Walking tours aren’t just a great way to explore a new city, but they’re often one of the best ways to learn about the true culture, food, history, and people of a local area. Here are 7 amazing family walking tours throughout the United States.
Guide Yourself in Boston
One of the most iconic walking tours in the country, guide yourself and your family through the Boston Freedom Trail with this self-guided audio tour. You’ll visit 14 different historic sites as you walk down cobblestone streets, in some parts of the country where American history was made centuries ago. And one of the best parts? There’s an app that you can use on your phone or your kid’s devices. They’ll love that they get to interact with history in front of them and on their phones!
Do the Zoo
If your little ones love animals and you’re looking for a more personalized experience, do the zoo! While many zoos offer guided walking tours, one of the best can be found at the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere. From historic home tours, docent-led walking tours, to backstage pass walking tours, there’s sure to be something that fits your children’s age, activity level, and your budget.
Back to Colonial Times
Another historic centerpiece of America’s early days, Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia is a unique experience your kids won’t ever forget. Walk along Gloucester Street and learn about colonial life – what they ate, how they lived, how they created goods, and what kids did for fun. The mile-long walking tour is filled with reenactments too, so your kids will get to see what life “way back when” was really like.
The Big Easy for Little People
Many people think of New Orleans as an adults-only paradise, but that’s far from the truth. Forget drinking on Bourbon Street – there’s so much culture to explore with your family in this unique city. From family-friendly tours of the city, Louisiana Swamps, the effects of Hurricane Katrina, historic cemeteries and plantations, there’s no shortage of learning and fun in the Big Easy.
“Crossing a Bridge into History” in Alabama
A historic walking tour of a different kind, the walking tour from Selma to Montgomery is full of learning about the struggle for civil and voting rights in America. While you’ll have to decide what parts of the 54-mile trail you’ll have to cover, there are plenty of stops including the Selma Interpretive Center at the start. Stand on the steps where Dr. Martin Luther King rallied crowds for iconic speeches and give your children the chance to learn about history in person instead of out of textbooks.
A Video Game Come to Life
Have you ever played The Oregon Trail video game? Imagine being able to make your kids games come to life by bringing them on The Oregon Trail walking tour. You won’t have to worry about contracting malaria, but you will get to explore the struggles and successes of early Western Americans.
The Haunted Big Apple
New York City is home to hundreds – maybe even thousands? – of different types of tours. From food to architecture to theatre, there is any type of tour you can imagine. One tour that is typical of spookier towns down south, New York City is home to one of the BEST ghost tours: Ghost of New York. Learn all about the paranormal of the Big on this haunted, 1-mile tour. There are even children ghost hunts located throughout the various boroughs.
Why sit in your hotel room or stand in line for a crowded restaurant when you can explore a new city by walking? With any type of tour you could imagine these days, family walking tours are the best new way to experience all the sights, sounds, and smells the city has to offer.
