VivoPerLei

Will be staying at the Sheraton Downtown hotel (N 17th and Vine), conference is at the Pennsylvania convention center. Looks like I can walk down 17th to Arch Street then seven blocks East to the conference center.

Are these safe streets in the morning, 7:00 am and early evening, 7:00 pm, or would a taxi be better?

Guercifgal

The area of the convention center is very safe at the times you're talking about. You'll be near a hospital and a campus of Drexel University, so there will be plenty of other people walking and going to work, etc., so you won't be the only person out there. Be careful when crossing 16th Street - it's a big intersection where the Ben Franklin Parkway begins with multiple lanes of traffic. Other than that, it's a pretty easy walk.

Welcome to Philly!

VivoPerLei

Thanks, that is great information. Does that also hold for walking the other way? I was thinking about hoofing it down to the Mutter museum one day.

travelmad478

If anything that direction will be even less scary. You're walking through a very highly populated section of town with lots of retail, residential, and office buildings. People are all around until late evening.

Guercifgal

Unlike some big cities, Center City (Philly-speak for downtown) does not roll up the sidewalks after 5:00 p.m. Center City is both residential and commercial, and everyone walks.

Be warned that the Mutter Museum is extremely creepy, but cool! There's no place like it anywhere.

VivoPerLei

I'm looking forward to it. The only other medical museums I've been to are the Hunterian in London and the exhibits at the Science Museum in London. I really enjoyed both.

Looks like there is a highly rated wine bar, Tria, near my hotel also. Definitely going to spend some quality time there.

rittenhousesq

Tria does have a good wine selection and is popular, but I've always found it a bit over priced, with skimpy pours. It is located in one of the most vibrant restaurant areas in the city, so be sure to check out some of the other options in the neighborhood!

Also don't be put off by the neighborhood adjacent to your hotel. It can be quiet at night, but just a walk of a few blocks south will put you in the midst of plenty of people any evening of the week.

Philatravelgirl

find out what hall the convention is using -if in the new addition then you only walk three blocks to broad street entrance. definitely go to Reading Terminal across from Conv Center for food (the Amish are there Thurs-Sat)
Tria is nice in the Rittenhouse area (lots of restaurants/bars) but I like rooftop at Continental Mid-town, Davios and Parc for drinks/food and desserts.

VivoPerLei

I just re-read the conference brochure and it doesn't mention a specific hall. Guess I'll find out when I get there.

Thanks for the recommendations

slawecki

by all means get a philly cheese steak sandwich from a truck. i got one from a truck by drexel, and it was really delicious. there was no calorie count posted.

phillychuck

DiNics in Reading Terminal was just awarded (Travel Channel) best sandwich in the country - roast pork, provolone and either broccoli rabe or roast peppers. Yum.

Guercifgal

+1 on Reading Terminal Market. Bassett's ice cream and Termini bakery if you have a sweet tooth. All kinds of ethnic food from Middle Eastern to Italian to Greek, Chinese, seafood. Now I'm hungry and want a cannoli from Termini, but don't have enough of a lunch break to get down there today (plus I'm too lazy to walk 10 blocks).

BuildingMyBento

It's one of my favorites, to be sure. Particularly if you get it au jus...I tried it at an Italian deli by the old Italian neighborhood, no comparison.

The convention center by the Reading Terminal Market is also by Philly's Chinatown, in case you're interested in cookie-cutter Chinese/Malaysian/Burmese (ok, that last one is less common) cuisine. The neighborhood is fine.

Consultette

You will be more likely to get mugged AT that hotel than on the walk. While the area can be dark at night it is still fairly safe. I am a small woman and have had no problem walking around there - although I typically prefer to have someone walk with me if we are returning from the bars when they close. You will find that there are few "randoms" and there are police and hospital employees walking around the area at all times around that hotel.

One thing to be aware of in the mornings - especially if you are there with a bunch of conference goers- is that the elevators can be painfully slow. I would not reccomend a top floor room at the property and do allow extra time to get down in the morning.

Have fun in Philly if you have not visited already!

VivoPerLei

Thanks! I'm already here, settled and good. Beautiful weather