Philadelphia named one of the top places to visit in the country

Cheesesteaks, the Phillies, soft pretzels, art, history, water ice… what more could you ask for in a city?

Apparently, not much. Philadelphia was recently named second on the Best Places to Visit in the USA list by U.S. News & World Report.

Greater Philadelphia Association of Realtors® President Heather Petrone-Shook said part of what makes Philadelphia such a great place is its variety.

“Philadelphia is a city made up of neighborhoods, and each neighborhood has its own vibe,” she said. “It’s like when people ask a Philadelphian, ‘Where’s the best place to get a cheesesteak?’ People from Philly don’t visit the places you think of when you hear cheesesteak, we go to our neighborhood or a neighboring one and get a great cheesesteak, without the wait.”

“Personally, I enjoy visiting different neighborhoods and trying new cuisine, whether it’s sitting on Main Street in Manayunk along the canal or on one of the squares having cocktails with friends or checking out a new bistro or brewery in Fishtown,” she added. “One of my favorite things to see in the city are the tourists bustling around, but especially when they are snapping their photo at the Rocky statue and running up the steps [to the art museum].”

She also said visiting the top of the William Penn statue at City Hall is “impressive,” and the views from One Liberty Observation Deck are “amazing.”

Additionally, Petrone-Shook said that the history, architecture, arts and outdoor recreation in the city provide “something for the whole family to do, no matter what age or how athletic you are.”

In addition to being a great place to visit, she said the real estate market is “hot” right now.

“We are seeing an increase in owner-occupied multi-family, which is a smart investment. The rental market is also seeing an upswing. People who graduate also stay in Philly and make this their permanent home, but Philly is also home to large corporations and their workforce enjoys the eclectic make up of Philadelphia and its neighborhoods.  We also can’t forget about our booming empty nester population.  Over the last few years we have been seeing an influx of empty nesters moving into the city and, in some cases, coming back to where they grew up or their families live or lived,” she said.

“Life is far less complicated in a walkable city like Philadelphia. People love how easy this city is to navigate on public transportation and its proximity to neighboring states,” added Petrone-Shook.