MOST WALKABLE CITIES IN AMERICA
It’s no surprise that many cities are redesigning neighborhoods to be more pedestrian-friendly. Walkable cities offer health and environmental benefits—and make great destinations when traveling. One of the best ways to experience a city is on foot. So, pack your comfortable shoes and prepare for adventure when exploring these exciting areas.
1. BOSTON: THE FREEDOM TRAIL AND BEYOND
There's so much history packed into the 2.5-mile route winding through downtown Boston, you could spend more than a day following the Freedom Trail. Pace yourself for stops at the Paul Revere House, USS Constitution battleship—also known as Old Ironsides—Bunker Hill, Faneuil Hall and a dozen other official sites along the way. Use the walkways of the Rose Kennedy Greenway, a series of connected parks, to avoid the busy elevated highways as you go to more sites, like the picturesque Rowes Wharf on Boston Harbor and Chinatown. You'll go up some inclines when you walk the historic Beacon Hill district, but they're more like slopes than steep hills.
2. SEATTLE: ADVENTURE UNDER THE SPACE NEEDLE
Sure, you can go vertical, especially in Seattle. The view from the iconic Space Needle—520 feet up—is wicked-awesome on a clear day. But the horizontal plane is pretty special, too, even when you need an umbrella under frequently rainy skies. For the price of admission, rest stops at the Chihuly Garden and Glass and the EMP Museum are filled with colorful displays, pop art and music to enjoy. Happy wanderers are partial to the shops, little eateries and galleries of the historic Pioneer Square district and Pike Place Market. When you're ready to really stretch your legs, head to the waterfront and browse the Olympic Sculpture Garden.
3. CHICAGO: WALKING THE WINDY CITY
It's just 5,280 feet—but the stretch of Chicago’s Michigan Avenue is known as the Magnificent Mile. When you walk by its designer boutiques, fancy restaurants, skyscrapers and luxury apartment buildings, you'll see why it earned such a sophisticated name. The wide, well-manicured paths through the parks lining Lake Michigan's shores also have an element of the magnificent: beautiful views, sparkling fountains and expansive grassy lawns for kids to play. You'll even find walking paths with lake views around the family-favorite Field Museum of Science, Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium. Peek into Chicago's storied past with a visit to Old Town, where the sidewalks are flanked by Victorian-era buildings, modern shops and a variety of eateries.
4. NEW YORK: EAST SIDE, WEST SIDE, ALL AROUND THE TOWN
The well-loved song celebrating the “Sidewalks of New York” is more than 100 years old, but walking is still the best way to see the city's historic and thoroughly modern sites—and avoid its infamous traffic jams. Your navigation rule of thumb is that numbered streets run east and west; avenues run north and south. Exceptions, like the charming crisscross of streets around Greenwich Village and the huge expanse of Central Park, are well-worth visiting with a good map and plenty of time to linger in a vibrant atmosphere. On the west side, take a leisurely stroll on the High Line, an unusual park built on an old, elevated railway with gardens, art and views stretching from Midtown to the Hudson River waterfront.
5. SAN DIEGO: STEPPING OUT IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Walking around San Diego's favorite sites happens on two levels—sea level and Balboa Park level. Along the Embarcadero, a promenade along San Diego Bay, you'll have a chance to explore the aircraft carrier known as USS Midway, the tall sailing ship Star of India, shops at Seaport Village and a handsome marina near the Convention Center. A few steps away, the entrance to the historic Gaslamp Quarter beckons. Save your legs for more walking by driving or taking the bus up in the hills to Balboa Park. There you'll find more than 1,000 acres of parkland, museums, gardens and attractions with stunning architecture to discover—and free trams you can hop aboard if you need a rest between destinations.
6. NEW ORLEANS: STROLLING THE BIG EASY
Most of the walking you do in New Orleans is likely to be within a few minutes of the Mississippi River as it takes a big, easy curve around the heart of the city. The most well-known—and oldest—part of town is the French Quarter.Check the New Orleans Visitors and Convention Bureau website for a self-guided tour map so you don't miss any of the Quarter's 18th-century architecture, wrought-iron balconies, jazz and cuisine. Treat the kids to a ride on the St. Charles Avenue streetcar for a grand introduction to the Garden District, an opulent neighborhood of gracious homes and beautiful landscaping. Slow down the pace with a visit to City Park and Couturie Forest, a habitat for native wildlife with massive live oak trees covered with Spanish moss.
Ready to hit the trail? Find your hotel in Boston, Seattle, Chicago, New York., San Diego, New Orleans.
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