Whether you’re crossing an ocean or walking a few blocks to get to WordCamp US, we want to make sure that you’re able to make the most of your experience. For some of us that will take a little more pre-planning than it will for others. Packing bags, checking flights, confirming hotel reservations, figuring out where to get coffee. We want to help with us much of that as possible so let’s start with some important things to keep in mind, especially for those of us coming from outside the Philly area.

The Weather

You may have heard a lot of folks talking about how cold it’s going to be. Well, you definitely want to be prepared to bundle up if needed. It’s winter after all. Statistically the high is around 50 degrees fahrenheit with the low being 30 degrees fahrenheit. Bring a warm coat. Bring layers. And make sure to pack those gloves or mittens, hats, and scarves.

Getting to Philly

If you haven’t booked your flight, train, or bus yet you should probably get on that. Assuming that you have figured out your travel to the City of Brotherly Love my single greatest piece of advice to you is: have patience. Even if conditions are perfect in Philadelphia there might be delays elsewhere. It could be foggy in your hometown or snowy where you need to catch your connecting flight. It’s the season for weather here in North America. So check on your flights. Be prepared for delays. Maybe you should pack a snack and bring a book. And always always travel with necessary medications in your carry-on bag.

Getting around Philly

Welcome to Philly! Now what? Now you’d probably like to head to your hotel and freshen up before you head out to see the city or on to WordCamp US, at least that’s what I’m going to do. Luckily there are plenty of ways to get around town for those lacking a car of their own. We’ve also made it as easy as possible to get from place to place by booking all of our events within walking distance of our recommended hotel.

Train

SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) is the public transit authority in Philly and there are 2 types of trains that stop at the Convention Center.

• Regional Rail – Jefferson Station (formally called Market East — if you ask a Philadelphian about “Jefferson Station” and they look puzzled try “Market East”) is right underneath the Convention Center and all SEPTA Regional Rail lines stop there. 30th Street Station is the main Amtrak stop in Philly and from there you can transfer to Regional Rail to go to Jefferson Station.
• Subway The Market-Frankford (Blue Line) subway stops at Jefferson Station. The Broad Street Line (Orange Line) runs on Broad Street (the main North/South street that runs through Center City) has a stop near the Convention Center called the Race-Vine Station.

Taxis and ride services

Philly has plenty of Taxis you can always grab and we have Uber and Lyft if you want to request a ride from your phone.

Walking and Biking

Philadelphia is a very walk-able City and the Convention Center is centrally located to all points in Center City. We are a bike-friendly city, too! If you enjoy riding bikes, consider using our bike-share program, Indego. There is an Indego station right at the Convention Center at 1321 Arch Street.

Pick up your badge

If you’re not in town until the event starts, don’t worry about it. Doors open for attendees at 8am, you can stop by registration and grab your badge then. But if you happen to be in town early we want to make the registration process as simple as possible. If you’re attending the Community Summit you can pick up your badge there. If you’re staying at the Sheraton downtown you can pick up your badge from 2:30pm to 6pm on Thursday, December 5.

At the event

• DO bring your camera, your phone, your sketchpad, or any other way of capturing the event.
• DO tag anything and everything social. Use #wcus on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook so we can find your posts.
• DO be nice to all the volunteers. Every single person working on this event is a volunteer. From the speakers, to the organizers, to the person reminding you to keep the lunch lines single-file, they’re giving up their time to make the event better for you.
• DO take the chance to introduce yourself to anyone and everyone.
• DO take advantage of the upstairs quiet area if you feel like you need a break.
• DO keep in mind the code of conduct.
• DON’T forget how hard it is for some of these folks to get on stage.
• DON’T forget about the hallway track. As amazing as the speakers will be, the opportunity to meet and converse with folks between sessions will be equally valuable.
• DON’T bring your laptop unless you know you’ll need it. If you’re not speaking or working at or receiving help from the Happiness Bar you probably won’t need it.
• DON’T be afraid to ask someone’s name or remind them of yours. You may have met them or just know them on the internet, but don’t be afraid to ask someone’s name. And don’t hold it against someone if they don’t remember yours.
• DON’T get in over your head. WordCamp US is a marathon, not a sprint.
• DON’T have so much fun at the after party that you forget the code of conduct mentioned earlier.

Can’t make it to Philly?

We have a ticket for that. If you want to join in the WordCamp US fun but can’t make it to Philadelphia? Grab your live stream ticket. You can even get it with a commemorative t-shirt.

What did I forget?

I’m sure you all have special tricks and tips that help you make the most of any conference. Let me know what I forgot. Please share your best advice in the comments!

Inspired? Feeling like you want to join us?  Go get your ticket!