One of best features of the city of Philadelphia is that it’s located next to a body of water: the Delaware River. There are several neighborhood communities in Philly on or near the waterfront, including Pennsport, Queen Village, Fishtown, Old City, and the end of South Street. If you’re planning to move to one of these Philadelphia neighborhoods, here are a few tips for how to fully enjoy your waterfront living experience.

Keep a List of Summer Festivals Handy

The Philadelphia waterfront is well known as the place to go for summer festivals. There’s a different festival or event in the area near the waterfront just about every weekend, including jazz festivals, cultural festivals, and outdoor movie screenings. And every year, there’s a free summer concert series on Penn’s Landing.

Try to Rent a Parking Space

One thing that you’ll quickly realize when living near a waterfront area like Pennsport is that during certain times of the year, it can be difficult to find a parking spot. Visitors come from all over to enjoy the attractions, and they’ll sometimes travel deep into the neighborhoods to park their cars. If your home doesn’t come with a driveway or garage, scan the classifieds to see if you can find good monthly deals on garages (private and public) in the warm months so that you’ll always have a secure spot for your car.

Prepare for Summer Crowds

If you’re planning to move to Pennsport or one of Philly’s other waterfront communities, be prepared for increased activity during the summertime. When the weather starts to warm up, everyone wants to head to the water and catch a cool breeze, so embrace the fact that your neighborhood will get an influx of foot traffic. Welcome friendly visitors and help them out with directions or suggestions, but keep safety in mind, too. Stay involved with your local neighborhood watch to ensure that local rules and regulations are being observed when activity rises in the summer.

Boat Rentals

From time to time, you’re probably going to want to do more than just look at the water — instead, why not take a ride on it? Rent your own boat so that you can take a leisurely spin out on the Delaware River and beyond. From April to October, the Independence Seaport Museum rents out rowboats and kayaks by the hour. If you prefer to have someone else do the piloting, contact Patriot Harbor Lines’ Delaware River Tours or the Riverlink Ferry to schedule a boat tour.

There’s rarely a dull moment when you live near the water. You can always count on plenty of events, attractions, and activity when the weather’s nice. Whether you’re lacing up your sneakers to take a jog near the water or taking in a free concert at your favorite summer festival, be sure to take full advantage of the many benefits of Philly waterfront living.

Image Source: Flickr/Melissa Wentarmini

[cf]skyword_tracking_tag[/cf]