Boathouse Row

The historic homes of many of Philadelphia’s [3] rowing clubs also provide one of its most famous sights—Boathouse Row, which is especially pretty at night, when the lights outlining the homes reflect onto the Schuylkill River.

Designed in 1979 by architectural lighting designer Raymond Grenald, the lights helped revitalize Boathouse Row and brought them renewed status. The boathouses are home to several active rowing clubs overseen by the Schuylkill Navy of Philadelphia, the oldest amateur athletic governing body in the country, established in 1858.

The organization has produced several Olympic-champion rowers, and today the organization hosts four annual regattas.

But rowing isn’t the only recreation that takes place here. Philadelphia’s most popular paved trail, the Schuylkill River Trail [4], is most crowded in this stretch with walkers, runners, bikers, and others out to enjoy the scenery.