visiting drexel university in philadelphia

[francis mckibbin]

The Palomar is a good choice. It's on 17th St. between Chestnut and Walnut. Just walk around the neighborhood. Find Rittenhouse Square. Your mother will love it. This is only a very small portion of Center City. An apartment near the square just sold for $13M.

Several good walks are Walnut Street (both directions) and the Parkway.

Go west on Walnut about 1 mile. Cross the Schuylkill River. Another 3 blocks (34th St.) to the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University campuses. Walnut is the main street through the Penn campus. Walk around.

The other way on Walnut (east) is another good walk. When you get to Broad St. (14th). Walk south on Broad Street a couple of blocks, past the Academy of Music (Pennsyvania Ballet & Opera Company of Philadelphia) to the Kimmel Center (Philadelphia Orchestra and Chamber Music Society). Then back to Walnut and keep going east. At 8th St. past Washington Square to Independence Hall on the next block. Keep walking east on Walnut towards the Delaware River. On your way, walk around the neighborhood. Especially to the south. On a warm spring day, your mother will want to move here. Walking back on Locust St. gives a good flavor of the City. You only need to walk one way. Taxis are plentiful and for two people: inexpensive.
The Benjamin Franklin Parkway is 5 blocks north along 17th St. Stop into the lobby of the Comcast Building along the way. When you get to the Parkway turn left towards the Fountain in Logan Circle. Walk up the Parkway about a mile to the Museum of Art. You can't miss it. We apologize for all the construction along the way. The Parkway is being re-built, the Barnes Museum (Impressionist Art) is under construction and the Rodin Museum (Auguste Rodin) is being renovated. You need a day to take it in just the Art Museum. Rocky is on the right side. Now go to the right and walk around the Museum and along Kelly Drive. Go past the Boathouses to the river bank. The walkway goes another 3 1/2 miles.

Just for reference, if your looking for the Drexel University Medical School; it's not on the main campus. Directions: go east on Chestnut to Broad (14th). North on Broad and then right around City Hall (check the Macy's store). Again north on Broad. One block past the PA. Convention Center is Hahnamenn Hospital and Drexel Medical School.

A real don't miss is the Reading Terminal Market it's beneath the Pa Convention Center at 12th & Arch Sts.

As you walk around; see if you can find some shooting locations of your favorite movies: Limitless, In Her Shoes, 6th Sense, 12 Monkeys, Trading Places, National Treasure, Philadelphia, Marley and Me.

For eats; hundreds of restaurants.
For fun; hundreds of places
For Safety; when you see all the people you'll realize it's very safe.
Good website for the City: Philadelphia Meetings, Group Travel and Tourism - PhiladelphiaUSA.travel

Fran

[acenturi]

Well the closest Luxury class hotel is probably Le Meridien (a Starwood Hotel) - about 2 easy walking blocks from Hahnemann hospital and relatively close to everything in Center City including easy access to Buses and Subways. The hotel is not located in a drop dead physically attractive location, but is very close to the hospital/campus. You need to tradeoff spectacular settings (BFParkway, Walnut, Rittenhouse, etc.) for close proximity to your destination. Note this hotel and most others in this category in center city may have rates of around $500/day in May. Also, suggest avoid the PENN Commencement weekend (May 14-18), when many campus/center city hotels are full and the few that have rooms charge excessive rates. Also, suggest that you contact Drexel for special rates they have at many hotels - before you book.