Walking is a healthy, enjoyable and cost-effective way to get around. Cardio is good for your ticker and won’t hurt your waistline. Exploring on foot is one of the best ways to get to know a place slowly enough to take in the beautiful and interesting sights and landmarks. It’s also easily the most affordable form of ground transportation.
To be truly walkable, a city must have destinations that people want to walk. That’s why we’ve included some walking spots you might want to check out on your own two feet.
1. Charleston, SC (winner)
Our readers vote for slow-paced Charleston as the most walkable city in the country. Many Charlestonians choose to walk, especially around the city’s historic downtown. Several tourist attractions can be reached without a car.
The best way to see the city is on foot, with an expert guide on a historic walking tour. This historic city is also a great place for a ghost tour – check out Ghost Town Tours or Old Charleston Walking Tour.
Downtown Charleston is very walkable. King Street is the main artery of the city’s entertainment district, dotted with antique shops, cute clothing boutiques, bakeries and other independently owned shops.
2. New York City
New York City is the second most walkable city in the country. Walk Score agrees, giving it a score of 88, or “very walkable,” meaning most errands can be completed on foot.
Suggest staying near Grand Central Station on East 42nd Street. This puts you in a transit hub, within walking distance to Rockefeller Plaza, Bryant Park, Times Square and Central Park.
You can even cross the Brooklyn Bridge into Brooklyn! It takes half an hour, but you’ll see the Statue of Liberty along the way , and you’ll get stunning views of Lower Manhattan from Dumbo or Brooklyn Bridge Park.
3. Boston, MA
Pedestrians love Boston, where you can catch a Red Sox game at Fenway Park or visit America’s oldest public park, Boston Common Dating back to the early 1600s, Boston is full of historic gems, some of which are perfectly walkable.
The Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile trail that winds through the city, stopping at several fascinating places between the Boston Common and Boston Harbor. The Boston Women’s Heritage Trail is a series of trails in the Boston area.
Walking is the perfect way to appreciate the chic tree-lined streets of the Back Bay and Beacon Hill neighborhoods. Beautiful Boston brownstones add to the charm, while luscious sidewalk cafés and Boston’s quintessential Irish pubs are ideal places to stop, rest and refuel.
4. Washington, D.C.
Walking is a well-known part of visiting our nation’s capital. You’ll be doing a lot of walking inside a Smithsonian! Known as “America’s front yard,” the National Mall stretches for 2 miles from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial.
Filled with monuments, memorials, museums and world-famous art galleries, it’s worth every step! Many other attractions, such as the International Spy Museum, are within walking distance of the National Mall.
5. Chicago, Illinois
Having a car in Chicago is almost a detriment because then you have to figure out where to park. The best way to enjoy Chicago’s world-class architecture, parks, and vibrant neighborhoods is on foot. The Windy City has a walkable downtown and many walkable neighborhoods such as the West Loop, Near North Side and East Village.
Known as “Chicago’s front yard,” Grant Park is home to Millennium Park, Maggie Daley Park, Buckingham Fountain, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the museum campus. Choose the Lakeside Walk on the museum campus, near the Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, and Field Museum, and walk along Lake Michigan for one of the best views in the city.
From there, you can continue north to Navy Pier, or skip it and head west on Wacker Avenue to walk the Chicago Riverwalk, which stretches 1.25 miles to Lake Street. Accessible on the street from every major intersection. Here you’ll find restaurants, seasonal deals, boat rentals and water tours.
