Mega Boathouse

Thompson Boat Center, Washington, DC

When most people think of rowing in Washington, DC, they think of Thompson Boat Center (TBC). Situated on a bend in the Potomac River near the historic Watergate Hotel and Kennedy Center, the boathouse is home to over a dozen junior programs as well as the George Washington University and Georgetown University rowing teams.

Located on National Park Service land, this is a truly public boathouse that both the rowing elite and tourists can use. In addition to housing some of the area's top rowing programs, TBC also rents bicycles, canoes, kayaks. Due to the overwhelming popularity of rowing in the Washington, DC area and the dearth of boathouses, the facility is packed and there is a waitlist for boat storage. That aside, TBC's prime location is perfect for tourists who want to view monuments from the water, paddle around Roosevelt Island, or the competitive rower who is seeking flat water and a multitude of training options.