Gray Line New York
New York
Gray Line is one of the oldest and most recognized names in city sightseeing tours, and travelers will find Gray Line-branded tours available in many destinations around the world. In the Big Apple, Gray Line New York has been active in innovating new approaches to group sightseeing.
One of the most popular services in the city is the open-air, double-decker bus tour.
“Our double-decker bus tours are hop-on, hop-off service,” said David W. Chien, the company’s head of global integrated marketing and media. “At over 40 stops around Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx, there are dedicated locations where people can get off and venture into these areas. Another bus comes along every 10 to 15 minutes, so people can stay as long as they want and then take another bus back.”
This summer, the company took the concept onto the water and introduced a hop-on, hop-off ferry with stops at the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and Battery Park, as well as views of iconic landmarks such as the Brooklyn Bridge and the South Street Seaport.
Gray Line has also been innovative in integrating technology into the tour experience.
“Social media and mobile devices are abundant on our tours,” Chien said. “Once you’re on the bus, you have access to free Wi-Fi. There are maps available to download that include an audio tour guide and offers to other attractions.”
For groups that would rather have a dedicated driver and bus, Gray Line offers extensive private tours that can include stops to visit attractions such as the Freedom Tower, Wall Street, the Empire State Building and Top of the Rock.
Thirsty Pedaler
Louisville, Kentucky
Pub crawls have become one of the hottest trends in urban entertainment, attracting both locals and out-of-town visitors. In recent years, new companies around the country have begun using an imaginative multipassenger bicycle to add a new dimension of fun and excitement to the pub crawl.
One of those companies is the Thirsty Pedaler in Louisville, Kentucky, which was started by a husband-and-wife team in 2011.
“We use a 15-passenger bike that was custom built in Amsterdam,” said co-owner Jennifer Benningfield. “There are 10 pedaling seats and five nonpedaling seats. We do two-hour pub crawls of downtown Louisville. Half of the time, the customers are pedaling, and half of the time, we take them into bars. They spend about 20 minutes in each bar.”
It takes a number of people pedaling to move the oversized vehicles, but the physical activity is part of the fun, according to Benningfield. Passengers can’t carry alcohol on the bike, but they get to sample a variety of drink specials at numerous establishments along the route.
Although the excursions showcase downtown Louisville, there is more emphasis on fun than facts.
“We have a sound system, so people can bring a playlist of music,” Benningfield said. “We tried doing historical tours in the past, but that’s not what people are interested in. They want to party with their friends and have the music up.
“It’s a great way to disconnect from your phone and interact with your friends. It’s also a neat way to see different bars — we take you to bars that many people have never been to.”
City Running Tours
Multiple Destinations
In 2005, Michael Gazaleh was working as a chiropractor in a studio gym in Manhattan when an out-of-town customer called looking for a personal trainer to take him on a running tour of the city. Since he was the only proficient runner at the organization, Gazaleh took the customer out on a private run. Out of that experience City Running Tours was born.
Today, Gazaleh is president and CEO of the company, which offers running tours in 16 destinations across the country.
“We get to share our version of our city doing something we love to do,” Gazaleh said. “We consider ourselves both a running business and a tour business. We rely heavily on the tour side of it — that’s what really completes the whole experience.”
The company offers two types of tours. Private, personalized tours can be tailored to a customer’s interest and running ability. Social group runs are designed to work more like walking tours, with designated stops along the route for photo opportunities and guide commentary.
In addition to the great workout, running tours give participants access to areas and experiences they don’t often get on conventional city tours.
“We can take people further than a bus tour or a walking tour may go,” Gazaleh said. “We can take them on streets and paths along the water that the buses aren’t allowed to go on. You can drive on the Brooklyn Bridge, but you can’t always stop to take photos. We have a lot of great opportunities to show them things they wouldn’t see otherwise.”
