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Yea arguing crime for either one of these cities is a losing fight lol. They are both big old cities with good histories and went through tough times in the latter half of the 20th century. Both boast a variety of different types of fine dining and have their own unique regional dishes. However there is nothing quite like The Signature Room on the 95th Floor of the Hancock tower looking out at the water. There are plans for there to be a restaurant at the top of CITC which would provide similar height views, and hopefully a good view of the two rivers. However I still don't think it will top The Signature Room. Waterfront area is the big separator for me. Huffington Post did rank Philadelphia's Spruce Harbor Park as one of the best Urban Beaches in the world, along with North Avenue Beach in Chicago.
Location: Bmore, The cursed land of -> Hotlanta -> Charlotte
305 posts, read 416,745 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rofl33cat
I've lived in both cities for a few years and I have to say I liked Philly more than Chicago. Chicago was (and is) a great town, a very young town (big plus), and had tons to do, but at the end of the day you were still in the middle of the Midwest.
Good, the more isolated the less drama. DC, NYC, Jersey, Baltimore and more all connected right into Philly... I'm good.
Chicago is the better city. There is no way around that. However, Philadelphia is definitely the better metropolitan area and has a much better location.
Location: East Central Pennsylvania/ Chicago for 6yrs.
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Who wins for me? Best skyline- Chicago. Best waterfront-Chicago. Best housing stock- Chicago. ( reasons no row homes. Bungalow common housing style and much of the city built after late 50s). Cleanliness- Chicago (reasons manicured downtown and good neighborhoods clean tree lined). I live in central Pennsylvania and older small towns have large stocks of row homes. First time I visited Philly after living in Chicago a couple years. I thought I was still in row home filled hometown, cause of so many row homes and lack of tree lined streets. I did enjoy aspects of downtown Philly. Colonial areas. But sub par to Chicago in shopping. Chicago has many more top corporations that call it home and in housing stock downtown Chicago has boomed. In overcoming rust belt decay at least Downtowns. Chicago overcame hers much faster. Philly finally is doing better. Of course both cities have similar rust belt and racial issues and make-up. Both have good Restaurant scenes and local flavor uniqueness. Love a Philly cheesesteak and Chicago hot dog.
Chicago is the better city. There is no way around that. However, Philadelphia is definitely the better metropolitan area and has a much better location.
Location: Pittsburgh (via Chicago, via Pittsburgh)
3,887 posts, read 5,521,355 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cheese plate
????
Philly is in a better location than this?
I think he was referring to geographic proximity to other large urban destinations (NYC & DC mostly). Philly is hard to beat in that department. As far as location of the actual city itself and its surroundings, I'd say it's a toss up. Chicago obviously has amazing Lake Michigan at it's feet, but Philly has the rolling hills of the Northeast which can be beautiful and an ocean not too far away. Then again, I find beauty in the flat prairie lands with intermittent deciduous forestry too. In Chicago, you're also close to some beautiful nature in Michigan and Wisconsin. When it comes down to it, I prefer Chicago (even when considering location as a factor). Philly is no slouch though.
I was referring to the sheer amount of things in close proximity to Philly. Chicago being on the lake sort of ties in to an amenity for the city itself - and I even said Chicago is the better city.
But for location? Philadelphia has the ocean- it's CSA borders the ocean, with the best boardwalks in the country. Mountains about an hour and a half away. Close proximity to NYC, Baltimore, Washington DC, etc. etc. Beautiful forests and state parks. Close to some of the country's best amusement parks - Six Flags Great Adventure, Hershey Park, Dorney Park, etc.
The suburbs itself? Some of the most charming and beautiful suburbs in the country. Walkable old towns and streetcar suburbs.
Hard to beat the location and suburbs of Philly once you get outside of the city proper for each.
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