AARP Hearing Center
Walking tours provide a great way to explore a new place — whether a rainforest trail or the heart of a city — with a knowledgeable guide. Tours generally operate at set times and are limited to a specific number of participants from the general public, though with ample lead time it is often possible to arrange a private tour. Guides not only share information and engage in storytelling about an area’s history, architecture, nature, culture and even hauntings but also handle the logistics, meaning they know the routes very well and can point you toward the nearest restroom or place to sit.
These tours provide opportunities for exercise, meeting new people, learning about a new location and asking lots of questions to satisfy your curiosity. According to an AARP study on lifelong learning, 55 percent of Americans 45 and older are actively learning new things. With so many benefits, walking tours are a great way for individuals 50-plus to explore a new destination. Consider scheduling a walking tour early in your trip. You can use the knowledge you gain to enhance the rest of your journey.
From a single hour to a few hours in length, the tours offer fairly easy walking on flat or paved surfaces, while others feature more rigorous routes in nature. If mobility is a challenge, many of these tours are at a slower pace with a focus on storytelling; others are more moderate. Some, especially those based in cities, include places to sit and perhaps eat or drink as well as use restroom facilities.
The guides make the experience, says Bruce Leadbetter, owner of Arizona-based 360 Adventures. “Anybody can just wander around if they want to, but when you add the guided experience, you really do have somebody to answer those ‘What’s that?’ ‘Where’s this?’ ‘How does this thing work?’… that personal touch that adds value to the experience.”
Consider these 10 walking tours that were selected based on consultation with local experts and customer review sites such as Google, Yelp and Tripadvisor. The tours represent a geographical mix and are focused on a variety of themes.
Consider a two-hour hike through the Tongass National Forest while in Alaska.
Alamy Stock Photo
Guided Hike of Tongass National Forest or Guided Walking Tour of Sitka, Alaska
Step into Alaska’s rainforest on a two-hour hike through the Tongass National Forest with Sitka Walking Tours. Keep an eye out for eagles, search for salmon and enjoy the lush vegetation while learning about Tlingit people and culture. The Rainforest Hike is moderate, though it does require a bit of mobility. Or opt for the wheelchair-accessible one-hour Historic Downtown Tour, which follows a paved route along the town’s sidewalks, where you can learn about Sitka’s history, culture and day-to-day life, including a stop at St. Michael Cathedral. Cost: $49 to $119.
El Tiradito shrine is a stop on Borderlandia’s tour in Tucson, Arizona
Courtesy Borderlandia
Tucson Origins Tour, Arizona
Celebrate the 250th anniversary of Tucson’s founding by touring the historic Barrio Viejo neighborhood, which is working to become designated as a National Historic Landmark. Explore Barrio Viejo, El Presidio and other historic areas during the Borderlandia tour, which focuses on Tucson’s history and architecture, including Sonoran architecture. The 2-mile tour is almost all flat, with paved sidewalks along quiet city streets in the morning and restroom stops. Cost: Starting at $50.
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