ON YOUR FEET - FastCopyfastcopy.org › wp-content › uploads › 2014 › 02 › ON-YOUR-FEET.pdf · ON YOUR FEET Some of the nation’s top destinations are best experienced in

ON YOUR FEETSome of the nation’s top destinations are best experienced in active settings,whether you’re walking or jogging, pushing a stroller or cycling. You may be afitness buff or just don’t want to be stuck in a car. These destinations makeyou want to get out and stretch your legs.BY LORI JOHNSTON, FOR THE AJC

GEORGIA Savannah

It’s not a sprint in Savannah during spring break. Once you’ve checked into your hotel or bed-and-breakfast indowntown Savannah, the car can stay in park. Savannah’s 22 squares and parks are meant for meandering, sincethey make up the largest National Historic District in the U.S. Walk underneath the mossy trees and on streetsmade of cobblestone or “tabby,” a mix of concrete and shells. Take time to pause at monuments, mansions,antebellum architecture and landmarks such as the Forsyth Park Fountain, the unique ironwork anddoorways along Gordon Row (Chatham Square), the spot where the “Forrest Gump” bus stop scenes werefilmed (Chippewa Square) and the Mercer Williams House (Monterey Square), made famous in thebook “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.” Pack a picnic, and if you’re 21 or older, you can drink alcohol inthe streets due to the open container law. The streets get crowded in Savannah, however, when the coastal cityhosts the second-largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the U.S., set for March 17 and expected to attract more than300,000 revelers.

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Savannah’s 22 public squares are nestled amongst historic homes, churches, theaters and other structures, with Spanish moss hanging from many ofthe trees. SAVANNAH AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Savannah’s setting has received recognition, named one of the 10 Most Beautiful Places in America by USAWeekend Magazine, and locals enjoy spotting familiar faces while socializing on foot. Strolling near SavannahCollege of Art and Design, you may see an artist at work, a fashion shoot or a band performing for free on thestreet. Walk along the cobblestone River Street, for souvenirs, food or just to watch the ships on the waterfront.For more shopping, check out the art galleries and eclectic shops in the restored warehouses and shops of CityMarket and boutiques and trendy retailers on Broughton Street. You can walk to attractions such as theTelfair Museum of Art and Lucas Theatre, and historic restaurants such as the Olde Pink House(Reynolds Square). Walkers can join those touring the city via trolley, horse-drawn carriage, streetcar andSegway. Tours are themed to the type of sites, such as cemeteries, gardens and African-American history, alongwith food and wine tours, ghost walks and a new venture, the Free Savannah Walking Tours, on Mondays-Saturdays.

Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, 101 E. Bay St., Savannah. 1-912-644-6400, savannahchamber.com.

Free Savannah Walking Tours. 1-912-236-0387, freesavannahtours.com.


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Situated along the Atlantic Ocean, Cliff Walk is the most visited attraction in Newport, R.I., with mansions liningthe pathway. DISCOVER NEWPORT

NEWPORT, R.I. Cliff Walk

Take the 3.5-mile walk along Rhode Island’s eastern shore for its views of the Atlantic Ocean and Gilded Agewaterfront mansions, such as the Breakers, and to experience the rocky shoreline, wildflowers and other localflora and fauna. The public access walkway was designated a National Recreation Trail in 1975, and it’s the mostvisited attraction in Newport, which was founded in 1639. Damage from Hurricane Sandy in 2012 caused themost rocky and rugged section of the trail, which otherwise is smooth and paved, to be closed for reconstruction;it is expected to reopen later this year. Along the path, people walk, jog, run and stroll with their dogs, andevidence of the path’s popularity among tourists includes hearing multiple languages. National GeographicTraveler named the walkway one of 50 Places of a Lifetime. You’ll need to be prepared before journeying on CliffWalk’s trails. In early 2014, restrooms were being constructed but were not open, and there were no services orrestaurants, except for at the beginning of Cliff Walk inside a luxury boutique hotel, the Chanler at Cliff Walk.

Discover Newport. 1-401-845-5800, DiscoverNewport.org.

Cliff Walk, cliffwalk.com.


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Cherry blossoms frame the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial onthe Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. CHARLES DHARAPAK /ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON, D.C. National Mall

The crunch of gravel provides the soundtrack for folks walking along the National Mall, which runs from theCapitol to the Lincoln Memorial. The 2-mile boulevard in the center of Washington, D.C., and on the banks of thePotomac River attracts millions of people annually. You can take public transportation to the tree-lined Mall,then spend your day stopping at the free memorials, monuments and museums along the popular pathway.Major marches and protests have taken place on the Mall, which also hosts annual events such as the NationalCherry Blossom Festival, from March 20-April 13. Joggers and walkers join folks touring the sights viaSegway or on organized walking tours.

The National Mall offers a memorable history lesson, with access to the Martin Luther King, Jr.Memorial, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, World War IIMemorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, Korean War Veterans Memorial and WashingtonMonument. Stop into the 15 Smithsonian museums along the National Mall, such as the National Museumof Natural History, National Museum of American History, National Air and Space Museum,Smithsonian Castle and National Gallery of Art. Besides, walking to the museums and memorials helpsyounger travelers burn some energy before being on their best behavior in areas where quiet reflection is needed.

National Park Service. 1-202-426-6841, nps.gov/nama/index.htm.

Destination D.C. 1-202-789-7000, washington.org.

