Part 1 – General Tips

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I like to do some research before a trip. However; trying to research everything about a destination before I get there is impossible and exhausting. Sometimes I want someone else to tell me what that building is, and why it’s important. This is one reason why I like to take a *walking tour when I travel. Here are some other reasons that I like to take walking tours.

• You get to see some sites and local attractions. This may include some you didn’t know about. 
• You’ll probably learn something. Learning is cool.
• You’ll get a sense of direction of the area the walking tour is in. This is especially helpful if you’re staying nearby.
• Travelling with people? A walking tour is a fun way to spend time together when you travel. However; there’s a caveat – don’t force someone to take a walking tour if they don’t want to take one.
• Travelling solo? A walking tour is a great way to spend some time when you travel. You can meet people (if you want). If you don’t want to meet people you can still take a walking tour and have fun.
• Walking tours are often (not always) outside. Fresh air, and maybe sunshine (no guarantees) is nice.
• You’ll have a tour guide (unless you’re on a self-guided walking tour). This means you can ask questions about what you’re seeing, or get recommendations for things to do, restaurants to check out, etc.
• *I’m using the term walking tour for this series, but I will clarify that if you have limited mobility or are unable to walk you can usually take a walking tour using a mobility aid such as a wheelchair or scooter. However; you’ll want to contact the tour company in advance to check the accessibility of the walking tour.

Before going into specifics I want to give some general tips about walking tours. 

1. Before your trip look up the destination you’ll be visiting and see what walking tours are available. A popular destination may have more walking tours, but they may also book up quickly, especially in high tourist seasons. I reccommend to book any tours you want to take in advance.
2. Tours may only take place on specific days or times. If you’re travelling in the off-season tours may be limited or unavailable. When I visited Winnipeg it was the off-season and there were no walking tours I could take.
3. I recommend taking a walking tour early in your trip – but not a on a travel day. It’ll help get some bearings for the destination your visiting.
4. If the walking tour is outside dress for the weather. In some places the weather can change quickly, so it’s best to be prepared.
5. Wear good walking shoes! These should be broken in (not brand new that you’ve never worn before), but not worn out. Most walking tours are usually at least an hour long, but some can be several hours, so waearing a good pair of shoes is imperative (unless you like sore feet).
6. If you’re doing a more active walking tour (like a mountain hike) make sure you can physically handle the tour. Talk to a trusted health provider before doing an active tour.
7. Bring your wallet and some cash to tip your guide (and possibly to buy items/food).
8. Bring a bottle of water, and maybe some electrolytes, especially if it’s hot. The last thing you want is heat stroke.
9. Be sure to eat before you go on a walking tour. I usually like to have a snack on hand (trail mix or a granola bar or protein bar) so I don’t get hangry. Nobody wants to be hangry.

With this series I’m focusing on different types of walking tours that can be done in a few hours within the same day. I won’t be focus on multi-day walking tours as I haven’t done those.

Let’s start with a popular walking tour I love to take – A Free Walking Tour.