If one were really taking a month long trip to New York City, there might be a moment or two when the crazy big city would start to grate a little. Ask any of us who live here how crazy the city can make you sometimes. So I figure it would be a good idea to get out of NYC for a few days out of the month. Besides, there are lots of other great things to see a short distance away. For many of the visitors to New York, especially from abroad, NYC is combined with a trip to Washington D.C. or up to New England and Boston. But these are really separate trips from NYC entirely. I have had clients who try to do Washington in a day trip, but the train journey is more than three hours each way. Even if you flew from Laguardia to National there are still hours spent in the airport. It seems crazy to me to spend 6 hours a day traveling and 6-8 hours at your destination. Plus it makes for a very tiring day. But there is another wonderful and historic city much closer to New York than Boston or Washington. It's the city of brotherly love: Philadelphia.
I like Philadelphia a great deal. It's not as glamorous or ritzy as Boston, New York, or Washington but in many ways it's more charming. There are the famous sights where America's revolution and government began of course, and all through the city are historic streets and neighborhoods. There are wonderful markets and foods, great art and architecture, but also a great vibe and soul. It's a city just that defined the sound of disco and 70s soul. There's a lot to see, hear, and taste on a trip to Philly. And best of all, it's only a 90 minute train ride from Manhattan. So head over to Penn Station, and get aboard the soul train.
