The Place: Key Bridge Boathouse (formerly Jack’s Boathouse)
Why Live Here: You love the water and being on it or near it regularly is something that gets you into total zen mode. There are a bunch of boat houses scattered around the waterfront areas of DC, but this one has the spectacular backdrop of the Key Bridge before you even launch into the Potomac, and honestly, it’s a view that never gets boring.
Things to Know: Jack’s Boathouse was named after Jack Baxter, the veteran D.C. cop who opened the boathouse in 1945 after 11 years walking the Georgetown waterfront beat. Just as World War II in Europe was drawing to a close, Mr. Baxter opened for business with six rowboats that he built himself. According to an article I found on Mr. Baxter, during the Kennedy administration, first lady Jacqueline Kennedy and her children, John Jr. and Caroline, took a Potomac River ride in one of Mr. Baxter’s rowboats. In the early years of his operation, young women from the Navy WAVES quarters at Nebraska and Massachusetts Avenues NW came by regularly, and Mr. Baxter always allowed them free use of his canoes. “If you rent one canoe to two girls, you rent four canoes to men who want to chase them down the river,” he said.
In 2013, after 68 years of operation, Jack’s Boathouse was renamed Key Bridge Boathouse. It offers unique rental options and tours such as their Twilight Monument Guided Tour, Full Moon Monuments Paddle, and my favorite, the July 4th Fireworks Paddle.
Spaces on the market nearby:
