5 Great Urban Walking Tours in The U. S.

How about getting in a little exercise with a walking tour? We’ve covered a bike tour in Prague, but now let’s do some serious walking and remember to be inspired by the great architect you may pass by along the way.

Remember, you’re going to want an anti-theft, secure backpack when traveling to keep your bling safe and sound.

You don’t want to develop a nervous twitch always feeling behind you to make sure your pack still feels like there’s something in it!

Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA

Movie stars, swimming pools. On that intro, we’ll start by heading over to the famous Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles for a dose of glitz and glamour.

Here you’ll enjoy a stroll along the Walk of Fame reminiscing of our present stars and other legends we remember from days gone by.

If you have the time, catch a drink at Musso and Frank Grill, serving up the Hollywood crowd since 1919, and the bar hasn’t changed.

If you time this right, you might even catch a celeb at the unveiling of their own star.  Always exciting to see them live and in person (note: most celebs are shorter than you think.)

All the costumed characters from your fave films hang out in front of the famous Chinese Theater.

This is a great photo opportunity as they will all pose with you- for a stipend. In fact, interacting with the locals should be a big part of urban walking tours.

Call me crazy for saying so, but it’s all part of the fun when the superhero competition for your buck gets slightly out of hand. Sometimes someone gets hauled off to the big house!

spiderman arrested

Everyone has a bad day. Afterall, he’s only superhuman.

Central Park, New York

Nothing shouts Hey, I’m a tourist in NEW YORK CITY louder than a pedicab tour through America’s largest urban green space, Central Park.

But that’s OK, you’re in good company with hundreds of others. And you won’t be in the cab all the time, there are plenty of opportunities to get out and do a walking tour in the park.

Here you’ll find 1.3 square miles loaded with history including sculptures of those who shaped this nation.  Here’s a no-nonsense look at pricing and tours available.

Aerial view of Central Park

There’s a pedicab in there somewhere!

One of the many fun facts you’ll while jetsettying through the park is the Strawberry Fields memorial.

This is a 2.5-acre landscaped section that is dedicated to the memory of Beatles member John Lennon and named after the Beatles song “Strawberry Fields Forever”.

It was designed by Bruce Kelly and dedicated on October 9, 1985. And let’s not miss the  Diana Ross playground which was opened in 1987 and features various swings and slides.

Diana Ross Playground

New Orleans, Louisiana

As their tourism site says, 24/7 since 1718 and that’s no lie. It goes without saying you’ll want to plan your trip around the city’s annual Mardi Gras celebration- or not.

Bourbon Street gets crazy and packed (imagine moving down the street and your feet aren’t even touching the ground, THAT packed!) Best to experience this from a hotel balcony above the noise. 

You’ll also want to soak up the scenery of the historic French Quarter, The heart and cultural center of New Orleans.

A must-see for its high energy, rich history, diverse architecture, music, street performers, renowned jazz clubs, lively nightlife, and the finest art galleries and restaurants. Not bad choices if you missed Mardi Gras.

Here’s a list of some walking tours that brings you deep into the rich culture of this wonderful city by the Bayou.

french-quarter, New Orleans

Jazzin’ things up at the “Big Enjoy,” as the locals like to call it.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Santa Fe is a town you’ll want to come to hungry, this is foodie town USA and you’ll want to tour this town hungry and ready to indulge. Called one of the country’s largest art scenes this town has earned its title as one of the top places to travel in the US.

From November through February, Santa Fe hosts “Artists in Residence,” where you can watch and interact with artists as they create jewelry, painting, and pottery. Eat and drink your way through the city on a Taste of Canyon Road Food Tour.

The Santa Fe Village district

Of course, we wouldn’t be Jetsetty if we didn’t lead you down awesomely intriguing paths, and what could be more fascinating than the cloak and dagger days of spying! Yep, there’s a tour for that too.

From earliest days of the Spanish to the modern-day of the Atomic Bomb, spies have always been active in the historic capital of New Mexico. 

This tour features Santa Fe’s major spy hangouts and drop off points where top secret information was exchanged.

Come join tour guide Allen Steele as he shares spy history in the nation’s oldest capital city.

Futuristic digital processing of fingerprints

Portland, Oregon

Oregon’s a state with something for everyone, with its coastal U.S. Pacific Northwest vibe, filled with forests, mountains, and micro-breweries. Which brings us to Portland.

First, be sure to visit the Portland Japanese Garden. Coming from His Excellency Nobuo Matsunaga, the former Ambassador of Japan to the United States, he proclaimed it to be “the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden in the world outside of Japan.” Nuff said.

Kengo Kuma Portland Japanese Garden
What you might not know about Portland is that it’s home to a staggering number of record stores of all sizes, as well as cool music festivals like summer’s PDX Pop Now!, a free event focused on local bands.

The Doug Fir Lounge is one of the top spots in the city to check out indie bands, offering state-of-the-art sound equipment and an intimate atmosphere.

With homegrown celebrities like Matt Groenig (creator of the Simpsons) and Courtney Love, you’re touring a town that doesn’t take itself too seriously. So have fun!

Downtown Portland

(courtesy www.travelportland.com)

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