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But is Philly suppose to win every poll by proximity to Boston to NYC especially and thru to DC? Seems so in threads Philly is vs lately....... it did win vs Miami. You should be happy there.
In head to head comparisons, depending on criteria, no. However, for relocation purposes and amenities of the city and what's around, yes, it's a huge bonus to a lot of people. It's one of the reasons I love the Northeast so much. I can be in many different cities within a few hours by frequent train service. I can take day trips to beach resort towns, or go for long weekends to even more. I can take buses to ski resorts in the Poconos, Catskills, Adirondacks in PA, NY, and VT. To people who like exploring and going on adventures, this is a huge quality of life bonus. You can disagree personally, but to a lot of people, being within the Northeast Corridor is a huge selling feature that Chicago just can't make up for.
Relating this back to OP, if OP likes beaches, the NJ Transit Atlantic City Line reopened a while ago now and you don't have to worry about driving to the beach anymore. There are NJT buses from NYC that go to other Jersey Shore towns, so I'm assuming there are some in Philly that take you to the beaches? Idk. Yes, Chicago has them right downtown, but just a factor to consider for OP.
In head to head comparisons, depending on criteria, no. However, for relocation purposes and amenities of the city and what's around, yes, it's a huge bonus to a lot of people. It's one of the reasons I love the Northeast so much. I can be in many different cities within a few hours by frequent train service. I can take day trips to beach resort towns, or go for long weekends to even more. I can take buses to ski resorts in the Poconos, Catskills, Adirondacks in PA, NY, and VT. To people who like exploring and going on adventures, this is a huge quality of life bonus. You can disagree personally, but to a lot of people, being within the Northeast Corridor is a huge selling feature that Chicago just can't make up for.
Relating this back to OP, if OP likes beaches, the NJ Transit Atlantic City Line reopened a while ago now and you don't have to worry about driving to the beach anymore. There are NJT buses from NYC that go to other Jersey Shore towns, so I'm assuming there are some in Philly that take you to the beaches? Idk. Yes, Chicago has them right downtown, but just a factor to consider for OP.
Really? He said THAT?
We wanted to spend our retirement years:
1. in a vibrant city
2. as refugees from Houston's endlessly long, hot summers, and
3. in an area where we could make interesting day trips and weekend get-always.
I really love Chicago, but we didn’t consider it since it didn’t deliver on number 3. I’m reading in this thread about places to drive that are several hours from Chicago, but not only are they farther afield from the city, they are not nearly as varied and interesting as those we can reach within an hour or two by train or car from Philly.
The large variety of easily-accessible and interesting getaways from Philly is definitely another attractive feature of the city. Arguably, it’s the best-positioned city in the country for such day trips. Just because this is true, however, doesn’t mean that the city is not a great place to live based on its own merits. It’s simply icing on the cake.
Lol please tell me you're joking. Philadelphia is a great city on its own. But when you're also able to take day trips two of the most powerful cities on earth, that's a great asset to have. When comparing Philly to Chicago, it's a huge difference between the two. Both have amazing local culture, both are very urban, both have great food, both have tons of major league sports, both have great universities, both are seemingly thriving in one part of the city while collapsing in the other, etc. However, a major difference is that Chicago is just Chicago. Nothing else of significance around it. However, when you get a similar experience in Philly, to a lot of people, the added bonus of being that close to NYC and DC tips the scales in favor of Philly over Chicago.
I understand Philly is a special case here, but whenever you lead off with other cities that are nearby to promote a city, its always a red flag.
Not even San Jose or San Diego get that treatment.
1. in a vibrant city
2. as refugees from Houston's endlessly long, hot summers, and
3. in an area where we could make interesting day trips and weekend get-always.
I really love Chicago, but we didn’t consider it since it didn’t deliver on number 3. I’m reading in this thread about places to drive that are several hours from Chicago, but not only are they farther afield from the city, they are not nearly as varied and interesting as those we can reach within an hour or two by train or car from Philly.
The large variety of easily-accessible and interesting getaways from Philly is definitely another attractive feature of the city. Arguably, it’s the best-positioned city in the country for such day trips. Just because this is true, however, doesn’t mean that the city is not a great place to live based on its own merits. It’s simply icing on the cake.
Wow, she saw my post because it was used in a quote. I'm on her ignore.
But I clearly understand her love for Center City Philly. As a Couple .... they easily can afford downtown Philly neighborhoods to live. I'd be satisfied too. But never could afford it. Of course I couldn't Chicago's Core either. But I prefer its other neighborhoods if I dud choose to again. Nut near retirement I either will stay in my current area or seek a warmer abode.
But today we can even fly cheaply between major cities. But true .... more Chicagoans drive or take Amtrak or could. To the playground in Wisconsin. Many go to Michigan. Places in Illinois too. Just true it takes longer.
But who goes to the Poconos from Philly on day-trips? They might the Jersey shore and f course Amish country as I can. But still even to the shore or DC and definitely Boston. Won't just go fore one day. Many Chicagoans for weekend runs to the places they leave the city for.
I'd say more Chicagoans need a NYC fix far less then Philadelphians in general. But they can get chep flights and just not do one day alone.
