Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Betsy Ross sewed the first American flag in Philadelphia. Today the city is a rich and diverse quilt bringing together 152 distinct neighborhoods, weaving the silks of Society Hill, the blue collars of Fishtown, and the tweeds of Chestnut Hill with the sequins and feathers of the Mummers, who strut down Broad Street in a traditional New Year’s extravaganza. Visitors expect to find history here and they do, at such landmarks as Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the house where Betsy Ross stitched the original stars and stripes. In recent years, a vibrant tapestry of restaurants, art, and entertainment has unfurled in yuppified Manayunk, up-and-coming Northern Liberties, and Center City, the beating heart of downtown.