Time for Philly to pat itself on the back once again, because Lonely Planet just named it 2016's best city to visit in the U.S. The travel site recently released its annual list for the sixth time, and this time Philadelphia is at the very top.
Only nine other U.S. places made the list, including Yellowstone National Park, Alaska, and southern New Mexico, to name a few. The list is curated by Lonely Planet's editors and travel writers.
Here's what Lonely Planet had to say about our awesome city:
Visited by Pope Francis, hosting the Democratic National Convention in July, and freshly crowned as the US's first and only World Heritage City (joining the ranks of Cairo, Paris and Jerusalem), Philly's on a roll. NYC's more neighborly neighbor is experiencing a transformation to its urban core, as many US cities are right now. Craft breweries? Check. Hot new locavore restaurants? Big check. But Philadelphia is steadfastly managing to retain its historic roots and gritty flavor, as well as its affordability – a pleasant surprise for a city so cosmopolitan and accessible. Hands up to the sky, Rocky fans: celebrate the film's 40th anniversary in 2016 with a sprint up the 72 steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Way to be, Philly!
· Best in the U.S. [Lonely Planet]
· Philadelphia Named First World Heritage City in the U.S. [Curbed Philly]
· Why Philly's Rental Market is Killing It Right Now [Curbed Philly]