"Yo! Welcome to Philly!" Philadelphia by PR-7

On more than one occasion, as I exit the Fifth Street Subway Station, I ask the person I'm with the following questions:

1) what do Americans celebrate on July 4th?
2) where was that signed?
3) when you become an American citizen, soldier, or President; what do you swear your HIGHEST allegiance to?
4) where was that written?
5) what document declares that U.S. citizens have certain RIGHTS (which are vastly different from privileges)?
6) where was it written?

The answer, of course, is the building you see as you exit the subway: Independence Hall. No other acre in the U.S.A. has even remotely the amount of historical significance as this area does.

Add the various other places to visit nearby, and only Boston comes close to being the American city with the most history.

For 200 years, Philly has had a chip on its shoulder over no longer being the central city of the U.S.A. I'll be the first to say that NYC has better (and more varied) museums, galleries, nightlife, shows, fine arts, shopping, music, festivals, zoos, restaurants, and general culture. But what Philly has isn't bad. If you're a first-time visitor to the U.S., go to NYC. But don't skip Philly on your way to Washington DC. -- we're worth a few days, at least.

It's true -- in 1968 Philadelphia fans DID boo and throw snowballs at a fifth-rate "Santa" presentation.
www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/eagles/2003-11-27-santa-snowballs_x.htm
Some people STILL use that incident to sum up Philly residents, as if they all have some psycho streak of mean-ness.

I won't deny that Philadelphians, like residents in all northeast urban centers, are nastier than people elsewhere (and I've lived in the west, the south, and the midwest). And there ARE parts of this city that make me nervous when I drive through them in the day-time. But the people and areas you will meet, while visiting the places worth visiting, will be more than willing to help you if you ask. We love our city, and we want the best for it -- and we get really angry when people aren't willing to give it their best.

Want to see how we react to something that isn't fifth-rate, like that "Santa" parade in 1968? Come to a Phillies game -- if you can get tickets!

• Pros:History, museums, food, fine arts
• Cons:Crazy drivers, attitudes, unsafe neighborhoods
• In a nutshell:Worth a Stop On Your Way Between New York and Washington