Philly on a “lost its charm” list? Not so fast, says outraged local voice

An article from Travel Bucketlist says Philadelphia is one of the Top 10 iconic cities in the U.S. that have lost its charm.

Wow! That is a bold statement to make and one with which I do not agree.

The article pointed out that although Philadelphia is rich in history and culture, the economic challenges that Philadelphia is experiencing has dimmed the charm of the ever-popular city.

You should know that cities like Chicago, San Francisco, St. Louis, and Detroit all made the list. I have been to all those cities, and I can concur that two other iconic cities have lost their charm. The epic economic breakdown in Detroit and the overwhelming gun violence in Chicago make a good argument for a loss of the charm that those cities once held.

Philadelphia is one of many cities facing economic challenges.

There have been major cuts and overspending across the country. The Travel Bucketlist article points out that the gap between wealth and poverty is widening so that it is a factor in losing the tremendous charm that Philadelphia once had.

There are sections of poverty that exist in every major city across the country. While it is true that the poverty level on a whole may be growing, the fact remains that iconic parts of Philadelphia still attract thousands of people each month, making Philadelphia a destination.

In these tough economic times, more people are making day trips and weekend trips to cities like Philadelphia because of the proximity of the destination and cost.

Take a walk into Old City and Center City and see the tourists flock to those areas, pumping needed revenue to local businesses.

The residents in Philadelphia are aware of the impact of that tourist revenue and keep those areas active and attractive.

I could list other options here that still make Philadelphia charming and appealing to those who want to visit a cradle of history.

Note to Travel Bucketlist, experience Philadelphia, do not assume it has lost its charm.