Your Hotel: The Sheraton

For everyone staying at The Sheraton in University City, I think you lucked out! Not only are you about one block away from both a subway (34th and Market) AND a trolley (36th and Sansom) into Center City (if you're feeling adventurous), but there's always a line of cabs waiting patiently outside the front door for anyone who needs one. And the big bonus-- your hotel is caddycorner to a WAWA (36th and Chestnut)!

Wawa (a Native American name for the Canada Goose--you'll see the goose in their logo) is a local dairy/convenience store chain that you'll want to know about. They have drinks, coffee, and snacks if you're in a pinch, but most importantly, their ATM's are FREE. I know most people don't worry about cash anymore-- and it's most likely your own bank will still charge you a fee-- but if you want to avoid the $2 that most ATM's charge up front, find a WAWA and get your money there. They're all over the city. Also, they're open 24 hours-- which was great for me as an undergrad.

Speaking of undergrads, since you'll be in University City in the summer, you won't have to deal with students! Well, some summer students will be there... but I must say, my favorite times at Penn were during the summer, when a kind of sleepy peacefulness settled over campus. I hope you take a little time--maybe an afternoon if you have it-- to explore the area around your hotel a bit, because it has some wonderful attractions that are guaranteed to be less crowded and crazy than the tourist swamps of Center City.

Here's a list of things within a short SHORT walking distance of where you are-- don't be too overwhelmed-- I'll do posts on each of them:

WAWA -- REMEMBER: FREE ATM'S! 36th and Chestnut. 24 hours! They sell ice cream! Coffee! Tastykakes (if you're into sweets!)

Sansom Row shops and the White Dog Cafe-- 1/2 block south of the hotel-- walk south on 36th St and turn left on Sansom OR walk south on 34th and turn right on Sansom. I love the White Dog Cafe Bar Menu--try eating outside, too!

The ICA: Institute of Contemporary Art -- 36th and Sansom-- west side of the street

University of Pennsylvania Bookstore and various shops: 36th and Walnut (2 blocks south of the hotel)

Starbucks (if you feel like going to a chain): 34th and Walnut (2 blocks south of the hotel)

Penn Campus-- "The Green": Walk down 34th or 36th-- cross Walnut. You will be on the main campus area of Penn. You'll start to see the big green lawn areas dotted with trees and crossed with paths. If you stroll around a little there's lots of cool architecture and public sculpture to see. The neo-Gothic Fine Arts Library is a must see for any architecture enthusiast-- more on that later.

The Univ. of Penn Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology-- perhaps one of the most under appreciated museums in the city. It's architecture and collections are awesome, and you don't have to spend all day to see it. And it only costs $8 to get in-- cheap compared to the bigger Museums-- with a reduced admission on Sundays.

Check out my other posts on these (coming soon), or take a look at their websites!