Discovering Destinations On Foot Is A Top Tip For Travelers
One of the first things I do when getting to a destination – be it a new one or one I’ve visited in the past – is to go for a walk.
This is a big travel tip for you. Walking is a great way to get to know a place or to get to know it again if it’s been a while since you’ve visited it.
You don’t need an app, you don’t need a guide, all you need is your feet, your brain, your eyes and, of course, a comfortable pair of shoes.
In Sydney, I walked each of the seven days I was in that city. I walked to Darling Harbour – I just love that name – over (tho not over the top of) Harbor Bridge and through the Botanical Gardens, which I found surprisingly interesting. I kept walking and discovered quite by accident that there’s a path that goes right up to the water. How beautiful and peaceful that was, and it put me in a good frame of mind about Sydney.
I even saw an interesting display of mirrors – standing artwork, really – in the middle of a park. Can’t find that on Yelp or on an app!
When I’m in Waikiki Beach, I walk from one end of it to the other. I walk past the rainbow building where Jack Lord stood on the balcony for the opening scene of the original Hawaii Five-O,TV show, down past where the beach ends and you have to walk on a seawall, all the way down to the zoo where there’s a free sort-of-secret snorkeling spot.
I then walk back to the Royal Hawaiian where I have the “old school” Mai Tai. With a view of Diamond Head. Oh, and yes of course, I’ve walked to the top of Diamond Head.
Sometimes, I admit, I walk too much. In Paris, I walked until my shoes fell apart (no kidding) and my feet ached. So I just sat down at an outdoor cafe and had some French wine. That’s not a bad way to experience Paris!
I am frequently asked “what do I do when I visit such-and-such place” and my response is always to first go for a walk. I’ll tell you top sights, Happy Hours, pubs and clubs (naturally for PubClub.com!) and other things about a destination but by getting out and walking you can see for yourself and up close what appeals to you.
Of course, you may find something that appeals more to you than to me – shopping comes immediately to mind – which is important because who knows the traveler better than the one doing the traveling?
I enjoy walking. Being outdoors. With an open mind and wide-open eyes, I learn a lot about a destination, get to see locals doing what locals to on an ordinary day and I even engage in conversations to just have a friendly chat or maybe pick up a tip or two about a place to eat, drink or visit.
And you may walk – quite literally as I have done on occasion – into a local show, performance or even a festival with bands and a beer garden that’s so much fun you change your plans and spend the whole day at it.
It’s also good exercise. You’ve got to keep the heart pumping and the legs moving when you’re on a trip.
So next time you’re at a destination, go for a walk. It just might turn out to be the highlight of your trip
Cheers!
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