- Length – Walking tours can range from short tours that last under an hour to longer tours that can take a full day or more.
- Guides – Local guides in person, virtual (video/audio) can provide interesting information and stories about the area. Some of the best walking tours focus on drawing out participants to share their own thoughts and stories.
- Experience – Walking tours allow visitors to take in the sights and sounds of their surroundings at a leisurely pace.
- Types – There are many different types of walking tours available.
- Cost-effective – Participating in a walking tour can be a cost-effective way to see and learn more about a Route 66 community.
KINGMAN: — ARIZONA PODCAST PICK —
“A Walkabout Kingman with Jim Hinckley” involves an interactive, self-guided tour of significant sites along Route 66 and in historic downtown Kingman – all beginning with a life-sized bronze sculpture of Mr. Hinckley himself. Jim Hinckley is an internationally acclaimed author, historian, and tour guide specializing in Route 66 based right here in Kingman. Through this project, Kingman Main Street wishes to recognize Hinckley’s contributions to our community. KMS commissioned Arizona-based J. Anne Butler, an experienced figurative bronze sculptor to create a sculpture piece to be placed at the historic Kingman Train Depot at 4th Street and Andy Devine. The “Depot Plaza” serves as a stop on several distinct interactive downtown walking tours, with virtual guidance and narration by Mr. Jim Hinckley. USE YOUR MOBILE DEVICE – Scan the QR code on each plaque along the tour for a more in depth description of the point of interest. Along with this description have author Jim Hinckley read you an audio narration giving you the significance of each stop along the way. Visit Kingman.tours for additional information.
FLAGSTAFF (5 self-guided tours available)
“Walk this Talk, a historic Route 66 walking tour” – Route 66 continues to bisect Flagstaff today, and the road is lined with relics from the route’s hey-day. Travel along the original alignment through the redeveloped Southside Historic District. This self-guided tour begins at the Historic Train Station, passing by classic drive-in motels and Flagstaff landmarks of old. This tour is unique as it is both guided and self-guided. You can start and stop on your own time and go at your own pace. Each stop along the way is experienced through a quick call on your mobile phone. Following an introduction from Cheers’ Ted Danson, who grew up in Flagstaff prior to his fame, there are fun facts and art and shopping and dining and drinking all along the way, as you tour the original Route 66 alignment. Then you can return to the modern-day Route 66 offering similar experiences and much more.
“Historic Downtown Walking Tour” – Meander through historic 1900s era downtown Flagstaff, reveling in stories about the lynching of outlaws, fires that destroyed entire blocks, friendly saloon owners and other early day characters. Learn how and why the town was permanently relocated across from the train station. Guided tours also offered seasonally. Several downtown locations have haunted history, detailed stories, and old-town charm around every corner.
“Haunted Flagstaff Walking Tour” – With more than a century of haunted history and ghostly legends about bank robbers, ladies of the night, eccentric hotel guests and unfortunate lovers, Flagstaff has earned the reputation as one of Arizona’s most haunted cities. Stroll through Flagstaff’s paranormal past with a free self-guided brochure. All haunted locations are still open to the public and fully operational, aside from the occasional hotel room still too haunted to host new guests. Shows still play at The Orpheum Theater, but the upstairs patio is no longer accessible to the public. Visit any of the locations on the tour year-round! Guided tours also offered seasonally, try Freaky Foot Tours!
“Green Book Historic Tour” – For nearly 30 years, multiple editions of The Travelers’ Green Book provided African Americans with advice on safe places to eat and sleep when they traveled through the Jim Crow-era. Within this self-guided Flagstaff tour, various locations are highlighted that were included in the Green Book editions.
“Public Art Tour” – More than forty pieces of public art in Flagstaff visually represent the heritage of the area. Each piece tells a story, some inspiring, some meditative, and others that intend to leave a legacy for future generations. Many of these have been inspired by the natural surroundings and local culture of Flagstaff and northern Arizona providing a lasting benefit to the community, increasing livability and enhancing the overall quality of life in Flagstaff.
“A Historical & Cultural Stroll” – Linking two important, historic sites in downtown Winslow, (La Posada Hotel and the Hubbell Building Visitor Center) one will find Winslow’s First Street Pathway. This landscaped walkway covers six city blocks and exhibits historic and cultural elements that represent Winslow’s diverse history and lifestyle. It runs parallel to the BNSF Railway tracks that skirt the south edges of Winslow and offers a unique, up close and safe perspective to moving trains. Need to stretch your legs?…Park your vehicle at the Visitor Center and stroll the pathway to get to the Standin’ on the Corner Park, Shopping, Dining, Old Trails Museum, La Posada and more.