Philadelphia Ranked As One Of The Most Challenging Cities For Holiday Travel

The remaining weeks of the year can be a lot of fun as we hit the holidays. It also can be frustrating dealing with the massive amounts of traffic. So, how does Philadelphia fare in terms of ranking the worst cities for holiday traffic and travel in the country?

There are a few different factors to look at here. Obviously this Thanksgiving week serves as one of the highest volume traffic time periods of the year. This is especially true the two days before Thursday and the Sunday after, with friends and family traveling to host sites. In addition, these are the typical days where colleges get out for their holiday break.

In a recent feature by U.S. News and World Report, Philadelphia ranked as one of the worst cities in America for traffic. Furthermore, they state Philly was one of five cities to be named among the ten worst cities in the entire world for traffic. The metric examined here was based around "congestion" in these cities.

Philadelphia ranked fourth, only behind Chicago, Boston, and New York. This was largely due to the recorded delay hours and high costs per driver.

Forbes narrowed down traffic concerns in America by focusing on the holiday months. "Historically, visitors to certain cities have faced a greater risk of air travel disruptions, traffic congestion, car accidents, and inflated hotel prices during the holiday season," they said when explaining the large percentage of Americans that travel between Thanksgiving and mid-January.

However, the news for Philadelphia here is not terrible as it is not in Forbes' top ten worst cities for holiday travel. Memphis, Los Angeles, Jacksonville, New York, and Tucson rounded out their top five. Nonetheless, Philly did not escape this conversation unscathed. Forbes has Philadelphia as the 19th worst city for holiday travel, specifically.

"17.80% of flights out of Philadelphia were delayed, canceled or diverted during the holiday season between 2018 and 2022," Forbes said. To construct this ranking, Forbes specifically analyzes three categories that included overall driving, air travel, and city experience in the greater metro areas.

If you will be traveling in or out of the greater Philadelphia area this holiday season and bracing for traffic, it is suggested to aim for off-peak hours as much as possible.

If you're on the hunt for some tasty meatless alternatives to the usual Thanksgiving turkey or just want to mix things up with veggie-packed sides, there are several vegetarian recipes that are perfect for holiday get-togethers.

Thanksgiving often revolves around the star of the show, which is obviously the turkey. But some of the best holiday casseroles and sides are either vegetarian or can be easily tweaked to be. Whether you're a seasoned vegetarian or just looking to try something new, there's no reason you can't have a wonderful holiday feast.

The holiday season brings plenty of seasonal fruits and vegetables to choose from. These include squash, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and more. These fall vegetables offer heartiness without the need for meat. Meanwhile, fruits like apples and pears provide versatile options beyond the usual pie offerings.

Your typical Thanksgiving spread has many options that work for vegans and vegetarians alike. Green beans, cranberry sauce, mashed or roasted potatoes, sweet potatoes, and yams are just some of the veg-friendly choices available.

If your kitchen is more used to handling meat, you might not have separate cutting boards and knives just for veggies. Just make sure to thoroughly wash utensils before transitioning to vegetable prep. This is done to avoid any cross-contamination, such as dicing bacon on the same board used for chopping green beans.

Even for guests who typically consume meat and dairy, those who don’t eat meat often share the same appreciation for sweet treats. Offering a vegan dessert can be as straightforward as using coconut oil instead of butter in your pie pastry. Maybe opt for a pint of non-dairy ice cream.

Planning a holiday menu with vegetarian options might feel like a bit of a puzzle. This is especially true if you're not used to it. To assist in your menu planning, we've compiled a list of vegetarian dishes that can grace your holiday table and keep your guests happy.

Forget the turkey stuffing routine this Thanksgiving and go for something sweet, like acorn squash. Mix up your stuffing with veggies, herbs, and diced apple, bake it until it's crispy on top, and serve with veggie gravy. This is a tasty twist for your holiday spread.

Dive into the savory goodness of meatless meatballs packed with quinoa, black beans, roasted veggies, and nutritional yeast. Easily turn them vegan by skipping the egg. Enjoy a flavorful alternative that's both satisfying and plant-powered.

Shake up your holiday menu with butternut squash baked ziti. This baked pasta dish has a creamy butternut squash sauce, generous layers of cheese, and a crispy panko topping. Whether served as a main dish or a smaller side portion, this butternut squash pasta bake will surely be a favorite.

Keep it simple and delicious with Parmesan cheese-stuffed mushrooms. Just grab whole mushrooms, green onions, Parmesan, breadcrumbs, and seasoning. Sauté, stuff, bake, and you have a crowd-pleasing snack in no time. You can even swap out the whole mushrooms with peppers.

No holiday meal is complete without dessert. Try your hand at a gluten-free carrot cake with vegan cream cheese frosting. Crafted with vegan-friendly, gluten-free ingredients like almond flour and coconut oil, this sweet treat is naturally sweetened with maple syrup, vanilla, and, of course, carrots.