Is anyone familiar with this part of Philadelphia? I am considering an Elderhostel
that is housed in the area. They say it is in the center of town. Is that true?

Rittenhouse Sq is the safest area in town. Lots of shops, restaurants in the area. I'll have no concerns staying right there.

Great location , wonderful Cafes, narrow old streets and parks.

Agree. You should have a great time staying there. The square is a beautiful oasis, with plenty of trees and park benches, great for people-watching and sitting and relaxing, in the center of an upscale neighborhood.

It's beautiful! You'll have a great time there.

This is my favorite part of Philly. My husband and I lived on 20th and Walnut for one glorious summer, right across from Rittenhouse Square. It is so safe that one time I left my ATM in the machine with the question "Would you like another transaction?" and someone called after me saying "Miss....you left your card in the machine." I was floored. (I had no money at the time for anyone to steal though..poor graduate student!)

Not the center of town per se, but easy access to anywhere else you need want to go in the city really. Great location!

Where exactly is the elderhostel? The Rittenhouse Square area (a few blocks beyond the square itself in all directions) actually has a lot of variety, although it is bascially all safe.
For example, if the hostel in on the Walnut, Sansom or Chestnut Street sides of the Square, it's more commercial (I don't think of Chestnut Street as being in the RS area, but have heard some businesses promoting it that way). Swing over to Spruce or the Pine Street sides (and the small streets in between like Panama) and it's much more residential (I lived in the 2100 block of Spruce Street). Once you get to 23rd and Spruce/Pine, you've left RS and are more in the Fitler Square area, also very safe and residential, but fewer restaurants, shops, etc. And from the numbered streets, RS "area" IMHO covers about 17th to 22nd (maybe 21st) and from Walnut to Pine. Anything below 17th or above 22nd isn't really in the RS area, no matter what a marketing department tells you.
RS is my favorite area of the entire city and I have lived in many Philly neighborhoods--from 5th and South to Chestnut Hill.

There really is no center of Philly, as it is made up of various neighbourhoods. I work at Freeman's, just a short walk from Rittenhouse Square. The area is good if you want to be close to upmarket restaurants and shops, or if you want to walk to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. You are going to have to cab it to the Liberty Bell and other historic places, however. A really great restaurant on Rittenhouse Sq. is ROUGE. If you want the best meal of your life, head to THE FOUNTAIN at the Four Seasons Hotel. It will be worth every penny.

Actually there is a center to Philadelphia, that's why it's called . . . Center City. The actual center is City Hall, which is bisected by Broad and Market. The corners are marked by the squares -- originally called Northwest, Northeast, Soutwest and Southeast -- now known as Logan, Franklin, Rittenhouse and Washington.

Here's some info on Rittenhouse Square:
http://www.phila.gov/fairpark/squares/rittenhouse.html

There's some good advice here about Philly, a city I've visited maybe 10 times or so and enjoyed each time. I disagree however with the contention of needing to cab it to Liberty Bell. You could cab it but if you're not pressed and a reasonable walker, it should only take you 1/2 hour more or less to get to the Liberty Bell/Independence Hall from Rittenhouse Square. I walked it many, many times when I visited; the walking is far from dull with charming narrow side streets. You could even take a detour, moseying down to South Street on the way to see some urban pulse (or up to the Reading Terminal Market for some Amish pretzels).

I used to go to Rittenhouse Square when I wanted a taste of a European-style square when I lived in Baltimore. People relaxing on benches, even on the grass on a nice day. Great place, very central.

Enjoy! DAN

ttt

I googled "elderhostel" and "Rittenhouse Square" and a couple of elderhostel program hits for RS gave the actual hotel as the Club Quarters Hotel on 1628 Chestnut Street.
IMHO, that address is NOT Rittenhouse Square area, it's more commercial Center City. Also, the last two Trip Advisor reviews of the hotel were not complimentary.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...nsylvania.html

I have stayed there, it is three short blocks to Rittenhouse SQ.

Yes, it's true that it's a short walk, but the vibe is completely different. RS has a European style elegance; that part of Chestnut Street most definitely does not. There are few people living in the RS area who would consider 16th and Chestnut part of that neighborhood. There's nothing wrong with staying on 16th and Chestnute, it's fine, but it's not RS.