If you are ever planning a trip to the USA and NYC is in your itinerary then you should go a step further and definitely include Harlem in your plans. This is because Harlem is considered one of the most culturally significant places in the entire continental US. Harlem is widely regarded as the cultural capital of black America and it happens to the country's most famous African-American community. Millions of visitors from around the world visit Harlem ever year and immerse themselves in their culture of jazz, gospel and blues, hoping to get a feel of what Harlem used to be in its heyday. Millions of people visit Harlem year after year and most of them choose to explore Harlem by going on the best walking tours in Harlem because of the many benefits that can be availed from the same.
Top things to see and do in Harlem
- Watch a show at the famous Apollo Theater
- Try out some of the delicacies at the Leavin Bakery
- If you are religious then consider the option to attend a service at the Abyssinian Baptist Church
- Try some of the best soul food that the city has to offer at the most affordable rates at SYLVIA'S
- Explore the Northern Central Park
- Visit the Cathedral Church of St.John the Divine
- Go for a walk on Striver's Row
- Make it a point to visit the studio museum of Harlem
Why are walking tours the best way to explore Harlem?
Not just Harlem, actually walking tours are considered to be one of the best ways to explore any city and Harlem is surely no exception to this. On walking tours you can listen to a lot of native tales and anecdotes about the different places that you visit, all of which can improve your overall experience of visiting a city. Further, you can explore and visit the undiscovered gems that you would have otherwise missed out on. If you have been meaning to go on walking tours but still haven't been able to make up your mind, then read on further to know the key benefits and the most compelling reasons for going on walking tours.
- It's one of the best ways to explore any city: - In today's day and age, there are a large number of tours available, right from tours on buses to rickshaws and even segways. All of these options have their own set of pros and cons but out of all of these options, walking tours stand out as the single best option. This is because when you go on walking tours, you really don't have to wrestle against anyone for the window seat. Further you won't need to lock your bike when you need to walk through an underground bunker and you can easily pass through alleys, which would have been quite difficult had you been exploring a city through rickshaws. In stark contrast to Segways, you will actually get some semblance of exercise and physical activity while exploring the different sights that the city in question has to offer. Overall, when you take all the different factors into consideration and look at the bigger picture, then you will realize that it is an absolute no-brainer to go on walking tours because they are one of the best ways to access and explore more parts of a city, than you would have explored by going on any other tour.
- Walking tours are an excellent way to meet like-minded people: - By going on a walking tour, you will have the opportunity to meet a lot of like-minded people who will be your fellow travelers. For some people, travelling alone is actually very adventurous, however, for others; it can actually end up proving to be rather boring when things get lonely and depressing. With walking tours, you surely venture into the unknown but there's an upside to this because you will have many making chances of making small talk and friendships with others on the tour.
- You won't need to plan anything :- For walking tours, you really won't need to plan anything because the entire thing will be planned by locals who have lived several decades in Harlem and know every nook and cranny of the city like the back of their hand. All you need to do is to ensure that you have a loaded battery and if it is too hot out there, then maybe you can consider packing your sunscreen as well. You can be rest assured that the local guides have planned the tour meticulously and there's no need for you to do anything, other than enjoy exploring the city. Most of such tours will include the main sights along with a few hidden gems that you would have otherwise missed out on other types of tours. Almost all walking tours have breaks in the middle so that the visitors can get some much-needed rest and others can relieve themselves.
Here's how you can find the best walking tours
- Just go online and begin with some basic search engine queries and soon you will come across a plethora of options in walking tours to choose from, regardless of the city that you may find yourself in
- Visit TripAdvisor and other travel sites to get updated information of the city that you are planning to travel along with in-depth reviews related to the same
- Get maps from the hostel or hotel that you are staying in and you will find ads of walking tours on the back of many such maps
- Get recommendations from travelers, friends as well as locals
The Bottom Line
Most of Harlem was characterized by urban decade some decades ago but now all of that has changed and it seems that the star of Harlem is on the rise again for sure. All over Harlem, new businesses and shops are opening almost every other day and abandoned buildings are also being restored. Over the past couple of years, there also has been an exponential increase in the number of museums of galleries, popping up in every nook and cranny of Harlem. You can explore the best and the finest that Harlem has to offer by going on the best walking tours in Harlem because they are single-handedly one of the best ways to explore, enjoy and experience Harlem in all of its essence.
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