We are heading to Philly for the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta to see our D. Looking for best areas for lodging. Considering hotels and airbnb locations. Any information would be appreciated.
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@taverngirl , is your primary goal easy access for the race or a fun location in Philly for the rest of your stay?
Good question! Both, if we have time. We are new to this world and have no idea how it works. I’m assuming teams can compete in more than one race? I need to ask D if she knows when she will be racing and work from there. It looks like the area near the river, zoo, Museum of Art is a good location if we have time and wanted to do some other activities. I can’t seem to find out where on the Schuylkill is best for viewing the regatta. Seems we want to be within walking distance of there so we don’t have to drive/find parking.
My experience with crew regattas is that if it’s not a sprint (where there are finals), it’s one and done. And wherever you are, you just see the boat go by. Often there are areas where you can watch real time on a jumbotron. But I have not attended this particular regatta so someone else may be able to give you better details.
I really like both the kimpton locations. One is great for exploring old city, near the fabulous new museum of the American revolution, close to the waterfront and eateries. A great area for exploring historic Philly… The other is perfect for museums, Rittenhouse square, etc. If you are leaning toward one type of activity, there are other good options available at lower price points.
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Our son rowed in that regatta more than once, but we never got a chance to go. I concur with @gardenstategal’s comments. In general, bridges are good lookout points because you can see the boats coming and going as they pass beneath but, overall, rowing is the worst spectator sport in the world as, wherever you are, you will only see the boats for a minute or so as they pass by your vantage point. If you are not rooting for a particular boat, it really doesn’t matter where you stand; you’ll see them all pass eventually. If you’re invested in a particular boat, you may want to be close to the finish line, especially if the boat is competitive for the win.
In our son’s six years of rowing, I was able to attend only four regattas/races, so I probably saw him row a total of four minutes. Thank heaven for the Row2k and SportsGraphics sites where professional photographers photo each race and post great closeups of each boat/rower. We were able to purchase a few fantastic pics of our son from races we couldn’t attend.
Enjoy the regatta!
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My D went to college in the Philadelphia area and lived/worked there for four years after she graduated. We visited her fairly often (she is an actor and we would go to see her performances). We stayed at both of the Kimpton Hotels in downtown Philadelphia–Hotel Monaco and Hotel Palomar. Both were great. We also stayed at the Rittenhouse Hotel a few times, but preferred the Kimpton hotels. Another place we often stayed was The Wayne Hotel (which is in one of the Main Line suburbs). Enjoy the regatta!!
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Thank you! I will check these out, though we may not end up staying overnight. Looks like she will only be rowing Saturday, so it depends on when she rows.
I can tell you where NOT to stay: the Penrose Hotel. When my H was taking our S and 2 friends on a college tour visit in the summer of 2011, they stayed at a hotel in Philadelphia that was off the charts horrible. It had a different name then, but is still operating and receiving terrible reviews.
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We usually stay in University City when visiting D but have stayed at The Logan Philadelphia, AKA Rittenhouse Square, and the Windsor Suites. The Logan is our favorite for its rooftop terrace, proximity to Museum Mile, and excellent views of Swann Fountain. If you enjoy impressionist art, the Barnes Foundation is not to be missed. Rittenhouse Square is a great area too—lively and walkable. Enjoy the regatta and Philly!
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We live in Philadelphia and our daughter rowed in high school. The Art Museum area is the best for proximity to the river. The police usually block Kelly Drive for regattas. There is a path that starts behind the Art Museum. There is a lovely cafe called the Cosmic Cafe. I’m terrible at copying links but they are a great place to grab coffee and food at the start of the river.
There are stands where you can sit about midway on the race. Also check if your daughter’s school will have a tent, which visiting schools without boathouses tend to do.
Races are ungodly early but a lot of fun.
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