Calling all fun-loving sightseers with a sense of adventure and an interest in a unique way to see a destination! Travel Maestro has a tip for you: Take a Segway tour! I recently had the pleasure of my first Segway experience in Richmond, Virginia and I know it won’t be my last.
A Segway Personal Transporter (PT) is a relaxing, yet exhilarating way to explore a city. What is a Segway, you ask? It is a self-balancing, two-wheeled human transporter that doesn’t require any special athletic ability or stamina, so anyone from eight to eighty who is able to stand up can easily use one. To move the battery-charged machine, you simply stand on the platform and lean forward or backward. The handle is like a big joy stick, so you just tilt it left or right to turn. Although video games are not my forte and I was a tiny bit apprehensive about my ability, gliding the Segway was extremely intuitive. You get a sense of power and speed (it goes up to 12 miles per hour), but are in complete control.
- Our Segway tour guide, Buzz
Our excellent tour guide, Buzz, spent a few minutes on instruction and let us practice maneuvering then we glided away on a tour of the historic Church Hill area of Richmond. Since you can glide a Segway pretty much anywhere you can walk, Buzz lead us along sidewalks, across busy streets and on grass or dirt paths. He was a font of knowledge about the rich history of the area, stopping to tell stories at important sites. Unlike riding a bicycle, when you stop, there is no need to dismount. You just stand still and the Segway balances itself. It feels very futuristic!
Gliding was just a BLAST – as evidenced by my ear-to-ear grin the whole time! As we rolled by, pedestrians smiled back and waved, so I got to share the joy. By the end of the hour and a half tour, I was a Segway pro and had learned a tremendous amount of Richmond history. Many thanks to our guide, Buzz. Â
A Segway tour is far more interactive than watching sights drift by from the window of a bus. It’s a fun new twist on sightseeing and I can’t stress enough how intuitive and easy it is to operate. Over 500 Segway tours operate worldwide, mostly in the US and Europe, so next time you want to do some sightseeing, consider a Segway tour.
Our Covington Travel advisors are always seeking out fun and different ways to experience the world. We have a vast network of contacts and resources, so let us assist you with any of your sightseeing needs, whether you are taking a cruise, a customized land vacation or a quick city visit. The options are endless!
What a great article.. I saw segway tour once in DC and so wanted to try it. Your article makes it clear it is not just for young people!
What a fun thing to do. It’s now on my “bucket list”
This is a BLAST. We did the downtown RIchmond tour, 3 hrs as a family. Guide was informative and entertaining. It was really fun except my feet fell asleep. I must have locked my knees too much.
We are going to do the Hollywood Cemetary one next. Need to book in advance as they sell out.