Matt Capon
GOOD Segway tour
With history at its heart, a thriving cultural scene, a forward-thinking tech movement and an array of outdoor offerings, Philadelphia has never been more inviting.
Sandwiched between New York and Washington DC in Pennsylvania, Philly, as it’s affectionately known to locals, was once the capital of the nation.
The Declaration of Independence was written, signed and first publicly read here in 1776, as was the US Constitution just over a decade later. That iconic symbol of American independence, The Liberty Bell, remains one of the city’s mostvisited attractions.
Proud to define so much of modern-day America, the city has status, poise and wisdom.
William Penn’s vision for Philadelphia was for a sanctuary for the persecuted and a home for the oppressed – driven by the man who put the Penn in Pennsylvania’s Quaker belief in seeing the good in all people and all things.
His ideas continue to ring throughout most of the city; from the Quaker high schools and meeting houses to the leafy arboretums that were founded and
Rooms at the Philadelphia Renaissance
Fairmount Park has 270 miles of walking trails
CULTURE Road to City Hall
Past and present
built by Quaker gardeners and botanists. But where William Penn gave Philadelphia purpose, it was Ben Franklin who gave the city true meaning.
Still held in startling reverence, his dynamism, original thinking – the man invented everything from bifocals to the lightning rod – has immortalised him in the hearts and minds of locals.
The second-largest city on the east coast has more than 2,500 restaurants and outdoor cafés. It’s also one of the best beer-drinking cities in the US with dozens of pubs, bars and micro-breweries.
A walk down South Street will open your eyes to the possibilities.
Fancy a sweet treat? Pay a visit to Federal Donuts. Need a quick livener? Try the bar in MilkBoy and ask what’s on tap. Then, of course, there is the best Philly cheesesteak. I recommend the chicken version at Ishkabibble’s, washed down with
Bill and Ben
Food and drink
Try a tasty cheesesteak