'Tis the season

Alright, so it seems that (at least for this week) winter is over. I hope it is, because the daffodils are 6 inches high and it would be a shame to see them being crushed by another foot of snow! It also seems that the birds are in a jolly good mood, as their morning song is so much more melodic these last few days.

This is the part of Pennsylvania that I really love the most. When the world begins to wake from it's wintery slumber, and suddenly the sun shines a little brighter and little bits of green start to shoot out of the ground.

One thing can be said for sure, you really get all four seasons here and each one of them is marvelous in the very best way it can. So, you may ask: what should I expect from the seasons in Philadelphia? Well, let's start with the natural begining:

SPRING
 
The days are getting warmer, but nights are still very cold.
The Philadelphia spring is wonderful, because this is when you realize how much nature there really is around you. There are fantastic parks all around suddenly bursting into fresh greenery. If you are here, this is the time to start exploring. Philadelphia has an extensive park system which connects the city to many outlying townships, and biking, running or walking these trails is a wonderful experience. This path system is part of Fairmount Park, which is considered one of the countries largest urban parks. It's really a treat to have this much nature in your back yard! This and all the other little parks throughout the area are perfect for catching the first glimpses of nature coming back to life.
It's also the best time to head into the city for first glimpses of the new spring fashions that all the fashionistas pull out of their closets. There are places to go and be seen and definitely something for everyone if you are more of a city kid. To find out what is going on in the city check out the Center City Philadelphia website.
Or simply go running up the stairs like Rocky, and visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Their spring line up is phenomenal, starting with a Picasso show....and so much more. And yes, those really are the stairs that Rocky run up. His statue is just to the right of the stairs.

SUMMER

The days are hot and humid and so are the nights. If you are planning to live in Philly, plan to have an air conditioner, because without it you will be hot...H-O-T...hot...and sticky. Most people are not prepared for the level of humidity during the Philly summers. It makes for spectacular evening thunderstorms. Inevitably, if you are not afraid of thunder, you will find yourself with a glass of wine, all lights turned off and watching the show. These storms are incredible!
Summer is not a graceful season, especially in the city because the nights really are just as hot as the days so everyone ends up looking a little wilted. But, the food scene in Philadelphia is so fantastic that these summer nights are well worth suffering through. You can find anything you like here...it rivals New York! But be prepared to book a table in advance. Philladelphians enjoy going out! If you're a little worried about making the best entrance on the Philly scene, check out Open Table, where you can read about the hippest places to go and collect points redeemable for restaurant certificates.
This is also the best season to explore the areas surrounding Philly. Go to Atlantic City for a little casino action, Cape May for a lovely beech experience. If the beech is not your thing go for the Poconos. There is so much to do in the summer, that you will not be bored...just hot and sweaty.

AUTUMN

Now that I think about it, this may be my favourite season in Pennsylvania. The whole entire world turns into oranges, reds and yellows! You have never seen such amazing changing of the leaves. This is the time to go exploring the interior of Pennsylvania. The drive is guaranteed to be spectacular! If you're up for a weekend driving adventure, this is a great time to visit Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright's famous architecture. Or take the Northeast Extension past Allentown to the Delaware Water Gap. Or stay close to home and visit many other places which host fall festivals. My favourites are Skippack Village and Chestnut Hill.

WINTER

This is one of those tricky seasons in Philly, because sometimes it snows and sometimes it rains ice...as in you will be chiseling your car door open. So, remember all the fantastic places you visited and enjoyed in the summer? Now you should head back there to enjoy Holiday festivities and general merriment.
If you have Christmas shopping on the brain, then as I mentioned in the previous posts, this is not only the best country to be in for that, but also remember that Philly boasts one of the best Shopping Malls in King Of Prussia, great outlet mall in Limerick, and many others. Then when you feel like you need to work off the amazing food you've been enjoying in the city, head back to the Poconos for some fab skiing.

The best thing about the seasons in Philly is that there is something for everyone, and so life can be a great adventure enjoyed by all.

For now, I am just happy that the birds are singing once again, and that a walk in Fort Washington Park is not an Arctic expedition. Soon, the bicycle will get dusted off and my winter laziness will be biting me in the ass.....again! Hurray for spring!