San Diego's Premier Social Network Afoot

San Diego’s premier social network afoot and largest and longest-running, oops, walking organization on the planet, celebrates its 35^th birthday on March 17, 2012.  Since its inception in 1977 before the fitness craze erupted, Walkabout International has been in the forefront of promoting good health and fitness by conducting over 25,000 walks covering more than two million people-miles – or the equivalent of walking around the equator over 80 times – for tens of thousands of “soles”!

Walkabout International is a nonprofit, all-volunteer educational organization that promotes walking in urban, suburban and rural environments throughout the world for like-minded ‘soles’ who enjoy the pleasures of putting one foot in front of the other for fun, fitness, discovery and socializing.  Annually, we conduct over 1000 free walks in San Diego neighborhoods as well as day trips in California and extended, behind-the-scenes walking tours in the US and abroad.

The organization derives its name from an Australian aborigine ritual, called a walkabout, in which members of the community venture out to live off the land and meet their environment on its own terms.  That is the spirit of what our walks are all about.  We encounter and embrace our urban, suburban and rural environments on their own terms and open ourselves up to uncovering the beauty and essence of a neighborhood while we enjoy healthy exercise and convivial socializing.  That’s the “Walkabout” part.  The “International” component reflects the opportunities to travel to other countries where we have conducted customized, behind-the-scenes walking tours of Switzerland, England, Wales, Scotland, France, Canada, Mexico and even Japan.

Walkabout began as a result of people, recently moved to San Diego, who wished to discover the tucked-away nooks and crannies as well as the more well-known picturesque places in the urban, suburban and rural environs of San Diego; to walk just for the health of it in the evening after work – and throughout the year – because of the very accommodating weather here; and to meet others with similar interests afoot who would share their favorite pathways.

Walkabout has been featured on local radio and television and in articles appearing in virtually every newspaper and magazine published in San Diego County, as well as in The Los Angeles Times and the nationally prominent Prevention Magazine.  Even celebrated travel guru, Arthur Frommer, has praised us for the quality of our unique, behind-the-scenes walking tours.  Walkabout has been recognized by the Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO), the San Diego Historical Association, and the La Jolla Historical Association for our innovative efforts in promoting walking to raise people’s consciousness about local history, architectural preservation, and the rich cultural diversity within our communities.  The City of San Diego, with the blessings of many mayors, has honored us by proclaiming Walkabout San Diego Day on March 4^th.  Why this date?  Because it is the only day of the year that is an exhortation to walk – to march forth!

Walkabout also has received a distinguished award from the National Endowment for the Humanities.  We obtained a special grant to work with San Diego State University and the University of San Diego to research the historical, sociological and cultural development of Hillcrest.  This resulted in our conducting a series of walking tours for the public in conjunction with professors from SDSU and USD to highlight the transformation of Hillcrest from a pedestrian-centered community to an automobile-based one and to identify the ensuing detrimental consequences of this shift.  Perhaps, this is one of the reasons that shortly after our project concluded, the City of San Diego undertook the development of a walker-friendly Hillcrest, which has led to the flourishing and vibrant community Hillcrest is today.

Not unlike the Sierra Club, but with an urban accent, Walkabout’s encounters offer a rich assortment of flair and flavor.  When San Diego celebrated America’s Finest City Week in August, Walkabout annually hosted the La Jolla Ice Cream Social Amble, where we stopped to sample treats at every ice cream and frozen yogurt parlor.  The Scenic Drive Endurance Walk during America’s Finest City Week saw hundreds parade along the 62-mile, signposted route from Sea World through Old Town, Balboa Park, Downtown, the Gaslamp Quarter, Harbor and Shelter Islands, Sunset Cliffs, Pacific Beach, Mount Soledad, UCSD, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla Cove, Mission Beach and back to Sea World, typically 17 hours later.  During the Christmas season, other special walks have included saunters through neighborhoods in Clairemont and Chula Vista known for their exuberant display of lights and decorations.  “In the footsteps of” was a series of walks focusing on notable San Diegans.  One that always hit a homerun was “In the footsteps of Ted Williams” as we meandered through Ted’s North Park neighborhood where he cultivated his remarkable Hall-of-Fame prowess for hitting a baseball.  Walkabout often has made history with our historical walks, like our “Talmadge Tales” in Kensington.  On this wander, Walkabout revealed the surprising Hollywood connection with this cozy quiet community and capped it off by renting the Ken Cinema to showcase the movies of the famous stars of the silent screen, the Talmadge Sisters, who sparked real estate development in the area.  And, of course, Walkabout has led multitudes astray in the Gaslamp Quarter, especially through the legendary exploits of revered leader, Downtown Sam.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, renowned American poet from New England and avid walker himself, remarked in a speech from 1858, “’tis the best of humanity that goes out to walk.”  Reflecting on Walkabout’s astounding accomplishments, illustrious leaders and faithful followers, one can attest to the truth of Emerson’s words simply by coming on a one of Walkabout’s nearly one-hundred free walks each month in San Diego and beyond.