30th Street Station in Philly to Hilton Baltimore?
 

Could someone please help me map this out? I think I would take Amtrak to Penn Station and then MARC Light Rail to Camden Yards. (I'll be meeting friends there, we'll walk to the hotel) I will also be alone while traveling, so a little nervous in a new city. Any tips?

Okay, you got the first part -- take Amtrak from 30th Street Station in Philadelphia to Penn Station in Baltimore.

And, based on this PDF,
http://mta.maryland.gov/services/bus...e/LRMAP209.pdf
you can indeed take a light rail from Penn Station to Camden Yards.

Finally, based on this URL (view the map near the bottom)
http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hote.../directions.do
the light rail station at Camdem Yards is barely a block from the Hilton Baltimore. It looks like you've done an EXCELLENT job of planning out your route.

> a little nervous in a new city. Any tips?

I'm dead serious, this is NOT a flippant question: Just what are you nervous about? I know some people find maps useless when trying to figure out how to actually travel (not a moral or intellectual deficiency, just a difference method of processing info); is this your concern? Or perhaps you're worried that the area might be as bad as it was when I first went there -- and a cop stopped me to say I really shouldn't walking be in the area, and it was broad daylight! Or maybe you just want tips on finding a specific type of establishment.

I don't live in the area (I've traveled there since my first visit, and can now say it is LOT less intimidating), so I can't handle any of the concerns I've mentioned. However, if you can specify the exact source of your nervousness, someone from there may be able to alleviate it. Or, just maybe, inform you that you should be concerned -- in which case, at least you'll be prepared.

Wow, very comprehensive and helpful. I am more concerned though about the Maryland rails. After getting off the train I'm meeting someone-so no problem there. Is the system hard to navigate?

Gabs, are you going to meet your friends at the Camden Yards station for any particular reason?

The light rail doesn't really go to Penn Station. You have to walk a few blocks to the light rail station at Mt. Royal and Dolphin Streets, then wait for a light rail train to take it down to Camden.

But if you like to walk, and it's a nice day, it isn't very far from Penn Station, straight down Charles Street to Pratt, then two blocks to the right and one block south at Howard, to get to Camden Station. About 10-15 blocks total. Or, if you aren't comfortable doing that, you could take a taxi for a pretty low fare, and I'm sure it would take only a small fraction of the time it would take to use light rail. Or, taking a taxi right to the hotel wouldn't really cost any more.

If you are interested, I can give you very specific directions.

They are staying at the hotel, and I thought it was direct...maybe they could pick up me up or I'll take a cab then. They'll have a car, but they also have business meetings. One is attending the American Accounting Assocation's Mid-Atlantic Regional Meeting (since he's the region president, he feels the need to be there for almost everything) so might be occupied. Good note, because coming in with a heavy bag and a lot of walking...don't really mix.

Really confused now. Is there a best way, given the heavy bag, a approx 5 pm arrival in Baltimore, and maybe/maybe not being able to get picked up at Penn Station?

If there is not a taxi outside Penn Station, the Amtrak Station agent will call one for you. Some stations even have a direct wall phone to call a taxi.

You should have no problem whatsoever getting a taxi outside of Penn Station at 5pm - they are usually lined up outside of the station. If you have heavy bags, and your friends will be at the hotel, no doubt your best bet would be just to grab a taxi.

Okay...so what's the taxi number in the area?

The station agent will be helpful and make the call for you if there are no taxis outside the station. There may be a yellow or white phone on the wall with a direct line to a taxi dispatcher.

I will no longer need the taxi, they are picking me up there, but thanks!