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The thing with tourism numbers is that they may be somewhat liberal in defining who is a tourist (e.g., people with long layovers at the airport who spend the night at a hotel but otherwise don't interact with the city at all) and they don't distinguish between leisure tourists and people who may be visiting on business. I know some of what we're saying in the thread is anecdotal but when several people have the same anecdotes, there's something to it. Philly does get the short end of the stick in terms of perception and thus leisure tourism, but it's probably doing better than some may think.
If the mobs of tourists, all the time now, in just the Reading Terminal Market are any indication, it is doing better.
Philly isn't the cleanest city in the country but you're exaggerating. I've flown out of the airport several times and I don't see how it's dirtier than lots of other airports.
I am not exaggerating. Check out all the gum on the sidewalks at the airport. Disgusting.
I have my opinion and I stand by it.
Loved the city--loved exploring it. Just wish they would clean it up.
But I do know even when I talk to colleagues of mine all over the country whenever I say I go to Philly for work or in my case pleasure I always get the same reactions, "Why" "Im sorry" "On purpose" etc. I love history, that said I would say outside of the Freedom Bell and Independence Hall Boston and DC are much better history places.
A few points:
1. It's called the Liberty Bell, not the Freedom Bell.
3 In addition to the city itself, there are some pretty significant historic sites within 30 - 60 minutes away, including Valley Forge and Washington's Crossing.
4. DC is, of course, our capital, but as for history, not so much. Boston is the only other city that rivals Philly for history, but its historic sites are scattered about the city. Walking around Society Hill gives someone the feel for what a real colonial neighborhood might have felt like: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soci...,_Philadelphia
I found Philly to be a bit boring and much of it lacking character. The grid pattern with wide streets belie its age and while helping traffic flow give it little charm. Much of the historic parts are a bit from downtown area by city hall where I stayed. Seemed to have little connection to the Delaware River. It was a wasteland between the stadiums and center city. Would not know you were in such a big city on the nearby streets. South Philly neighborhood with Italian district and steak & cheese places was dumpy. Area by Temple was downright scary. Liked parts of the city (Independence Square/University City/South St) but they weren't really cohesively connected. My overall impression was rather blah and felt the city tried too hard to be like NYC but failed.
I found Philly to be a bit boring and much of it lacking character. The grid pattern with wide streets belie its age and while helping traffic flow give it little charm. Much of the historic parts are a bit from downtown area by city hall where I stayed. Seemed to have little connection to the Delaware River. It was a wasteland between the stadiums and center city. Would not know you were in such a big city on the nearby streets. South Philly neighborhood with Italian district and steak & cheese places was dumpy. Area by Temple was downright scary. Liked parts of the city (Independence Square/University City/South St) but they weren't really cohesively connected. My overall impression was rather blah and felt the city tried too hard to be like NYC but failed.
I've heard some fair criticisms of Philly, but have yet to hear that "much of it [lacks] character." I personally think its character, with its history, architecture and rowhouse urbanity makes it unique among U.S. cities. Also, perhaps visiting an East Coast city had you expecting New York, but I assure you that very few people are trying to make Philly "be like NYC."
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