Stories from the Freedom Trail

Best of the City walking tour

From cast iron-fronted buildings to the grandly disastrous post-modern Portland Building, much of Portland, Oregon’s history can be told through the buildings and street layouts; most importantly, the prioritization of parks throughout the city center. How did the city’s early urban planners decide on their layouts? How do modern designers look at the past and plan for the future? Who are the people these streets are named for? What’s with all the roses? It’s not a dry history: full of back-room deals, early deaths and greed; and then there were the hippies! We’ll also discuss the modern rise of radical activists in Portland and how that is intimately connected to the city’s history going back more than a century. Two hours, two miles

Fat Tire Electric Bike Tours

What do you get when you combine the skills of mountain biking, the fun of a motorcycle, and the stunning beauty of Texas’ expansive landscape? It’s Fat Tire Electric Bike touring. Powered by environmentally friendly lithium-ion batteries, these all-terrain e-bikes quietly scoot over trails so you can observe elk and other wildlife as you ride. Pick up your speed and tackle rugged terrain at up to 20 miles per hour without pedaling. Their 26-inch fat tires provide excellent stability and a smooth ride through mile-after-mile of scenic wilderness

SoHo, Little Italy, Chinatown Walking Tour

Hear stories of immigrants coming together in this melting pot of many different cultures. Slip into local establishments and sample authentic ethnic snacks. Catch celebrities in the Cast-Iron District of SoHo, featuring trendy shops on cobblestone streets. Learn the history of Mafia hits and Chinese gangs that once ruled these streets. Window-shop the chic boutiques and galleries filling former slaughterhouses and meat markets. Be awed by true tales from the Tong Wars, a forgotten chapter of New York history.