by Hillary Marshall

Created on: April 21, 2008   Last Updated: December 05, 2008

The city of Philadelphia is in a region that has four distinct seasons and your own personal weather preference will dictate when you should visit. There times that the city is hot and humid, times when it is cool and breezy and times when it is cold and covered in snow. There is truly something to suit everyone's preference.

The winter in Philadelphia is really a beautiful time of the year. Often the ground is covered in a light dusting of snow and the trees are dripping with ice. It is really picturesque and almost magical. Their are a few drawbacks to visiting Philadelphia during the winter months. The parking can be difficult because the city institutes snow routes so plows have access to the streets for clearing, this means that you can not park on certain streets. Additionally, on occasion some of the snow storms can really pack a punch and that can mess up travel plans. Some snow storms in the city even cause the closure of many of the cities tourist attractions.

Spring is one of the most beautiful times of year in the city of Philadelphia. The weather is cool, it isn't snowing anymore and things are starting to blossom. It is a nice time to see the city on foot and you can typically get anywhere that you want by either walking or using public transportation. It is not to hot, not to cold and even if a spring shower pops up it usually will pass rather quickly.

Summer is not really the ideal time to visit the city of Philadelphia from a weather perspective. It is typically hot in the summer and the city can tend to get very humid and muggy. That said, the city really comes alive in the summer. There are a lot of sporting events happening, festivals and the huge fourth of July celebration at Penn's Landing. So, if you can bare the heat its is a once and life time experience.

Fall is my personal favorite time of year in Philadelphia. The leaves are changing, their is a cool breeze and the air is crisp. It is probably the most beautiful you will ever see the city and the most favorable the weather is all year. It's very nice in Philadelphia during the fall and it is really the perfect time of year to visit.

Philadelphia has its tourism attractions open to visitors year round, so it really doesn't matter when you visit as far as activities are concerned. It is more about choosing what season is right for you and planning your trip accordingly.

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