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Last Saturday was the war of the worlds, for me, anyway. The world of airy mountains
and clear brooks vs. the world of bustling people, a 1,000-piece automotive horn
band, and orienteering in the concrete jungle. Hmmm. Most weekends I flee the city
on some sort of adventure—bike, hike, climb, or ski. But Saturday I didn’t want to
go far. I wanted to learn more about the place I call home.
I grabbed a friend and promised an adventure. The rest was simple. Our packs looked
much the same as they do at an eastern Sierra trailhead: water and a snack, jackets,
my camera, some money and a map—a bus map. What we left behind was a plan. I knew
which parts of my city (San Francisco) I hadn’t seen, and I knew roughly how to get
there. I figured that would be enough.
Out the door by 9 AM, we walked two blocks, hopped on the 48 Express to downtown,
and yanked the stop cable at a street whose name I failed to recognize. We were off.
Nothing but good conversation and pleasant surprises to fill the rest of our day.
From the quaint bakery tucked away in a South-of-Market alley-way to a palette full
of building-side mural masterpieces, I took in my city, the slow way. We grabbed
fresh fruit from a market filled with Spanish, Greek and Hebrew, but not a word of
English. A walk along the shipping pier, where a link in an anchor chain seemed larger
than my bedroom, led to fascinating dialogue with an eccentric street poet who told
us stories of guarding his corner like a sentry for 25 years.
This wasn’t your average city tour. There were no tourist sights, attractions, shopping
plazas or grandiose bridges. Just real people, amazing architecture, and stories.
We would wander blocks led only by curiosity, then hop on a bus and get off 30 blocks
later just to start all over again in a different place. How far had we walked?
Maybe 15 miles, but who was counting?
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Checklist
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Gear: Bring a jacket or windbreaker in case it gets cold or you’re
out longer than you planned. Wear comfortable, lightweight shoes.
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Common Sense: If you plan to explore, get home by dark and ask
someone familiar with the area about places to avoid. Carry a city map no
matter how well you think you know the area.
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Food and Water: Exercise is exercise and you’ll need fuel. Bring
water and snacks, or plan to buy them along the way. A small backpack or
fannypack is a good way to carry these and other items.
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Money: Don’t forget your wallet. This is your ticket home when you’ve
had enough, as well as the means to take home any hidden treasures you find
along the way.
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Plan If You Must
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What I did that Saturday was certainly a workout—don’t tell my legs it wasn’t. But
it turned out to be a lot more too. Wandering aimlessly is severely underrated. An
urban stroll with no particular place to go and no appointments is healthy for
the soul. It’s the perfect time to notice the details in your community that
normally fade into a blur, or to check out the subtleties of a different city while
on business or vacation. It’s an opportunity to talk with a friend, explore with
your family, or to meet new people, and it’s easy to plan.
On urban walks it almost doesn’t matter where you go. You’ll find something unexpected
and fascinating anywhere you turn, and the more spontaneous your day is, the more
exciting. Typically, though, artsy areas or ethnic communities are the best bets.
Industrial neighborhoods, where you’ll find old warehouses and a little bit of history,
are good too.
If you must have a plan, start with a community listing of events, fairs, or gallery
exhibits. Pick a location, and start there. On the web, check event pages and calendars
in the local newspapers; www.sidewalk.com is a good resource. Ask friends. If you’re traveling,
ask your hotel concierge or the waitress in a nearby café. Ask anybody.
This is an activity you can do anytime, depending on your own schedule. Head out for
an hour after work, or for a full day. And the exercise component? The beauty of an
urban hike is that you will barely notice you’re working out in the first place. Don’t
worry about miles, just go. When you get tired, hop on a bus or call a taxi to
transport you home. It couldn’t get much easier.
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