Urban Safaris has gone on safari.
There will be no walks in 2020.
Discover San Diego's
inner soul on walking tours of her diverse & unique urban neighborhoods. Our casually
paced adventures provide an opportunity to explore San Diego's hidden gems--the older
neighborhoods that are the foundation of America's Finest City. It's only by walking the
residential streets & sipping coffee in neighborhood caf�s that one can feel the
pulse of a city and gain an appreciation for the role of a small neighborhood in the big
city. Urban Safaris was formed to introduce residents and visitors to San Diego’s
urban neighborhoods and their cozy caf�s, one-of-a-kind shops, enticing ethnic eateries,
architectural details, and surprising oddities. But it’s also a great way to make new
friends and get some exercise, learning as you go.
Explore the thriving art community of East Village, the
ostrich eggs of University Heights, the funky beach
community of OB, the Irving Gill architecture of Hillcrest, and much more. You’ll be
surprised at what you find--San Diego is so much more than just beaches and Balboa Park.
Don your safari hat and join me on an urban safari!
See schedule below.
Why Locals Should Tour Their Own City at Least Once a Year
Discover Hidden Gems You Never Noticed
Even if you've lived in a city all your life, you're probably only just scratching the surface of what your city has to
offer. Most people who live in a town tend not to pay attention to local walking tours, regional museums, pop-up
markets, or indie galleries. The trick is to tour your city like a tourist to unearth the bones of your urban space.
Support Local Businesses and the Economy
Your local cafes, stores, local guides, and small venues are thankful when a local participates with the same enthusiasm
as an out-of-towner. Whether it be dinner at a new restaurant, souvenirs from local artisans, or a local tour, that
money goes directly to strengthening our local economy.
See Familiar Places with a Fresh Perspective
After years of seeing the same architecture, parks, streets, and neighborhoods that you pass every day, they can become
boring. Rather than simply passing your city or town by day after day, bringing along a camera and a sense of inquiry
will help you see your surroundings again for the first time.
Create Lasting Memories with Friends and Family
Visiting your city with friends or family can create shared experiences that are very valuable. It is so easy to get
into a rut with home life, school runs, and your regular commute. Dedicating one day to being a tourist allows you to
spend time together and experience an adventure differently.
Stay Updated with New Developments and Attractions
Cities are constantly changing—new restaurants spring up, cultural festivals pop up, and public spaces get renovated.
When you make an annual commitment to tour your city, you keep up with these changes. Maybe there is a newly opened
science center, an art exhibit, or even a community-driving initiative related to your passion.
Foster a Deeper Sense of Belonging and Pride
Learning about the culture, history, and stories behind special landmarks brings greater meaning to what you see each
day. When you understand where you live, you can personally invest in performance to improve and respect the city’s
identity. Designing a yearly plan, of some type, will help you to rekindle your love of your city--and then share that
love with others!
Why More Travelers Are Exploring on Foot
Deeper Cultural Connection
Traveling on foot also has the advantage of allowing travelers to experience their surroundings in a way that vehicles
cannot. When on foot, you can meander through local markets, and listen to the sing-song cadence of native languages
being spoken, all leading to spontaneous conversations and discoveries with locals.
Health and Wellness Benefits
Go for a walk or a hike up a hillside, traveling by foot is a great way to enhance cardiovascular fitness, relieve
stress, and increase mental sharpness. For the conscious traveler, who wishes to remain some semblance of fit during
their vacation, walking provides a natural and enjoyable way to do so.
Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Travel
Walking is the most sustainable form of travel, as it is the only mode that produces virtually zero emissions and helps
to reduce one’s carbon footprint as well. Seeing destinations by walking has the most potential to reduce the adverse
impacts that tourism has on the environment, and allows for one to connect and appreciate nature.
Freedom to Explore Hidden Gems
The best part about seeing the world on foot, especially for those who are able to have a more independent travel
experience, is the ability to explore a multitude of walking routes that are usually overlooked. Whereas vehicles are
limited to roads, walkers can maneuver anywhere alleys, trails, and corners are available.
Cost-Effective Way to Travel
With walking, there are no costs for transportation, no taxis car rentals, or public transport charges. Many walking
tours are free or relatively inexpensive if provided self-guided tours. In rural areas or small towns, walking is
probably the only way to see everything as it would be hard to drive and find parking.
