The Fit Tourist
Minneapolis
One of the few downsides of travel is the frequent feeling of bloating and lethargy that can come from large meals and extended times sitting still on a bus or an airplane. In the Twin Cities of Minnesota, groups can get some relief and some exercise while getting to know the destination with the Fit Tourist.
Founded in 2011, the Fit Tourist takes advantage of Minneapolis and St. Paul’s excellent system of walking and biking trails to showcase areas of the city that most visitors won’t see by traveling in motorized vehicles. Bike tours begin in the historic St. Anthony Main neighborhood, which is located on the east side of the Mississippi River. Groups pedal alongside the riverfront, past waterfalls and out to some of the area’s numerous lakes, and discover why Bicycling Magazine consistently rates Minneapolis as one of the top bicycling cities in the country.
Bike tours last between two-and-a-half and three-and-a-half hours, and the company provides all of the gear necessary, including cycles, helmets and guides.
The Fit Tourist also offers a number of regularly scheduled walking tours. These excursions take about two or two-and-a-half hours and cover more than two miles in specific areas of the city. The most popular is the Mill City River Tour, which takes visitors across the Stone Arch Bridge and introduces them to the area’s flour milling history.
www.thefittourist.com
Historic Third Ward Tours
Milwaukee
Throughout the 19th century, the Third Ward was one of numerous thriving immigrant neighborhoods in Milwaukee. But in 1892 tragedy struck when a fire broke out in the neighborhood, destroying 440 buildings and leaving more than 1,900 people homeless.
Soon after the fire, prominent architects from around the city committed themselves to designing new commercial structures throughout the Third Ward. Over the course of about 35 years the neighborhood was reconstructed almost entirely from the ground up, and the new buildings feature a unified architectural style that has made the Third Ward a popular place for shopping, dining and urban life.
In 1984, 70 buildings and 10 square blocks of the Third Ward were added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, visitors can enjoy browsing the galleries and shops in the area, which is situated just three blocks from the city center and bordered by the Milwaukee River and the Lake Michigan Harbor. But there are also numerous tours of the area available to give groups a closer look.
Historic Milwaukee Walking Tours offers jaunts through the Third Ward that focus on the district’s immigrant history and impressive architecture. Milwaukee Food Tours has a tasting tour that hits many of the trendy restaurants and food purveyors in the area, and Milwaukee Ghost Tours takes groups on evening tours through the neighborhood to tell spooky stories.
Indy Fun Trolley Tours
Indianapolis
There are so many high-profile attractions in Indianapolis that it can be difficult to know what to include on your group’s itinerary. For a great introduction to the city and quick look at some of its most impressive places, start your next visit with the Indy Fun Trolley Tour.
This 75-minute tour takes place aboard air-conditioned, motorized trolleys — outfitted with traditional bells and brass rails — and takes visitors to see all of the city’s most important sites. Those include the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway, of course, as well as downtown staples such as Monument Circle, Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indiana State Capital. Some of the city’s museums, including the Eiteljorg Museum and the NCAA Hall of Champions, are featured on the tour as well.
In addition to highlighting some of Indianapolis’ marquee attractions, the trolley tours take participants through some of the city’s scenic and historic areas and introduces them to local gems they may not be familiar with. White River State Park and the Indiana Central Canal are beautiful waterfront retreats in the heart of the city, and the Indiana Repertory Theater is an intimate historic venue with a first-rate schedule of theatrical programming.
In addition to these standard tours, Indy Fun Trolley Tours offers a number of specially themed haunted tours throughout the fall, in cooperation with local attractions such as the Indianapolis Museum of Art and the historic Hannah House.
