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Close Encounters of a Personal KindUp Close and Personal MeetingsBy J. J. ScottBe a traveler, not a tourist. No matter where you travel there are ways to have a “Close Encounter of the Personal Kind.” The best part is they are free!
2. Heading to Houston? Want to learn about the area’s famous rodeo, or visit one of the city’s great museums with a knowledgeable companion, or take a bike ride in one of their lush green parks, or get the opportunity to sample the best Mexican food? A Houston Greeter can make this happen for you. Greeters ranging in age from young to young-at-heart and want to help visitors discover “life in Houston.” www.houstongreeter.org, free.
4. You will leave your heart in San Francisco after spending some time with a San Francisco City Guide. They offer a wide array of tours including “Bawdy and Naughty,” a two-block stroll explores how, starting with the Gold Rush, "professional" women arrived to become a part of San Francisco's legend and lore. Learn about Belle Cora, Ah Toy, French parlor houses, and Barbary Coast dives. www.sfcityguides.org, free
6. Throughout Japan, Goodwill Guides, comprising mostly students, housewives and retirees, stand ready and willing to assist overseas visitors, these Goodwill Guides are registered with JNTO. Some have a pre-set walking tour while others make arrangements to meet tourists' requests. Search “Goodwill Guides” on www.jnto.go.jp/eng, free.
8. Koreans Goodwill Guides are volunteers who help
visitors to Korea communicate in various situations. They attend festivals and
special events together with a tourist, provide free tour guide service, assist
with communication in various ways, and participate in cultural exchange.
www.knto.or.kr/eng,
9. Take the mystery out of Hong Kong.
Learn about the culture with a two-hour class led by an expert. Choices include
classes in Cantonese Opera, Feng Shui, Jade Appreciation, and other aspects of
Hong Kong’s culture. Hong Kong Department of Tourism’s offers a variety of
opportunities to unravel the mysteries of Asia with their Kaleidoscope programs.
10. In the Land of OZ, the Adelaide Greeters will match visitors with a greeter who shares your interests. The visitor will spend up to four hours with their greeter, getting to know Adelaide, exploring the city from a local perspective. www.adelaidegreeters.asn.au, free Images by Greeters in Toronto, Adelaide, and NYC, plus Sandra Scott |
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1. Take a bite out of the
Big Apple. Get to know New York as only New Yorkers know it. Explore Chinatown,
Harlem, SoHO, or Historic Richmond Town in Staten Island with someone to lives
in the area and knows it personally with an Apple Greeter. Check with
3. Navigate the Windy City with
your personal “Greeter” on complimentary public transportation for the ultimate
Chicago experience. One of several options includes exploring the Pullman
Historic District that began as a utopia of sorts, courtesy of railroad mogul
George M. Pullman who created a planned community for the workers of his railway
sleeping car factory. Highlights of this landmark district include the Historic
Pullman Foundation Visitors Center, the Greenstone Church and the Hotel
Florence. 
5. TAP into Toronto. The Toronto
Ambassador Program offers free visits to Toronto's vibrant neighborhoods and
themed districts so visitors can discover the real Toronto. Toronto residents
who love their city and want visitors to get the most out of Toronto’s
multiethnic city. Interested in exploring Toronto on your own? They have a
variety of self-guided tours, programs and resources to assist visitors.
7. Learn about Buenos Aires with a
“Cicerone," a person who teaches and explains the curiosities of a place,
derived from “Cicero” the Roman orator and teacher. Explore the Latin American
capital of culture and literature and the cradle of tango.
free but visitors are expected to pay for admission
tickets, food, transportation, and so forth for your guide.