Not everyone wants to visit the rugged mountains and trek for hours in variable weather. It is possible to get cheap flights to Europe or any part of the world and experience some fantastic city walks while enjoying an urban travelling experience.
If this sounds appealing then you should check out these city-walks:
The New York High Line
In 2009 the old railway line in Manhattan opened as a 2.33km stretch of plants and sculptures. It’s a great walk and the easiest way to get across Manhattan.
This idea has been copied by many other cities but none have quite reached the success of the original.
The Chicago Bloomingdale
This is a viable alternative; although still not the original urban travelling experience. The Bloomingdale trail is 4.3km long and uses an old freight line.
You’ll enjoy the stroll as you pass round the coolest neighbourhoods in Chicago; including Wicker Park and Logan Square.
The path isn’t fully finished as the plants are still being put in. But, the addition of a blue strip which eases stress on your joints when jogging is brilliant.
Hong Kong Trail
Move away from the states with cheap flights to Europe and then on you can experience the green side of Hong Kong. This metropolitan sprawl actually houses a number of good walks. The best is the Hong Kong trail which goes for 50km from Victoria Peak to Big Wave Bay. It’s not a direct route but you’ll love the forests, waterfalls and an array of streams.
An unexpected bonus in the big city.
The Berlin Wall
You may not have realized it but the Berlin Wall was actually 160km long. You may not want to undertake the entire route of the wall but you can do Mauerpark to Warschauerstrasse comfortably in one day.
You’ll see the remains of sections of the wall and a variety of other memorabilia.
The Vancouver Seawall
The name may not inspire you but you’ll change you’ mind when you take a day to visit the beaches between Coal Harbor and Kitsilano Beach.
Its 22km walk with separate areas for walkers, cyclists and even skaters. The fact that you get stunning views along the way just adds to the incredible atmosphere.
The Sydney Cliff Top Walk
Stroll gently round the coast from Bondi to Coogee and experience Australian sea life at its best. There are rock pools full of life, sculptures and even some gym equipment to experiment with.
Just don’t forget to glance outwards occasionally; you never know what you might see in the sea!
The Platterklip Gorge
This is one way of getting to the top of Table Mountain and an experience in itself. You’ll need to be ready to climb in the heat but the reward at the top is simply enhanced by the satisfaction of getting there without the cable car.
Runyon Canyon
Just a couple of blocks away from Hollywood Boulevard you’ll find the Runyon Canyon. You’ll probably find a host of celebrities going for a run as well!
There is a 65-hectare park with a variety of trails for you to explore; ranging from very easy to extremely tough; choose wisely! You’ll get a fantastic photo from Inspiration Point as a reward.
The Thames
You can’t actually walk n the water but the Thames Path runs next to this famous river for nearly 300km; an impressive 128km is in London alone.
You don’t need to do the whole trail; you can easily stop and start your urban travelling experience as you wish.
You will get to see the sights and sounds of London as you walk; that’s an experience in itself!
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