BUT IT SEEMS WE WON'T BE GETTING OFF THS PHILLY EASTCOAST MAKES FOR THE BEST CHOICE FOR TRAVAL OUTSIDE THE CITY.... WE GET IT. BUT STILL WAAAY OVERBLOWN.
I understand Philly is a special case here, but whenever you lead off with other cities that are nearby to promote a city, its always a red flag.
Not even San Jose or San Diego get that treatment.
Nobody leads off with that. Philly has a ton to offer and its proximity to other major cities is the cherry on top. At least to me and plenty of others. I like how urban it is. It's affordable. The food is great. I love the local culture. The history of the city is amazing. I actually enjoy the people there because I don't like overly nice and fake people and Philly is like NYC/NJ in being upfront and honest. I like the public transit options, though I wish there were more subway lines. I like that it has ocean beaches within its CSA. The city is finally getting its footing and blossoming again. It's a young city with a great vibe to it and a lot of educated people with amazing universities in the city. It may not have the diversity of NYC, but it's quite diverse and I enjoy going to Chinatown, Little Italy, the Vietnamese and Mexican neighborhoods of South Philly, etc. I'm generally not a fan of malls, but it's hard to deny that KOP is a great place to go shopping. Yet Rittenhouse has a lot of great urban shopping and the Fashion District just recently opened. The topography of the region is nice as well with some pretty lush and hilly areas to the west of the city. Even within the MSA, there are a lot of cute little towns to visit like New Hope.
I'm sure there are plenty of other reasons to like Philly also. But then yes, the ability to have everything an urbanite could ever want in a city PLUS access to the most quintessential urban city in America (NYC) just a day trip away and one of the other best urban cities in the country with plenty of culture to the South (DC) just a days trip away the other way. That's a big factor for people who like to travel and explore new cities and experience different cultures and vibes. It's one of my favorite things about Europe as well. Each city has a distinct local culture to it, yet the high speed rail and/or cheap flights connecting them all make traveling to explore other places a wonderful asset to living there.
I would actually say one of the top reasons I didn't like living in LA, even though I'm from there, is the inability to visit other major global cities for day trips and/or long weekends. San Diego is to the South and it's a fun place to visit once in a while, but it's not really a vibrant and dynamic city with something new always going on. Vegas is just a party destination and can take several hours to get to with traffic. SF is a not a long weekend train trip away either. In LA, you have LA and its suburbs/exurbs. Nothing beyond that. That's fine for some. For me, I wasn't a fan. Personal preference. So when posting on an opinion board, I think it's important to point out that in Philly, you get everything one could want in a city PLUS access to NYC and DC in case you love them, but don't want to live in them.
And you can't be serious. The only reason San Jose is relevant is because of its proximity to both SF and San Mateo County. San Jose is basically just an overrated suburb of SF, but I'm not going to devolve into that argument here.
San Diego doesn't get that treatment because there's nothing else around it similar. LA is close in miles, but the traffic sucks and taking the train there isn't the same as a train from Philly to NYC/DC. SD has Tijuana across the border, but it's often hell getting through passport check.
But is Philly suppose to win every poll by proximity to Boston to NYC especially and thru to DC? Seems so in threads Philly is vs lately....... it did win vs Miami. You should be happy there.
Have you ever heard of a straw man argument? I never said Philly should win every poll for this reason alone. Its location is just one of its many attributes. You seem to be the one making it a bigger deal than any of the posters. If you hate this topic so much, why not drop it?
Oh, and yes, to MSE's point, Jim Thorpe, "the Gateway to the Poconos" is 1-1.5 hours from Philly. I go for day trips often.
Last edited by Muinteoir; 12-18-2019 at 03:59 PM..
Have you ever heard of a straw man argument? I never said Philly should win every poll for this reason alone. Its location is just one of its many attributes. You seem to be the one making it a bigger deal than any of the posters.If you hate this topic so much, why not drop it?
Oh, and yes, to MSE's point, Jim Thorpe, "the Gateway to the Poconos" is an 1-1.5 hours from Philly. I go for day trips often.
I seriously have no idea where any of said Philly should win every poll because of this. Or where any of us said the top thing about Philly is its proximity to other cities.
I seriously have no idea where any of said Philly should win every poll because of this. Or where any of us said the top thing about Philly is its proximity to other cities.
When a few use it. It becomes as if very important. It kept coming.
Use to be on 1-hour to the Jersey Shore in vs Chicago threads. Because Chicago had beaches. Some long post on Philly's importance in location. No one said it doesn't count. Just living in PA too. It isn't big to me. I definitely would not see Scranton as a tourist spot for Pocono's visitors. The Casino draws most I know. But its not like it offers nothing. Jim Thorpe is a a nice walkable old town. But many trips ..... no. It isn't a resort city. Just a quaint one and not filled with artist shops even.
Just time to go to more local attrition's. Or start with Heshey and the Amusement Park and Dorney in Allentown. Chicago has a 6-Flags. Big deal. Next Harrisburg.
I understand Philly is a special case here, but whenever you lead off with other cities that are nearby to promote a city, its always a red flag.
Not even San Jose or San Diego get that treatment.
Maybe they should.
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