It’s a new era in sightseeing tours as Segways and portable media
players are used by companies to show visitors a city’s best side.
by Lori Schueler

Cautiously, I placed my right foot next to my left, which was already planted on the Segway. The small step brought excitement, a sense of adventure and a smile to my face. As I maneuvered the device, my uneasiness about the gliding gadget disappeared and I was ready to take a three-hour tour of downtown St. Louis.

In title: Lori Schueler tries out her Segway before touring. Above: Alan and Diana Walter, (left) with son Zachary (far right) join the author for a photo on Eads Bridge. Glide St. Louis Tours photo

Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway, described it as “the world’s first self-balancing human transporter.” The two-wheeled electrical device can travel up to 12.5 mph. It’s a great way to sightsee.

Glide St. Louis Tours, founded by Jeff Hollinsworth and Joe Sapienzais, will guide residents or tourists through downtown or Forest Park, one of the country’s biggest urban parks located near the West End neighborhood. Hollinsworth said the benefits of riding a Segway include moving more quickly and seeing more attractions in a shorter time.

Before embarking on the eight-mile downtown ride, our group of six participants watched a safety video. After the video, we were taken to a parking lot where we received one-on-one training to learn how to use this smart, high-tech machine. We practiced starting and stopping, coming to a quick halt, remaining still and moving in and out. Tour participant Alan Walter from Belleville, Ill., said learning to ride a Segway was fairly simple.

“It only took about 10 minutes to learn and anybody can do it,” Walter said.
Before our group wheeled out of the parking lot, the tour guides warned us about becoming one of St. Louis’ own attractions.

“You’ll get to see a lot of sites, but be prepared, because you may find yourself becoming one of St. Louis’ ‘sights’ yourself,” Hollinsworth said.

Within 15 minutes of gliding down Market Street, spectators were snapping pictures, waving, honking horns and smiling at our brigade of gliders rolling down the sidewalks.

The downtown tour stops at St. Louis Union Station, the Kiel Opera House, city hall, Busch Stadium, Kiener Plaza and the Old Cathedral. Travelers will also wheel around Laclede’s Landing on the riverfont, glide around the Gateway Arch and cruise over Eads Bridge.

Alan’s wife, Diana Walter, said she enjoyed the tour and her family had been looking forward to the experience the week prior to the excursion.

“I had a ball,” Diana said. “This was a blast.”

If you prefer a more natural setting, try the Forest Park tour. Riders will learn more about and visit the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Saint Louis Science Center, The Jewel Box, the Missouri History Museum, Steinberg Skating Rink and Emerson Grand Basin, which is the site of the 1904 World’s Fair’s opening ceremony.

Metro area tour options

The St. Louis Science Center offers Segway tours through Forest Park in St. Louis and in Alton and Hartford, Ill. A Wheels-N-Meals tour allows riders to pay extra to include a meal in their voyage. The Sunrise Segways, which begin at 7 a.m., take riders through Forest Park. Riders receive a short training session before each tour and no experience is required.

Segway classes are offered for those 12 and older, and riders can practice for fun or before setting out to take a tour. Segway 101 is a basic training class, and Segway 201 takes your skills a step further by experiencing different terrains around the science center and Forest Park.

In Kansas City, the Segway Urban Journey will take you on a tour of downtown where you can explore city life. Discover the history behind this flourishing city by starting your tour at Union Station and continuing to Liberty Memorial. Tours are $40 for an hour and $60 for an hour and a half.

The Plaza Art and Architecture Segway tour in Kansas City will guide you through $1 million worth of art that decorates the city. The tour begins at Courtyard Marriott and will take you through Mill Creek Park as well as near the Pomona statue. Tours are $50 for an hour and $70 for an hour and a half. Other tours include the Segway Safari, which tours the Kansas City Zoo, and the Union Station tour.

High-tech tours

In addition to gliding on Segways, two St. Louis attractions have integrated iPods into tours. The iPod is a combination portable digital media player and hard drive from Apple Computer.

Laumeier Sculpture Park, located at 12580 Rott Road 16 miles southwest of downtown St. Louis, has several iPods available for rental. The audio tour features permanent pieces in the outdoor collection. Mike Venso, director of communications at the park, said the iPod tour is more informative than traditional methods of exhibit interpretation.

“The audio tour is meant to educate the visitor even more about the work as well as provide learning through another medium,” Venso said.

The iPods can be found at the museum shop and are $4 for members and $5 for nonmembers to rent. The staff will teach guests how to use an iPod if needed, as well as provide a map of the park.

Forest Park in St. Louis has five different audio tours available with each tour about a half hour long. Instructions are provided as to how to use one of several iPods offered, and although rental is free, the process requires a credit card deposit. Park visitors can go online and download audio files to put on a personal media player at www.forestparkforever.org. The tour is offered year-round but not encouraged in the winter months after dark.

Segways and iPods are innovative devices for today’s tourists. See more of a city in less time on a Segway, and customize a walking tour by using an iPod.

Lori Schueler is a contributor from Columbia, Ill. Her Segway experience came while working as an intern last summer at AAA Midwest Traveler magazine.