Philadelphia in a Nutshell:
For a city of 1.5 million people, Philadelphia may appear to lack the scene evident in other large metropolises. There are only about 15 gay bars, but the city has long been highly tolerant, and there's a significant - and politically active - LGBT community here. The local Lesbian and Gay Task Force, formed in 1978, guided passage of the 1982 Philadelphia Fair Practices Act, one of the country's earliest gay civil rights measures. And the city's tourism office has been a pioneer in courting gay visitors. Philadelphia has no shortage of engaging museums and historic sites, fine eateries, and performing-arts venues.
The Seasons:
Like other mid-Atlantic cities, Philadelphia has a relatively mild climate, and because of its wealth of historic sites, it's highly popular with both domestic and European tourists in summer. The most pleasant weather is during the mild spring and fall seasons, periods that draw plenty of visitors from throughout the Northeast and elsewhere along the eastern seaboard9
Average high-low temps are 39F/25F in Jan., 62F/44F in Apr., 86F/70F in July, and 66F/49F in Oct. Snow and sleet are common in winter, and humid and sultry days in summer. Precipitation averages 3 to 4 inches/mo. year-round.
The Location:
America's sixth largest city in population is also big in area. It's lies in southeastern Pennsylvania, at the confluence of the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers, roughly 50 miles southeast of New York City and just across the Delaware River from New Jersey (and the city of Camden, just south of Trenton). Philadelphia is in the busy I-95 corridor - the highway connects the city with New York City, Baltimore, and Washington. It's also the eastern terminus of the I-76 (the Pennsylvania Turnpike). I-476 leads north of the city toward Allentown and the Poconos, and the gay resort town of New Hope is a short drive northeast.
Driving Distances:
Driving distances to Philadelphia from prominent places and points of interest are:
Atlantic City, NJ: 60 miles (75 minutes)
Baltimore, MD: 100 miles (2 hours)
Boston, MA: 300 miles (5 to 6 hours)
Columbus, OH: 470 miles (7.5 to 8 hours)
Fire Island, NY: 145 miles (3.5 to 4 hours)
Monteal, Quebec: 450 miles (7.5 to 8 hours)
New Hope: 40 miles (1 hour)
New York, NY: 215 miles (3.5 to 4 hours)
Pittsburgh: 305 miles (5 to 5.5 hours)
Rehoboth, DE: 120 miles (2.5 hours)
Provincetown: 400 miles (6.5 to 7 hours)
Washington, DC: 140 miles (3 hours)
Wilmington, DE 30 miles (30 minutes)
Flying to Philadelphia:
Just 10 miles southwest of the city center, Philadelphia International Airport is served by most major domestic airlines as well as numerous international ones - it's a major international and to a lesser extent domestic hub of US Airways. It's easy to reach the airport from downtown by taxi (the fare is around $30), and SEPTA - Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority provides rail service from the airport to downtown (for about $7).
It's worth checking to see if you can find cheaper fares to nearby airports, such as Newark Airport (70 miles), and Baltimore-Washington International Airport (110 miles).
Taking a Train or Bus to Philadelphia:
Just 10 miles southwest of the city center, Philadelphia International Airport is served by most major domestic airlines as well as numerous international ones - it's a major international and to a lesser extent domestic hub of US Airways. It's easy to reach the airport from downtown by taxi (the fare is around $30), and SEPTA - Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority provides rail service from the airport to downtown (for about $7).
It's worth checking to see if you can find cheaper fares to nearby airports, such as Newark Airport (70 miles), and Baltimore-Washington International Airport (110 miles).
Philadelphia 2013-2014 Events Calendar:
Early January: Philadelphia Mummers Parade/MummersFest.
Early March to Mid-April: Philadelphia Cherry Blossom Festival.
Mid- to late April: Philadelphia Black Gay Pride.
April to early May: Philadelphia Festival of the Arts.
Mid-April: New Hope Gay Pride.
Early to mid-June: Philadelphia Gay Pride.
Late June: Taste of Philadelphia food festival.
Early July: 4th of July Boston Pops Concert and Fireworks.
Early July: Philadelphia Independence Day Celebration.
Mid-July: Q Fest/Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.
Mid-October: Philadelphia OutFest/Coming Out Day.
Mid-October: AIDS Walk Philadelphia.
Resources on Gay Philadelphia:
A number of resources out there offer extensive information on the city's gay scene, including the Philadelphia Gay News and Columbia Fun Maps Philadelphia. Two excellent alternative newsweeklies, Philadelphia Weekly and Philadelphia City Paper, are also excellent sources of information on arts, dining, and entertainment, as is the city's noted mainstream newspaper, The Philadelphia Inquirer Also check out Greater Philadelphia Tourism's excellent gay and lesbian site
Top Philadelphia Attractions and Museums:
One of the key settings in America's founding and a city abundant in culture, Philadelphia is a world-class destination when it comes to museums and historic sites.
Franklin Institute Science Museum
Independence National Historical Park
Gay-Popular Philadelphia Neighborhoods:
The part of the city most visitors see, downtown or Center City, is less defined by neighborhood monikers than is the case in other major metropolises. The most tourist-popular area runs east to west between the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers and north to south from around Race to South streets. In the northwest, Fairmount Park and the Art Museum also hold great interest.
The Philadelphia Gay District or "Gayborhood": The tiny Gay District is anchored by the tiny Colonial alley Camac Street (pronounced cuh-mack) and the quaint blocks near it, between Walnut and Pine streets. In the 19th century this small enclave of historic redbrick mews (or trinities, as they're known here), was the area's red-light district. It later became the site of several artists' clubs and small theaters, and a commercial - though not especially residential - gay scene has since grown up around it. Home furnishings junkies should not miss Pine Street, which is loaded with antiques shops between 9th and 17th streets.
South Street: Philadelphia's grunge, punk, and funk scene glows along South Street, from about 10th Street east to near the Delaware River. Many of the unconventional shops, galleries, eateries, performance spaces, and lounges around here are still queer-owned or -frequented. Despite its festive ambience, South Street draws a rowdy suburban crowd on weekends. Be sure to check out the fabulous South Street Antiques Market, whose pieces range from authentic Colonial to kitsch.
North and West: West of Center City, across the Schuylkill River, is University City, which is dominated by the campuses of the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University. The neighborhood just southwest of campus, north of Baltimore Avenue between about 38th and 50th streets, has a significant GLBT population.
Head west via I-76 alongside the Schuylkill River to reach trendy Manayunk, which was named a National Historic District in 1983. Begun in the 1800s as a mill town and gradually peopled with Irish, German, Italian, and Polish immigrants, Manayunk slid downhill following the Depression. It was reclaimed by preservationists and yuppie entrepreneurs in the early 1980s. Most of its many eateries and boutiques are along picturesque Main Street. Although nothing here is specifically gay, Manayunk has a community following - especially among moneyed revelers who take seriously the Lenape Indian translation of the village's name: "Where we go to drink."
