There’s a great article at MSNBC today, “The best guided city walks” by Emilie Harting. Harting extolls the virtues of going on guided tours over listening to an iPod tour or reading a guide book to become acquainted with a city. Overall, I agree. Obviously, if your reason for traveling is to get away from all other human beings, then you might be better off with an iPod tour or a guide book. (Or going somewhere other than a city!) But for more social solos, a guided tour is a great way to meet other people when you’re traveling alone. When I was in London many years ago, I struck out on my own some days, and with my new classmates some days, and I also went on several guided tours. Each way of traveling has its benefits and downsides, but having a mix of them was really perfect for me. On those guided tours, I know I got more out of visiting certain sites than I would have had I gone alone or even with friends. There’s nothing like having an expert at your elbow giving you color commentary on the little insider secrets and funny (or scary or dramatic) stories about a place. They are also there to answer the questions you have that are bound to crop up.

I’m already planning to go on a few guided tours when I go to New Orleans this winter. Can’t wait.