(BLACK PR WIRE)--The city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania earned the title of “Next Great City” in the October 2005 edition of National Geographic Traveler. Travel media outlets are taking notice as Philadelphia comes into its own as a significant vacation destination.

One of the top attractions is also the city’s most famous symbol, the Liberty Bell. This is the very same bell that was rung in 1776 to announce the public reading of the Declaration of Independence. In African American history, the bell was given the nickname “Liberty Bell” in 1837 by the abolitionist movement as a symbol of freedom. The bell’s inscription taken from Leviticus 25:10 says, "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof." The bell’s distinctive crack is almost as old as its inscription.

The Liberty Bell is part of a greater Philadelphia landmark known as Independence Hall, where the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence were both created. Independence Hall graces the center of a 45-acre national park encompassing 20 historical buildings, including a section dedicated to Benjamin Franklin’s accomplishments, located where his actual home once stood.

Such an American city as Philadelphia is also a rich cultural blend at the same time. The Belmont Mansion in Fairmount Park was built in the 18th century and is notable for its Palladian architecture, its view of the city skyline, and its role as a “Freedom Station” in the Underground Railroad. Not only is the mansion a part of African American history, it is currently administered by the American Women's Heritage Society, an African American organization. Besides tourist visitation, Belmont Mansion is open to rental by the public for weddings, receptions, seminars, banquets and any other variety of uses.

For kids and kids at heart, drop by the Philadelphia Doll Museum. The Philadelphia Doll Museum is a collection of over 300 African American dolls of past and present, the only such museum in the nation. Adults and children with deeper interests can take lectures and workshops on the history of the dolls, using the dolls as educational tools and making your own dolls.

These are few reasons your next vacation should be to this next great city.