Philadelphia: City of brotherly love

There’s a thriving night scene, with plenty of clubs and great restaurants, but it’s also vibrant and bustling by day.

However, if you prefer a more leisurely pace of life, that’s fine too, with plenty of squares, parks and excellent museums and attractions.

It’s easy to get around – I used cabs, trains, doubledecker buses, trams, horsedrawn carriages and amphibious vehicles. Heck, I even walked.

And you won’t be able to get lost. Trust me.There are maps on every street.

I’d recommend a doubledecker bus tour to check out which tourist attractions you’d like to visit.

Most first-time visitors head for the historic district, where you’ll find the world-famous Liberty Bell, a symbol of freedom for so many.

Then there’s Independence Hall, where the US Constitution was written, and The National Constitution Center, relating the story of the Constitution.

The delightful Elfreth’s Alley is one of only three preserved 18th century streets in the US – people still live in the properties today.

And don’t forget Betty Ross House, named after the patriot who sewed the first American flag.

One of the most unusual attractions is the Eastern State Penitentiary. Shut in 1971, the notorious prison is now open to the public.

In some parts spooky and scary – gangster Al Capone was incarcerated here – it has a unique fascination for visitors.

Benjamin Franklin was one of Philadelphia’s famous sons, so the Franklin Institute Science Museum was a must for me. There’s plenty to see and do here – interactive exhibits abound, and there are great shows (the Star Trek exhibition was on when I was there – simply stunning).

Superb Fairmount Park is one of the largest city parks in the world.

Make sure to have a cheese steak baguette, delicious and reasonably priced, at Reading Terminal Market.

And look out for murals on the side of buildings – there are around 3,000 in the city, and they’re fantastic – and the Love Statue in JFK Plaza.

Philadelphia is also great for shopping, with no sales tax on clothes or shoes.

Best spot for some retail therapy has to be the excellent King of Prussia Mall in neighbouring Valley Forge, one of the largest shopping complexes in the country, with nearly 400 shops, boutiques and restaurants.

Just a short distance from Philly is the beautiful, historical town of Gettysburg. It’s famous for the Gettysburg Address, a speech given by Abraham Lincoln that still resonates today, and a bloody Civil War battle that claimed more than 50,000 casualties in just three days.

Visit the 6,000-acre battlefield site and a licensed guide will recount what happened here in incredible detail.

The town itself is charming. In some parts it’s almost as if you’ve stepped back into the 19th century.

Back to the present, imagine a shopping heaven and it will surely look something like the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota: the second-biggest shopping complex in the world, and one of the most visited places anywhere on the planet, with 520 stores, 50 restaurants and numerous attractions… including a theme park!

Just 15 minutes from Minneapolis/St Paul, and three miles from the airport, the Mall of America is a mustsee for shopaholics. I bought designer goods for a quarter of the UK price.

The Underwater Adventures Aquarium, the biggest of its kind in America, has more than 100 sharks and 4,500 sea creatures on view.

Thrill-seekers should head for America’s biggest indoor theme park, Nickelodeon Universe, covering seven acres and boasting 24 rides.

Getting there

Staying there: The Rittenhouse, Philadelphia, from about £150 per night for a room – rittenhousebb.com; Dolce Valley Forge, Philadelphia, from about £60 a night – dolce-valley-forge-hotel.com;Wyndham, Gettysburg, from about £60 a night – wyndhamgettysburg.com

Prices at the Radisson Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota start from $119 (£73) per room per night.

Visit radisson.com to book.

For further information on Great Lakes of North America log on to: greatlakesnorthamerica.co.uk or call 08456 020 574 for a free destination guide.

Log on to bloomingtonmn.org for more information on shopping at the Mall of America and visitpa.com for more information on Pennsylvania.

US Airways fly directly to Philadelphia from London with prices from £429.10 inc. all taxes and fuel surcharges. To book log on to usairways.com

KLM/ Delta fly directly from London to Minneapolis/St Paul with prices from £399.47 including all taxes and fuel surcharges. Log on to klm.com to book.