When I go on vacation, I can’t stand taking guided walking tours. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the tour guide’s valuable tips and entertaining bite-sized lessons in local history, or the chance to meet other curious travelers. I’m just an impatient person who likes to take things at her own pace. That’s why iPod walking tours, like those offered free by some national parks or sold by companies such as Audissey Guides, are such a great idea.
Deal: Each of Audissey Guides’ walking tours costs just $10 and covers one small neighborhood of the highlighted city, lasting about an hour as you walk about one mile. You can preview and listen to small audio samples of each tour for free before you buy. The new Miami walking tour, hosted by a bikini model and bartender, covers South Beach (SoBe) sights, including the World Erotic Art Museum. The New Orleans walking tour around the French Quarter is escorted by a local musician and pool shark, has stops that include a voodoo shop, and features an avant-garde original soundtrack.
Audissey Guides tours are also available for Boston, Chicago, Seattle and Hollywood.
When: You can download these audio walking tours online anytime, 24/7/365.
Critique: Some of the stops along the Miami walking tour aren’t accessible at the same time of day or on the same days of the week (e.g., Miami’s Mansion Nightclub isn’t always open when other SoBe sights are). Also, are you really going to bring your iPod with you into a dance club? Or finish the walking tour after you’ve been clubbing?
