Whenever I get my hands on a new National Geographic Traveler, I always look forward to reading the latest article by Daisann McLane. This month's, Traveling In Stride, touches on a simple, but overlooked, aspect of traveling: walking. One of the best ways to connect with the place you're visiting is by putting your feet on the ground and exploring. Daisann writes, quite eloquently, about all the beauty she's found, simply by taking walks wherever she goes.
Nothing can match the intimacy of walking. When you're on the street, you're inundated with sights, sounds, and smells that you miss if you're gliding by in a car or a bus.
When you walk you've got complete freedom. If you want to stop, you stop. Every cafe, shop, and everything in between is yours for the taking. No other way of getting around can match that freedom.
I personally love to walk when I'm traveling. It can be tiring if you over-do it, but I love to be able to stop, to relax, eat, and indulge in a good round of people watching. If it's easy to explore a place on foot, I remember it fondly. All the other car-centric places are more easily forgotten because they're made for speed. A car ride makes every place a big blur. So when I can, I walk. How about you?
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