Walking in the Woods is for Bears. Check Out These 9 Urban Walks

March 28, 2014

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The Freedom Trail, Boston: Boston has the dubious privilege of being home to one of America's oldest walking tours – but trust us, it isn't half as boring as it sounds. The Freedom Trail is a two-and-a-half-mile urban trail that winds its way through the city's historical highlights and explores where the Revolutionary War first began. You're guaranteed to learn something, particularly if you stop off at Sam Adams Brewery for a tour and a sudsy pint afterwards. You know, history.
Paseo del Rio, San Antonio: Otherwise known as the San Antonio River Walk, the Paseo del Rio is a dynamic network of urban culture along the banks of the San Antonio River. Don't be discouraged that it's the number one tourist attraction in Texas: there are plenty of cool things to see here, and crowds are manageable. This scenic route is home to permanent free displays of public art, while the underpasses and bridges play host to breathtaking temporary exhibits, including F.I.S.H., a school of fibreglass sunfish by Donald Lipski, and Shimmer Field, an installation of hundreds of prismatic strips by Martin Richman.

Photo courtesy of San Antonio CVB
The High Line, New York City: Probably the most famous urban walkway ever, the High Line runs from West 30th Street along the Hudson down to Gansevoort Street. The one-mile elevated park is the baby of Friends of the High Line, a community-led redevelopment group whose intent was to transform the disused New York Central Railroad into an aerial greenway and creative space. While the slow-moving pockets of tourists might factor in as a downside, even the most jaded urbanite will get a little shiver from the views.

Photo courtesy of Urban Land Institute
The Freedom Trail, Boston: Boston has the dubious privilege of being home to one of America's oldest walking tours – but trust us, it isn't half as boring as it sounds. The Freedom Trail is a two-and-a-half-mile urban trail that winds its way through the city's historical highlights and explores where the Revolutionary War first began. You're guaranteed to learn something, particularly if you stop off at Sam Adams Brewery for a tour and a sudsy pint afterwards. You know, history.
The Chicago Riverwalk, Chicago: Chicago is a city of dizzying heights, and some of the best views of its famous skyscrapers can be enjoyed from the Chicago Riverwalk, which stretches from Lake Shore Drive to Franklin Street along the south bank of the river. If you've happened to time your arrival with a Polar Vortex, the underground tunnels beneath Chicago known as the Pedway offer an alternative, subterranean tour.
Center City, Philadelphia: Philadelphia – historic capital, cultural destination, land of the cheesesteak – is also an exceptionally walkable city. For a complete trek across Center City, start at Walnut Street in University City and head east - you'll pass by UPenn's campus, cafes and shops, tony Rittenhouse Square and the landmarks of Old City like Ben Franklin's house. Also keep tabs on the Reading Viaduct Project, which promises to be Philly's answer to the High Line.
Milwaukee Riverwalk, Milwaukee: A two-mile stretch of meandering river that penetrates the heart of downtown, The Milwaukee Riverwalk is no ordinary urban walk. In fact, with the banks brimming with an excess of restaurants, brewpubs, shops, and waterfront nightlife, it may not involve much walking at all. Those wishing to do something besides overindulge should continue along to RiverSculpture, an outdoor art gallery showcasing a collection of sculptures from local, regional and national artists.

Photo courtesy of Jim Bauer
Vera Katz Eastbank Portland Esplanade, Portland: Named after beloved former mayor of Portland, Vera Klatz, immortalized in bronze on the sidewalk, the one-and-a-half-mile scenic Vera Katz Eastbank Esplanade was designed to connect the east-side neighborhoods with the west, making it a great thoroughfare to begin exploring the city.

Photo courtesy of Ingram Publishing/Thinkstock
On the Waterfront, Seattle: This city is famously ped-friendly, and downtown is beautifully easy to get around on foot. Whichever direction you go in, make sure to stop by Pike Place Market (we know it's not new, but we never get tired of those flying fish) and have a wander through the diverse selection of stalls, crafts, and specialty foods that make it one of the city's tastiest places. From there, walk down a couple of blocks southwest to Waterfront Park for a stroll along the boardwalks, where you can sometimes enjoy clear views of the Olympic Mountains in the distance.