Personal Growth and Fulfillment
Whether it is a multi-day hike, or getting through an unknown city without your GPS walking communicates a sense of
independence and confidence. Walking is inherently thoughtful which invites reflection and self-awareness and is as much
an inward journey as much as it is an outward journey.
How Walking Tours Build Cultural Empathy
Slowing Down to Truly See
Walking tours provide the opportunity for a slow and mindful experience unlike bus tours or hurried itineraries. This
slower exploration provides time and space to appreciate the small, human details of everyday life in a new place- the
grandmother selling flowers, children playing a game in the alley, and the enormous mural capturing the history of a
street, all create a connection.
Hearing Stories from Locals
Local guides often share their own stories, folk stories, and lived experiences that may never be published and can’t be
replicated by any travel book or app. While discussing their own life or heritage in their voice, authentic human
connection is made and it encourages a sense of understanding and compassion.
Breaking Stereotypes Through Firsthand Experience
Various cultures are subject to misrepresentation and distortion by media stereotypes, their underrepresentation in
history, and tourist cliches. Whether it is in learning about the news of vibrant subcultures of an inner-city
neighborhood or unpacking the complex history of an Indigenous group of people, it is often the case that when travelers
experience first-hand the parts of a culture that were previously perceived as 'exotic'
Engaging the Senses for Deeper Connection
Walking places the traveler into the actual physical and emotional space of a culture; there is a big difference between
traveling and viewing a destination through a bus seat lens, and the sensory impact can create empathy in unusual ways —
a shared laugh showcasing the spice of the meal, the joy of local celebration.
Encouraging Dialogue and Cultural Exchange
One of the main benefits of walking tours is the teaming opportunities for meaningful conversations with both hosts and
other residents. Asking the tour guide questions and talking to residents facilitate a dialogue for cross-cultural
learning. The potential for two-way exchange becomes the difference between taking your tour and just having a good
talk.
Promoting Responsible and Ethical Tourism
Cultural empathy benefits the traveler as well, informing them of a more sustainable and ethical approach to their
travel experience. When people understand they are contributing to the objectives of preserving local culture and
heritage and respecting the community's values, they humanize their experience and appreciate who they are connecting
with as guests.
How Walking Tours Build Cultural Empathy
Engaging with Locals on a Human Level
Chatting with a local market vendor, watching street performers, or listening to your guide’s personal history are all
intimate experiences that bring humanity to a destination. Unlike museums or exhibits, these opportunities to interact
with local people are unscripted and authentic, allowing travelers to appreciate the underpinnings of the cultures they
are experiencing.
Slowing Down to Observe Cultural Nuances
Walking through a neighborhood allows travelers to notice small, rich cultural interactions: the smell of local food, a
colorful mural, the family altar, to how elders greet each other. Walking around the neighborhood also allows for an
intentional pace – an essential element of mindful travel that most fast travel does not support.
Experiencing Daily Life Firsthand
Walking tours allow travelers to experience the pulse of a place, rather than moving between various sites in a tourist
bus. You see school children at play in courtyards, the morning ritual at a local temple, and how the public
transportation system serves a community, these are all authentic moments of local life.
Learning History Through Local Narratives
These are the stories that allow opportunities to voice marginalized communities and historical insights that matter
despite how they have been told. Learning about a neighborhood’s resistance movements, a long-unspoken tragedy, or a
cultural renaissance allows us to hear history as lived experience. If travelers can be encouraged to hear history with
empathy, they will start to see events from other perspectives.
Encouraging Respectful Cultural Exchange
Cultural empathy is reciprocal, and walking tours foster a respectful exchange between hosts and visitors. Visitors
often ask questions, show curiosity, and engage in conversation – this kind of engagement builds mutual respect. When
travelers listen more than they speak, they create space for authentic voices to emerge.
Breaking Out of Comfort Zones
Travelers are often challenged by unfamiliar streets, foreign languages, and new food on walking tours. These challenges
spur the greatest learning. When they feel vulnerable or displaced, it enables them to appreciate what it might be like
for others who must live this lifestyle every day due to migration, poverty, or discrimination.
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