Heading to The Art Institute

We are heading to the Art Institute (1622 Chestnut St) three questions. 1. Anyone know if there are parking garages near? 2. What type of neighborhood are heading to? i.e. are we in the outskirts of the city? in the middle? Need to worry about 2 women walking alone? 3. Anyone know anything about the school? Thanks in advance for your help.

Heading to The Art Institute

1. There are a few very expensive downtown parking garages nearby.

2. You are in the heart of downtown. No worry walking alone except on deserted streets at night.

3. The school is part of a chain, but it is a very well respected chain. The students tend to be strange (well, the ARE art students, after all), but from what I%26#39;ve seen pretty talented and employable.

Heading to The Art Institute

Quick question, are you going weekend or weekday. There are a few garages in the rittenhouse square area that have decent weekend rates, and its a short walk..

Weekday either a Monday AM or Wednesday AM. Thanks for you help.

Have you considered taking AMTRAK in from Lancaster instead of driving?

Actually that is a really good idea. Do you happen to know how close the station is to the school?

Amtrak station is at 30th Street Station. AI is at 16th and Chestnut. It%26#39;s very doable. Just don%26#39;t wear heels!

Suzanne

If you don%26#39;t want to walk, it%26#39;s generally less than a 10 minute cab ride from 30th Street Station to 16th and Chestnut, depending on traffic. Don%26#39;t worry about safety. You are in the heart of the business district of Center City. Make sure to take a walk to Rittenhouse Square if it is a nice day. You are only a couple blocks away and it is lovely. Perhaps lunch at Rouge or Devon Seafood Grill at a table outside. Moms

You have a few choices from 30th STreet. You can take a SEPTA train for free (with your AMTRAK ticket) from 30th Street to Suburban Station (16th-ish %26amp; JFK). That would give you a two block walk to 16th %26amp; Chestnut), or as others have mentioned, you can take a cab, or just walk it if it is nice out (it%26#39;s about 1 mile).

If you decide to do the SEPTA thing, once you come up the steps at 30th Street, you will most likely be at the end of the station where the ramp up to the SEPTA trains are. Either walk straight ahead and bear left or make a right / U-turn (depends on which steps). Look up, and you should see the SEPTA REGIONAL RAIL sign. Go up the ramp, and look at the TV monitors. One of the ones on the right will show you the next train to Center City -time %26amp; track #. Be careful, the tracks are noot in order, so look at the signs. The order is: 1,2,5,6,3,4. You train will be on 1,2, or 5, unless something is messed up.

You guys are so nice. Thanks for all the info. We are definitely taking Amtrak and as long as its nice we will walk over to the school. Thanks for the ideas for lunch but unfortunately will not be able to take you up on the seafood grille as I have a severe shellfish allergy.

We only have about 45 minutes once we are done with the school until our train leaves. Is there any ';quick in and out'; lunch place? Does the train station even anything like that? I wish we could spend the day but unfortunately I have to work at 5:00 that day.

One more thing. We are planning on going on Oct. 8 (Columbus Day) should we be prepared for crowds in they or isn%26#39;t it too bad. I guess with our plans other than Amtrak it shouldn%26#39;t be too bad.

There are lots of food options at 30th Street, including McDonald%26#39;s. There is a food court as well. 30th Street Station is your best bet for food and making your train.