Overview

Pennsylvania's largest city, Philadelphia stands abreast with Boston when it comes to discussing the most historically significant US cities. After all, this is where the "Declaration of Independence" and the Constitution were drafted, revised and signed. Additionally, it was in Philadelphia's Tun Tavern that the very first marines were recruited in 1775, and the city even served a turn as the nation's capital from 1790-1800 while Washington, DC was under construction.

It's safe to say that this has been a place of forward thinking since its founding in 1682. After all, William Penn anticipated the tenants of modern urban planning with his earliest layouts for "The City of Brotherly Love," calling for a rectilinear street grid and five prominent public squares. Obviously, he was onto something, as even with today's heavy automobile traffic, Philly has always been easily navigatable.

Economically, as an early rail, shipping and textile center, Philadelphia's industrial roots run deep, and it prospered greatly during the 18th and 19th centuries. Although the first half of the 20th century saw many large manufacturers pack up and move their operations to the Deep South, ever-resilient Philly rebounded and, currently, major companies like Comcast, Lincoln Financial and Sunoco make their homes here.

Today, if visitors pay close attention as they set out from their hotels, they'll discover that this is a place of multiple personalities. On the one hand, there's the old-fashioned gentility, unequivocally proud of the city's long, storied history. This is what you'll find at Independence Park, billed as "America's most historic square mile." You'll also find it in the gentrified lanes and historic buildings of Old City, particularly along Elfreth's Alley, said to be the country's oldest residential street.

While pretty homes, cobblestone streets and grand halls are nice, there's an edgier brand of hubris as well. You've seen it before � Sylvester Stallone captured it in Rocky. Here, you work hard, and you earn what you get. Nowhere is this more evident than in South Philly, where the public markets bustle every day and those who "work for living" line up at places like Pat's and Geno's for cheese steaks. And when the day's tasks are done, they take their leisure pursuits just as seriously. They play hard and appreciate hard play, and it's somewhat fitting that the home venues for the Eagles, Phillies, Flyers and 76ers are in South Philly.

Finally, there's a newer, trendier personality, spurred by a recent influx of 20- and 30-something professionals with keen fashion sense, a taste for innovative cookery and an affinity for cool things to do. Their influence is most apparently felt on the restaurant and nightlife scenes. Once City Center was THE place to go for fine food and hot nightspots; by and large, that's still the case, but it's handy to note that hip little pockets of BYOB restaurants, lounges, dance clubs and music venues have seemingly developed all over the city, from Old City and the Northern Liberties to Rittenhouse Square and South Street.

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