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Philadelphia named second best U.S. vacation destination by U.S. News & World Report

Second only to New York City.

Philadelphia skyline on February 14, 2011 in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia skyline on February 14, 2011 in Philadelphia.Read moreDavid Maialetti / staff photographer

With summer's arrival, many Philadelphians are looking for a way out of Philly to take a little break from city life. But those flighty locals among us may want to reconsider their options, given a new ranking from U.S. News & World Report.

After all, Philadelphia is the No. 2. best vacation destination in the United States, according to the publication's 2017 list of the "25 Best Places to Visit in the USA." Philly came in just behind New York City, what was listed at no. 1, and ahead of Honolulu-Oahu, Maui, and San Francisco to complete the top five.

So, yes, Philly is better than the beach. It's official.

In their write up, U.S. News & World Report points to Philly's "rich historical heritage," and notes that the city is home to a "thriving restaurant scene that encompasses more than just the ubiquitous cheesesteak." That Philly is also "the first (and only) city in the USA to be named a UNESCO World Heritage City" also helped with the high ranking.

As far as recommendations on what to do in town, the publication recommends the usual tourist haunts, such as the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and Reading Terminal Market. A separate write up also highlights Philly's museums, "notable nightlife," and sports culture.

The rankings were decided using editors' scores and user votes, with each accounting for 50 percent of the overall score. Editors score destinations based on categories like food, nightlife, shopping, and romance. The magazine releases new rankings every year.

The 2016 list was topped by the Grand Canyon, with Maui and Yellowstone National Park trailing in second and third place. This year, Yellowstone dropped to no. 25, the Grand Canyon fell to sixth place, and Maui was lowered to no. 4.

Previously, U.S. News & World Report named Philly the second best historic destination in the United Stated, the 14th best spring vacation, and the 15th best foodie city in America. New York City, as with the 25 Best Places to Visit in the USA list this year, topped all of those rankings.