Where and what to do in Philadelphia

May 22, 2009 6:57 AM

My wife and baby daughter will be going to Philadelphia in two weeks. We need to go to the Children's Hospital. Where do you recommend we stay, and what types of things should we do. I know nothing about Philadelphia, so I have no idea if it is walking and stroller friendly. We would just like to do some shopping, eating, sightseeing etc. We will be carting around a 7 month old girl. Help us have a good time in the city of brotherly love.
posted by jasondigitized to travel & transportation (20 comments total)

Philadelphia is the most walkable city I've ever seen. People walk everywhere. Unless the stroller is so heavy you can't hop occasional curbs, it's also stroller friendly.
posted by Netzapper at 7:11 AM on May 22

The two hotels closest to CHOP are the Penn Sheraton and the Inn at Penn. Both are on the Penn campus, practically adjacent to CHOP, a 5-10 minute walk at most.

Staying in Center City (on the other side of the Schuylkill) will put you closer to Independence Hall and other Revolutionary War sites and/or Ben Franklin Parkway and its associated museums. There are also a number of bed & breakfasts in Center City. Philadelphia is eminently walkable and stroller-friendly, and there are good bus options to get between these places (SEPTA on the whole is "eh" but getting from, say, Penn to Independence Hall is a snap. On the other hand, the South Street bridge is closed (or, more accurately, not there right now) so Walnut and Chestnut are the two major crossings right now, both a bit further from CHOP.

If you can be more specific about what types of restaurants, shops, and sights in which you're interested, I can target my advice more. In general, major shopping can be had on Walnut St. from Broad to 19th (the Rittenhouse area) for larger, more national retail stores, and Old City--2nd and 3rd from Market to Race--for boutiques and such. Washington Square West/Gayborhood is good for homewares and antiques.
posted by The Michael The at 7:15 AM on May 22

Depending on how long the treatment your daughter needs will be, you may be able to stay for free/no cost at the Ronald McDonald House. Also note that when we were CHOP patients, during the time our daughter was inpatient (both at the NICU and the oncology ward) there were rooms available in the hospital for parents to stay. Of course you may not want to both stay there all the time, or if you are outpatient this would not be an option. You may be able to get discounted rates by mentioning your daughter is in treatment at CHOP - we were able to do that with the two University City hotels we stayed in during the time of her initial diagnosis and brain surgery.

As mentioned above, Philly is VERY walkable, and has lots of kid-friendly things to do.
posted by bunnycup at 7:35 AM on May 22

Penn Tower (phone [phone]) is directly across the street from CHOP, and it looks like they still have two floors of hotel rooms. Most of the rest of it is now administrative offices. It would be super convenient and cheaper than the Inn or the Sheraton. I've had family friends stay there during 2-3 days of treatment at HUP.

Definitely check into the Ronald McDonald house also.
posted by mbd1mbd1 at 7:52 AM on May 22

Even if you don't stay at the Ronald McDonald house, they'll know good places to stay and have other resources.
posted by theora55 at 8:24 AM on May 22

Also, I used to work in Penn Tower--much cheaper but you will be able to tell. It's not beautiful.
posted by Pax at 8:38 AM on May 22

http://www.rittenhousehotel.com/

http://www.fourseasons.com/philadelphia/

The two best hotels. Both in the middle everything. Both have a concierge to best help you with this question.
posted by Zambrano at 8:42 AM on May 22

$400 a night for the Four Seasons, but only $500 for two nights at The Rittenhouse. And the Rittenhouse is in a much nicer setting.
posted by Zambrano at 8:51 AM on May 22

Horizons is the most amazing restaurant at which you will EVER eat. Yes, it's strictly vegan, but no, you will not really notice. The food there is exquisite! Just count on ~$30-40 per person... it is a real treat, and worth every single penny.
posted by bengarland at 9:03 AM on May 22

Best eating experiences - both highly recommended:

Reading Terminal Market - an incredible assortment of food stalls to choose from

Cheesesteaks: Pat's and Jim's are the originals, but I like Jim's on South Street better. Try them all. Make sure you try one with Cheese Whiz to make it authentic.
posted by kdern at 9:07 AM on May 22

Sorry - typo. Pat's and GENO's are the originals.
posted by kdern at 9:08 AM on May 22

If you are Food Network fans, Iron Chef Morimoto's restaurant is a (relatively) expensive (but enjoyable and memorable) option. The restaurant is outfitted in hypercolor plexiglass so that through your meal the entire place changes color. It's trippy.

