City Walks: Boston

About a year ago, I wondered aloud about how I might occasionally shake up my routine in such a way as to enjoy the heightened awareness and enjoyment of life I have noticed in the past with such interruptions. Among the ideas I had at the time was, "putting together a list of minor things I'd like to do or places I'd like to see ... and perhaps promising myself to do one of them each month on a morning."

I never got around to putting very many items on the list, but my wife basically handed one to me the other day in the form of a small surprise gift, a deck of cards called City Walks: Boston. The product description on the back of the box is as follows:

Skip the dull tour guides, ditch those unruly maps, and experience Boston like a native -- on foot! Whether you're a first-time visitor or just want to discover new terrain, City Walks: Boston will give you an intimate view of the city. Each card in this deck outlines a self-guided walking adventure, with a detailed map on one side and insider information on the other. From historical monuments like Paul Revere's house and the Bunker Hill Monument, to the academic enclaves of Cambridge, the palaces of Beacon Hill, and the locals' favorite places to eat, drink, stop, shop, rest, walk, and play. Pick any card and start exploring Boston!

I'll probably shuffle the deck and use it this way any time I don't already have a place I want to explore. Also, I'll save obvious winners for both of us to do, and pick again on days I'll be exploring on my own.

I'm looking forward to this, and, if this sounds good to anyone who lives in or near a "walkable" city (or plans to visit one), there's a whole line of such decks of cards at Chronicle Books.

-- CAV