When you travel to a new (or even not-so-new) site, do you plan your activities? Personally, I prefer both winging it and planning ahead. How do you plan excursions, especially if the location is new to you? Guided tours can be enormously helpful, often saving money as well as providing an expert on the subject. Guides can share the site’s history, provide instructions and personally demonstrate the more strenuous activities . They usually provide the transportation, and take care of fees and parking allowing you to focus only on the experience. When you are seeing a locale for the first time, this is enormously helpful!
On our recent trip to Portland, we arranged a guided tour to Multnomah Falls and the Columbia River Gorge. Our guide picked us up in a van,as the falls were 30 miles from the city. Lacking a car, this was a must for us. While driving, he explained the history of the falls, provided snacks, and let us know what to expect upon arrival. Once we arrived, he was able to take us directly to the falls. After the tour he drove us back to our hotel.
In San Diego, we took a guided tour of Balboa Park, a huge park filled with museums and various diversions. We also went to La Jolla to observe marine life and the coastline. Other tours included the San Diego Zoo, one the largest and most renowned in the country. Whale watching, the historic Gaslight Quarter, and numerous beaches were also available. San Diego is a huge city and we enjoyed leaving the driving to our guide!
You can find tours and daytrips in most cities. While they can be booked when you arrive, I would suggest doing it beforehand. Many sell out quickly, especially during peak season. Two companies worth exploring are Viator and Project Expedition. Many others are also available so take your time selecting the right one.
Lastly, book your tours wisely to allow personal exploration and private time. We all need an opportunity to breathe and recharge!
Happy Traveling!
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