Stroll around the Italian Market (9th and Christian-ish).

Check out the museums: Art Museum (the rebuilt architecture is fascinating and beautiful), Rodin Museum (largest collection outside Paris), Franklin Institute (has a Star Trek exhibit right now, lol!), Rosenbach (repository for all of Maurice Sendak's art and all of James Joyce's manuscripts - also has a great library of first editions of pretty much every amazing book you've ever read, and a lot that you haven't).

Take in Reading Terminal in the interim hours of an afternoon if possible. It's quietest then while all the conventioners are busy taking notes on TPS reports. And the Amish are only there in the second half of the week.
posted by greekphilosophy at 9:21 AM on May 22

Tell your wife to hit the Marathon Grill for brunch one day.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 9:24 AM on May 22

Horizons is the most amazing restaurant at which you will EVER eat. Yes, it's strictly vegan, but no, you will not really notice. The food there is exquisite! Just count on ~$30-40 per person... it is a real treat, and worth every single penny.

Yes, this. And a child wouldn't be out of place there.

Royal Tavern (Passyunk b/t 6th and 7th) has fantastic gastro-pub food and local beers, and there are regularly kids in there, too. It's a bit off the beaten path, but worthwhile. My favorite place in Philly.

Also, for brunch, Sabrina's can't be beat. Call ahead (no reservations, but they'll take your name over the phone). Yes, it's trendy and hip. Yes, the wait can be atrocious. But it's so so good. Two locations, at 9th and Christian (by the Italian Market, where Rocky ran) and 18th and Callowhill (Art Museum area).
posted by The Michael The at 9:29 AM on May 22

Tell your wife to hit the Marathon Grill for brunch one day.

Sabrina's : Marathon Grill :: Ambrosia : Gruel
posted by The Michael The at 9:30 AM on May 22 [3 favorites]

I used to work at CHOP, and strongly remember their family-oriented services and healing process. Give them a call, and ask them directly - although they may not be able to take you on a tour of the area themselves, I am sure they have PLENTY of resources to offer, or at least references to be made. Given we had foreign dignitaries visiting with their children for treatment while I was still there, I would imagine this is not new to them.

Or, you can check CHOP's website. ;-) There's also a bunch of other information for the parents of the patient on the site.
posted by GJSchaller at 9:57 AM on May 22

The area to the west of CHOP is known as known as West Philly (aka University City), and has plenty of cheap eating places. It's very walkable. Here's a web site for the district, including hotels. The b+bs are a little further out than the hotels, but are accessible by trolleys. Or a cab to CHOP should be about $6-8.

I don't know how long you are staying for, if you use the B+Bs in Squirrel Hill (see map linked above) you will be near Clark Park, which is intensively used but has nice playgrounds where you will meet tons of parents with babies and toddlers. Farmer's Market on Thurs and Sat. other activities as well.

The B+B area of West Philly is much less dirty and noisy than Center City.
posted by carter at 12:02 PM on May 22

I'd just like to respectfully disagree with carter's characterization of Center City as dirty and noisy. We are either talking about different places or we have vastly different standards. Either way, Center City (between Vine and South, from river to river) is just not my idea of dirty and noisy. In fact, I often worry that the city is becoming the American History equivalent of Disney World: Perfectly manicured streets housing adorable, predictable shops frequented by lovely boring people from the midwest. And Society Hill with its creepy colonial Stepford thing going on.

With the exception of the gayborhood and Old City at about 2am, I can't imagine Center City being described as noisy or dirty.
posted by greekphilosophy at 11:32 PM on May 22

If you're going to CHOP, you're right near the Penn campus. The food carts at 34th and Walnut are really good and there's a gelato place that just opened up at 39th and Walnut. Also, you guys should check out the Please Touch Museum in Fairmount Park -- it just reopened, it's an easy/quick cab ride from West Philly, and it's great for small children.
posted by melodykramer at 8:47 PM on May 23

Check your MeMail :)
posted by dancinglamb at 2:09 PM on May 25