Photo courtesy of dibrova/iStock/Thinkstock
The Freedom Trail, Boston: Boston has the dubious privilege of being home to one of America's oldest walking tours – but trust us, it isn't half as boring as it sounds. The Freedom Trail is a two-and-a-half-mile urban trail that winds its way through the city's historical highlights and explores where the Revolutionary War first began. You're guaranteed to learn something, particularly if you stop off at Sam Adams Brewery for a tour and a sudsy pint afterwards. You know, history.
Paseo del Rio, San Antonio: Otherwise known as the San Antonio River Walk, the Paseo del Rio is a dynamic network of urban culture along the banks of the San Antonio River. Don't be discouraged that it's the number one tourist attraction in Texas: there are plenty of cool things to see here, and crowds are manageable. This scenic route is home to permanent free displays of public art, while the underpasses and bridges play host to breathtaking temporary exhibits, including F.I.S.H., a school of fibreglass sunfish by Donald Lipski, and Shimmer Field, an installation of hundreds of prismatic strips by Martin Richman.

Photo courtesy of San Antonio CVB
The High Line, New York City: Probably the most famous urban walkway ever, the High Line runs from West 30th Street along the Hudson down to Gansevoort Street. The one-mile elevated park is the baby of Friends of the High Line, a community-led redevelopment group whose intent was to transform the disused New York Central Railroad into an aerial greenway and creative space. While the slow-moving pockets of tourists might factor in as a downside, even the most jaded urbanite will get a little shiver from the views.

Photo courtesy of Urban Land Institute
The Freedom Trail, Boston: Boston has the dubious privilege of being home to one of America's oldest walking tours – but trust us, it isn't half as boring as it sounds. The Freedom Trail is a two-and-a-half-mile urban trail that winds its way through the city's historical highlights and explores where the Revolutionary War first began. You're guaranteed to learn something, particularly if you stop off at Sam Adams Brewery for a tour and a sudsy pint afterwards. You know, history.
The Chicago Riverwalk, Chicago: Chicago is a city of dizzying heights, and some of the best views of its famous skyscrapers can be enjoyed from the Chicago Riverwalk, which stretches from Lake Shore Drive to Franklin Street along the south bank of the river. If you've happened to time your arrival with a Polar Vortex, the underground tunnels beneath Chicago known as the Pedway offer an alternative, subterranean tour.
Center City, Philadelphia: Philadelphia – historic capital, cultural destination, land of the cheesesteak – is also an exceptionally walkable city. For a complete trek across Center City, start at Walnut Street in University City and head east - you'll pass by UPenn's campus, cafes and shops, tony Rittenhouse Square and the landmarks of Old City like Ben Franklin's house. Also keep tabs on the Reading Viaduct Project, which promises to be Philly's answer to the High Line.
Milwaukee Riverwalk, Milwaukee: A two-mile stretch of meandering river that penetrates the heart of downtown, The Milwaukee Riverwalk is no ordinary urban walk. In fact, with the banks brimming with an excess of restaurants, brewpubs, shops, and waterfront nightlife, it may not involve much walking at all. Those wishing to do something besides overindulge should continue along to RiverSculpture, an outdoor art gallery showcasing a collection of sculptures from local, regional and national artists.

Photo courtesy of Jim Bauer
Vera Katz Eastbank Portland Esplanade, Portland: Named after beloved former mayor of Portland, Vera Klatz, immortalized in bronze on the sidewalk, the one-and-a-half-mile scenic Vera Katz Eastbank Esplanade was designed to connect the east-side neighborhoods with the west, making it a great thoroughfare to begin exploring the city.

Photo courtesy of Ingram Publishing/Thinkstock
On the Waterfront, Seattle: This city is famously ped-friendly, and downtown is beautifully easy to get around on foot. Whichever direction you go in, make sure to stop by Pike Place Market (we know it's not new, but we never get tired of those flying fish) and have a wander through the diverse selection of stalls, crafts, and specialty foods that make it one of the city's tastiest places. From there, walk down a couple of blocks southwest to Waterfront Park for a stroll along the boardwalks, where you can sometimes enjoy clear views of the Olympic Mountains in the distance.

Photo courtesy of dibrova/iStock/Thinkstock
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