Boathouse Row: The Best Spot to See Fall in Philadelphia

20

Nov

Want to know the best time to see Philadelphia’s famous Boathouse Row? At sunrise in the fall a few days before Daylight Savings Time. It’s a very specific time and date and very early in the morning, but it’s worth it! And I am going to show you why 🙂

The best place to see fall leaves in Philadelphia

Boathouse Row: The Best Spot to See Fall in Philadelphia

Last year, I went to see Boathouse Row at sunrise in the fall, and it was gorgeous! I made a little mistake though- I went the weekend of Daylight Savings Time, which meant that sunrise was at 6 a.m. instead of 7 a.m., and giving 45 minutes to drive and walk to the spot to see Boathouse Row, I had quite the early morning! (Shout out to Matt for always coming with me on my crazy photography adventures!) So learn from my mistake last year and go before the time change. Because I didn’t have to go quite so early this year, I also got to see Boathouse Row all lit up with Christmas lights, which was absolutely beautiful.

Boathouse Row

Boathouse Row

Boathouse Row

Boathouse Row

Philadelphia city skyline

I love the Philly skyline!

Boathouse Row

Boathouse Row at sunrise

Boathouse Row at sunrise

Boathouse Row at sunrise

Boathouse Row

Boathouse Row sunrise

Boathouse Row at sunrise

Boathouse Row

I mentioned this in last year’s post about Boathouse Row, but I love how the historic boathouses are still being used. One of the perks of seeing Boathouse Row so early in the morning is you get to see rowers on the Schuylkill River!

Boathouse Row at sunrise

Boathouse Row at sunrise

Boathouse Row at sunrise

Boathouse Row at sunrise

Boathouse Row at sunrise

Schuylkill River

Aren’t the fall colors beautiful?

Schuylkill River  Boathouse Row

I couldn’t get enough of the boathouses!

Schuylkill River

Schuylkill River

Schuylkill RIver

Boathouse Row

Schuylkill River

Boathouse Row

Schuylkill River

The sun rises behind the art museum, but the colors in the sky on the opposite side are also beautiful

Schuylkill River

Fall in Philadelphia

Boathouse Row

Boathouse Row

Philadelphia Museum of Art

The sunrise over Philadelphia Museum of Art

Fall in Philadelphia

Fall in Philadelphia

Boathouse Row

Boathouse Row

Fall in Philadelphia

Fall in Philadelphia

Fall in Philadelphia

Fall in Philadelphia

Fall in Philadelphia

Fall in Philadelphia

Fall in Philadelphia

Fall in Philadelphia

Fall in Philadelphia

Fall in Philadelphia

Boathouse Row

After getting my fill of photos, we walked towards the park around the Philadelphia Museum of Art to see more of the fall colors. I loved how yellow so many of the trees were! The park around the museum is pretty empty this time of day, and we only saw a few people out for runs so you can have the area almost all to yourself.

Philadelphia Museum of Art

Philadelphia Museum of Art

Philadelphia Museum of Art

Philadelphia Museum of Art

Fall in Philadelphia

Fall in Philadelphia

Fall in Philadelphia

Fall in Philadelphia

Fall in Philadelphia

Annika loved our early morning hike!

Fall in Philadelphia

Fall in Philadelphia

Fall in Philadelphia

Fall in Philadelphia

Fall in Philadelphia

Fall in Philadelphia

Fall in Philadelphia

Fall in Philadelphia

Fall in Philadelphia

So yes, getting up before the sun is pretty early, but it’s so worth it to see the beautiful fall colors! (I also have other recommendations to see fall colors in Philadelphia if you’re in the city). The area is very empty (because who else is crazy enough to get up that early?), and seeing Boathouse Row at sunrise during fall is one of the most beautiful sights in Philadelphia! 🙂 

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Blog, Historical Philadelphia, North America, Philadelphia, Photography

  1. Julia says:

    Your photos are wonderful! I love how we can see the hours go by as we scroll through and look at the sequence of photos here. Definitely worth the early start I’d say!

    Julia x
    http://www.julia-speaks.com

  2. Carole says:

    These pictures are beautiful, Julia. Thanks for posting!

  3. Lena says:

    What a pretty row! I would love to walk here and daydream and about owning one of the boathouses. They are so pretty with the lights!

  4. Superb pictures, autumn foliage and from the boathouse – even with such little light! Thanks for sharing, dreaming of renting as well a boathouse on London canals when my boys are slightly older!

  5. Julia says:

    Wow the Christmas lights are gorgeous! These first photos in the night are absolutely gorgeous. In fact all the photos you took are beautiful, it must have felt so special to notice the change in the light and the colours as the sun was rising. An early start, but so worth it! Thanks for sharing these photos with us. 🙂

    Julia x
    Last Post: How To Get In The Festive Spirit | http://juliaspeaksbeauty.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/lifestyle-how-to-get-into-festive-spirit.html

  6. Darla says:

    This is great! I had no idea this existed, but will add it to my ‘to do’ list and have to get to Philly around the holidays!

  7. Your photography is standing! Somehow I never thought of Philly as such a piss picturesque place, but you have changed my mind.

  8. Addie says:

    Boathouse row looks so beautiful! I’ll definitely have to check it out when I finally make it to Philly – no matter what time of year!

  9. Love the foliage and the holiday lights.

  10. Sarah says:

    What a beautiful place! I love all the Christmas lights and the bright autumn colours. 🙂

  11. Lina says:

    The boathouses look so sweet!

  12. Eric says:

    Picture postcard perfect!

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