Orienting to Philly
You Are Here: Center City & Chinatown
The Arch Street Meeting House and conference hotel are located in a neighborhood most people just call Center City, which is the area surrounding City Hall. Because it is the primary location of many office buildings, much of it tends to have the most activity on weekdays. However, City Hall is always buzzing with activity in its surrounding parks, Dilworth Park and JFK Plaza — better known as “Love Park” for the iconic LOVE statue by Robert Indiana.
Market Street is the primary thoroughfare, home to the L subway line (aka Market-Frankford Line) which runs East & West through the city. You can find many restaurants and nightlife at the intersection of 13th St. & Sansom St.
Philly’s Chinatown is an engaged and lively neighborhood with innovative restaurants and shops balanced with restaurants and groceries that have stood the test of time. Just by exploring, you’re likely to stumble upon some amazing snacks, bubble tea, and interesting events.
Philly uses a grid system that makes it relatively easy to follow. The two main arteries are Broad Street (North-South) and Market Street (East-West). Numbered streets flow North-South, while the East-West streets have names like Market, Arch, and Chestnut. Look for the green street signs marked with the Liberty Bell: they show the direction you’re facing and whether the numbers go up or down. An address like 1300 Market St. would be at the intersection of 13th St. and Market St.
To the South: Rittenhouse
About a 10-15 minute walk south from the convention center will take you to Philly’s Rittenhouse neighborhood, centered around Rittenhouse Square, a large public park that is a hub of activity all week long. In this area, you’ll find restaurants, coffee shops, and shopping down Walnut St. On a sunny day, Grab some of the best coffee in the city at the tucked-away Elixr, pick up a pastry at The Bakeshop on 20th, and find a park bench to enjoy some people watching.
To the West: Logan Square & the Parkway
From City Hall, you can face northwest to see the famous Philadelphia Museum of Art and the famous Rocky steps. The tree-lined Benjamin Franklin Parkway (typically just “the Parkway) on the way there will lead past to some great museums, including the Barnes Foundation, the Franklin Institute, and the Rodin Museum. If you like to run, you could join many Philly residents who run the Parkway and into Fairmount Park — one of the largest urban green spaces in the country.
To the East: Old City
About 15 minutes to the east, you can find Old City, home to much of Philadelphia’s most historic sites. At Market St. & 5th St. is Independence Mall, the front lawn of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. If history is your thing but want to save some time, skip the long line for the Liberty Bell and take a peek at it through the glass walls instead. Head to Independence Hall (be sure to grab tickets!) and then continue on to stroll past the historical homes of Old City and Society Hill.
Safety
The Convention Center and the neighborhoods surrounding it are among the safest places in Philadelphia. That being said, like many other big cities, it’s important to practice awareness of your surroundings. If you go out later at night, consider going with a buddy. If you do travel alone at night, we recommend that you use populated, brightly-lit streets and don’t use earbuds.