AAA Names America's Most Walkable Cities
Washington, D.C. - 7/28/2006
Americans are eager to travel this summer, but with the average gas price at almost $3.00 a gallon, travelers may be wondering if they can afford to take their hard earned vacation. To help vacationers enjoy their time away from the office without worrying about paying an arm and a leg for fuel, AAA has identified North America’s top ten most walkable cities, from Quebec to St. Augustine, Florida.
“The top ten cities include places for every type of traveler,” said Bill Wood, Executive Editor of AAA Publishing. “The true beauty of these vacation spots lies in exploring them by foot, allowing travelers to absorb the personality and essence of the city – all while exercising, conserving fuel and saving money on gas.” All of the cities on AAA’s list of top ten walkable cities have incredible histories to share. Self-guided walking tours are a fun, relaxing, and healthy way to see these cities. These top 10 cities were identified by AAA’s travel editors and more details can be found in AAA’s popular TourBook ® guides and on aaa.com.
Old Town Alexandria, VA: History buffs will enjoy being sent back in time during a walking-tour of George Washington’s old stomping grounds. George slept in his townhouse here, and worshipped from Pew 60 in Christ Church.
Boston, MA: Walk in the footsteps of America’s founding fathers. Boston’s Freedom Trail links important sights in the American struggle for independence: Boston Common, Paul Revere’s house, and the USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”).
New Orleans, LA: beautiful architecture and great dining in the French Quarter, so New Orleans is still a great summer vacation option. Jackson Square boasts one of the nation’s finest architectural settings, including St. Louis Cathedral, and the Presbytère.
Downtown Los Angeles, CA: If glamorous nightlife and high fashion is your cup of tea, visit downtown Los Angeles. Spotting a movie star in the business district is unlikely, but you’ll recognize skyscrapers and streetscapes from your favorite film or TV series.
Washington, DC: Explore numerous world-renowned museums and art galleries. First, decide which places you want to see at length, and then map your course using AAA’s three DC walking tours.
Charleston, SC: Learn about how the Civil War started in Charleston, and pick up some fun trivia facts by finding out why many of Charleston’s historic structures are bolted together, and why greenish-black is the politically correct color for shutters, doors, and trim.
St. Augustine, FL:Visit the oldest ongoing settlement in the United States. Don’t miss the spring Ponce de León hoped was the Fountain of Youth, the Castillo de San Marcos, a massive rock fortress, and beautifully restored houses in the Colonial Spanish Quarter.
Old Québec City: Travel back in time to old-world Europe while staying in North America. Saved from demolition in the 1870’s, Vieux-Québec is North America’s only walled city. Don’t forget your French-English dictionary!
Greenwich Village, NY: New York City’s Greenwich Village offers a vibrant mixture of cultures and lifestyles, creating a haven for artists and writers alike. With quiet streets and shaded parks, Greenwich Village is as walkable as it gets in NYC.
San Francisco, CA: The City by the Bay” reels her visitors in with impressive hills and eclectic neighborhoods and markets. If time is limited, go straight to the observation deck atop CoitTower on Telegraph Hill so you’ll leave knowing you have seen it all.
With more than 100,000 hotels, restaurants, travel attractions and other locations in North America offering discounts to AAA members, AAA is the best way to save money on your next vacation. AAA travel offers exclusive rates on vacation packages and AAA credit cards offer rebates on gasoline, no fees for traveler’s checks and other benefits. To learn more about AAA log on to www.aaa.com
As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides nearly 50 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since it’s founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.
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