MEALS, LODGING AND TOURIST ATTRACTIONS AND AMENITIES:

A FRIENDS OF THE WANAMAKER ORGAN INFORMAL FRIENDLY GUIDE

The expansion of the Philadelphia Convention center has led to an occasional glut of rooms in a sometimes underutilized facility. This plays into the hands of visitors looking for a great getaway at a reasonable price. For the budget minded, we suggest checking online resources such as Orbitz or Hotels.com or Priceline.com, etc., for rooms. Some of our guests have enjoyed staying at the nearby Alexander Inn or the Holiday Inn Express Midtown, which has a popular free breakfast buffet. Also nearby are several Marriott Hotels (regular, Courtyard, Residence Inn), the Loews Hotel, Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, Le Meridien, and other hostelries.

One option that can save a lot of money when in-town rates are high is to stay at the Philadelphia airport. A commuter train from the terminals stops right at the Market Street East station near Macy's, and shuttles from the airport hotels connect directly with the commuter train stops at the airport terminals. Often the Airport Hotels are the best bargains. Reportedly, a taxi ride to Center City is available for a flat rate.  

Restaurants within a block or two include Chili's, Maggiano's, McGillin's Olde Ale House,  a Beer Garden (Bru), Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse (in the palatial former Caldwells' Jewelry Store showroom next door to Macy's - not inexpensive), IHOP (Walnut Street),  McCormick & Schmick seafood (pricey), the Capital Grille (pricey)  and a grocery store and buffet/salad bar (Walnut between 13th and Juniper). Members tell us to avoid the Maggianos family-style option for large parties as it can substantially affect the cost of a meal. McGillins is better for lunch than dinner, when it becomes very noisy.

The area, particularly along 13th St., South of the Store has very recently become something of a restaurant zone, with new spots sprouting up along 13th Street and also Walnut.

Numerous fancy and some less formal restaurants are on South Broad Street. Next to the Marriott on Market There are limitless breakfast and lunch opportunities at the Reading Terminal Market and perhaps 100 Asian restaurants in Philadelphia's Chinatown in the blocks North and East of the Store.

There are restaurants of all descriptions on Chestnut and Walnut Streets from Broad Street to the Delaware River. Also most hotels, including the Marriott (diagonal to the Store), have dining options and/or bars.

Macy's no longer maintains a restaurant, although it does house a Starbuck's on Chestnut Street at 13th. There is a Dunkin Donuts across Market Street, and an Aussie coffeehouse on Penn Square. Several celebrated Italian restaurants are in South Philadelphia. An internet guide is located here.

Let us know what your favorites are and we will include them. A church directory is here. Parking ideas may be found here.

 Attractions near the Store include Independence Hall, the Masonic Temple, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, City Hall Tower, the Franklin Institute, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Reading Terminal Market, the Society Hill Colonial neighborhoods, the Rodin Museum, the Fairmount Park houses and Please Touch Museum.

Also consider the Penn's Landing riverfront area, Laurel Hill Cemetery, the Rosenbach Museum and Library, the Barnes Museum (reservations may be required), the Mutter medical museum, the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Eastern State Penitentiary museum, theatres and nightclubs, and numerous other attractions.

Check the visitphilly.com site for more ideas, although not all attractions presented there are convenient to downtown Philadelphia.