Getting away needn't involve bucolic landscapes or Victorian trappings. Maybe you love bustling metropolises, but at the moment, New York City is the last place you want to be. Even the most devout city dweller needs a change of scenery now and then, and thankfully the simple solution to NYC burnout is less than two hours away by train. Philadelphia, the second largest city on the East Coast, has all the amenities of an urbane center minus much of the headache. Cosmopolitan, convenient, and downright affordable to boot...what more could you ask for?

History, of course. Here's your chance to brush up on all those bits your brain tucked away back in grade school. If you recall, Philadelphia was the site of the 1776 Declaration of Independence signing, where the United States Constitution was written in 1787, and served as the nation's capital from 1790 to 1800. After William Penn founded the region that is now Pennsylvania (and named the state after himself), he went Greek and dubbed his planned city, Philadelphia, translated as the City of Brotherly Love. The amusing nickname's stuck ever since, and as the board of tourism currently touts, Philadelphia's also "the place that loves you back."

You'll certainly love the diversity the compact city has to offer. Located just 100 miles from NYC, the birthplace of American independence makes a doable daytrip. But those with time to spare should let their freedom ring a little longer. Plan a weekend excursion at the very least—you'll be surprised how fast Sunday night arrives!