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, and Temple University. The University of Pennsylvania is one of the first universities within the USA, being the fourth oldest institution, also having claiming to be one of the Ivy League institutions. It ranks as having one of the largest research colleges and devotes a lot of it's time and resources to not only education but to research as well. It offers many undergraduate and graduate degrees in Arts & Sciences, Engineering, Nursing, Communication, Education, Law, Design, Medicine and many other degrees that one can go to school for. Drexel University is a private university also known for its research capabilities and spending. It is devised of four different schools; the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science & Health Systems; School of Education; Earle Mack School of Law; and the School of Public Health. It's divided into 9 different colleges as well, that of Arts and Sciences, and of Engineering, of Professional Studies and several others as well. It has a more recent addition of the College of Nursing and Health Professionals and the School of Public Health that were once MCP Hahnemann University.
Philadelphia is host to a multitude of different transportation methods within the inner and outer sections of the city. It is served and run by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), which maintains the buses, trains, rapid transit and the trolleys. At least one of these systems manages the various parts of Philadelphia. In addition it also contains its own airline service with its airport system.
Of it provides its own road and freeway system, as most any other large city would have. The roads run all through Philadelphia, whether as streets are as freeways and highways within the city. Everything from the Pennsylvania Turnpike, to Interstate 95 flow through and around Philadelphia to provide a means to get around and to Philadelphia. Though this of course requires going through different parts and different streets and freeways as not all of the roads run to everywhere.
The Greyhound Line is the main bus service within Philadelphia, and runs a 24-hour service, though the Greyhound Line isn't the only service that runs there. There are six other services working from the main hub. Each of these services works through the entirety of the city, providing bus rides and transportation to the different parts of Philadelphia. The rail and subway system work to the other parts of the city as well. Philadelphia is also host to a system of Trolleys that provide transportation, both on and off tracks, above ground instead of relying on below ground transportation from the subway system.
There are two airports in Philadelphia: the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), which hugs the southern parts of the city, and the Northeast Philadelphia Airport (PNE). The PHL runs the domestic and international travel while the PNE holds the general and corporate aviation. As you can see, when travelling in Philadelphia, there are numerous options to choose from.
City Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania oversees committees which are responsible for the administration of all city services. The Department of Commerce looks after all matters relating to economic development and the committee on Public Property and Public Works holds information on the impact any development will have on areas in the city. Housing and Neighborhood Development is an important issue for the city and this committee works hand in hand with the Public Health and Human Services committee to provide a high standard of living for citizens of Philadelphia. Residents are also served by the committees on Public Safety and on Streets and Services, both of whom have publicly accessible information detailing the work they do and the dispensing of their budgets. Equally, the Transportation and Public Utilities Committees and the Parks, Recreational and Cultural Affairs Committee publish details on their operational functions and costs. This is in addition to providing up to date and easily accessible information on the services which make this a vibrant city. Law enforcement matters are controlled by the Legislative Oversight Committee which is responsible for working with the Law Department, the Police Department and the Administrative Board to ensure transparency in Philadelphia´s legal system. Its Municipal Court system publishes annual reports which can be found on www.phila.gov. Service committees such as Education, the Disabled and Handicapped, and the Labor and Civil Service, look after the support and individual development of citizens are those of. All of these are managed directly by the City Council and any matter which requires more senior authority is referred to the Committee of the Whole. Philadelphia´s fiscal spending and accounting matters can be viewed with permission from the Committee on Finance, including public spending, taxation and indebtedness of the City. More specific budget information is held on water and sewer rents, fees, charges, fines and penalties.
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