It’s easy to bicycle in Austin, with its rolling hills, open-road courses andsettings such as the 351-acre Zilker Metropolitan Park. The city alsohosts cycling competitions. AUSTIN CONVENTION AND VISITORSBUREAU


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AUSTIN, TEXAS Cycling city

From amateurs to athletes, Austin is for cycling enthusiasts. The Texas town’s rolling hills, abundant bike lanesand parks welcome those who want to explore the city on two wheels. The city in 2013 was named one ofBicycling Magazine’s Top 20 Most Bike-Friendly Cities in America, and there’s an array of bike shops (such asMellow Johnny’s Bike Shop, owned by Austin’s Lance Armstrong) offering rentals and bike tours, andself-guided and hosted rides throughout the year. Drivers know to look out for cyclists on major roadways such asLoop 360, which has the arched Pennybacker Bridge. Dedicated bike lanes show downtown Austin’s bike-friendlyfocus, and Zilker Metropolitan Park and Lady Bird Lake, formerly Towne Lake and on the Colorado River,offer ample areas to hop on a bicycle and enjoy the scenery. The cycling community is a strong force in Austin,and the city is creating more trails and bikeways for people. Challenging courses attract athletes training toAustin, which will host the Ironman 70.3 Austin Triathlon in October 2014 and the 2015 USA Cycling Cyclo-crossNational Championships.

Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau, austintexas.org.

Austin Cycling Association, austincycling.org.

The abundance of beautiful and unique shells on Sanibel Island causes people to adopt the “Sanibel stoop” while hunting for the Florida treasures. LEECOUNTY VISITOR & CONVENTION BUREAU/WWW.FORTMYERSSANIBEL.COM

SANIBEL ISLAND, FLA. Beach walk

Get ready to adopt the “Sanibel stoop” when walking on the beaches of Sanibel Island, a pristine barrier islandin southwest Florida. It’s hard to resist stopping and bending down to collect some of the biggest and mostbeautiful shells on the Florida beach, turning a leisurely beach walk into a treasure hunt. Sanibel and itsneighbor, Captiva Island, are known for having some of the best shelling in the world. Magazines such as Travel& Leisure have named Sanibel a top spot for shelling, which means you don’t want to forget a bucket, net bag orany type of sack for your stroll. From sunrise to sunset, you can choose from the stacks of shells that the ocean


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delivers daily to the shore. A walk along the quaint coastline helps people appreciate the island’s natural beauty.Sanibel has an east-west orientation, and typically, larger shells are found on the western end, closer to Captiva,on beaches such as the Bowman’s Beach, named in 2013 one of the top 10 beaches in the world by U.S. NewsTravel. On the eastern end, the walk leads to a lighthouse that was erected in 1884 when the island was a naturepreserve.

Sanibel & Captiva Island Visitor’s Center, 1159 Causeway Road, Sanibel Island, Fla. 1-239-472-1080,sanibelcaptiva.org.

Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau, 2201 Second St., Suite 600, Fort Myers, Fla. 1-239-338-3500,FortMyers-Sanibel.com.

CHICAGO Magnificent Mile shopping

The challenge of walking Chicago’s Michigan Avenue, known as the Magnificent Mile, is doing so without beingbogged down by shopping bags. The stylish street encompasses about 460 stores, 275 restaurants, 60 hotels, fivemuseums and more, attracting 20 million visitors annually. The 13-block avenue runs through downtownChicago, from the Chicago River to Oak Street. Flagship stores, such as Crate & Barrel and Saks FifthAvenue, have staked their spot on Michigan Avenue, joining other premier retailers, high-end boutiques, finedining and casual restaurants, gardens, theaters and museums. Shoppers stroll past architectural sights andlandmarks such as the DuSable Bridge, Wrigley Building, Tribune Tower, Drake Hotel, JohnHancock Center and historic Water Tower. Across from the Historic Water Tower, Water Tower Placewas the country’s first urban “vertical” mall, while the Shops at North Bridge District include a four-storyupscale shopping center. Spring is one of the best times to enjoy the Magnificent Mile, instead of daring to strollthe famed street during Chicago’s frigid, windy winter.

The Magnificent Mile and Greater North Michigan Avenue Association. 1-312-409-5560,themagnificentmile.com.

Chicago Visitors Information Center, 163 E. Pearson St., Chicago. choosechicago.com.

LAS VEGAS Walking the Strip

The Las Vegas Strip has been memorialized in movies, but walking the Strip in real life is often a first stop forvisitors. You’ll catch views of the Strip when landing in Vegas, and the neon lights attract everyone from Vegasnewbies to drunken tourists to families. The Strip, a 4-mile stretch on Las Vegas Boulevard, leads to the city’sclassic casinos, and the established and new hotels and resorts, shops, nightclubs and attractions. It’s a spectacleyou have to explore on foot, at least once. Of course, it’s the only place where you will see an Eiffel Tower,Venetian canals, Roman palace, a pyramid and other landmarks all at once. The Strip’s scene is changing, too.The High Roller, the world’s largest observation wheel at 550 feet tall, is expected to open this spring as part ofthe LINQ, an outdoor entertainment, retail and dining district by Caesars Entertainment.

Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, 3150 Paradise Road, Las Vegas. 1-702-892-0711, lvcva.com.


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Walking the Las Vegas Strip is amust-do for visitors, offering aclose-up look of the 24-7 action.

LAS VEGAS NEWS BUREAU


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ON YOUR FEET - FastCopyfastcopy.org › wp-content › uploads › 2014 › 02 › ON-YOUR-FEET.pdf · ON YOUR FEET Some of the nation’s top destinations are best experienced in