Travelers to a new city are often encouraged to take a bus tour. The thinking is that they can later return to the places that attracted them，but that's nonsense! What you see from the inside of a fast-moving bus is sanitized(净化过的)and unreal, entirely removed from the real sights, sounds, and smells outside.
The best way to experience any destination is on foot, without an itinerary, wandering where your spirit leads you. Even in the largest cities, the savvy(资深的) traveler plunges into the very center of town and walks down the nearest street, experiencing the actual life of the people while looking into the grocery stores and courtyard. You eventually get to many of the same sites that are on the bus route—the museums, the monuments, the city hall—but you will have witnessed so much more because you will have felt the contemporary life of the city you're visiting.
"But what if I get lost?" people ask. No one ever gets permanently lost in a major city. Eventually, a trolley or a bus passes with the words "Central Station" on its front and you can easily return to the center of town. Besides, the most wonderful things can happen if you do get lost, such as stopping at a sidewalk cafe to sit and relax and then asking directions from the locals at the next table. Hopefully, your trip may be attractive by this encounter. Here are a few ways to make the most of your travels：
Know before you go. Before you depart, spend time in a library or bookstore, learning about the history and culture of your destination so you will better understand the place you're visiting.
Move around like a local. Use the local subways, trams and buses. You'll not only save money, but also learn how people live there, and you'll gain a realistic perspective of the city.
Check the bulletin board. Bulletin boards list free lectures, concerts, workshops and social gatherings, giving you a chance to join or meet the area's most dynamic residents.
Take a walking tour. If you must book a guided tour, select the nonstandard, inexpensive kinds conducted on foot.
So, the next time you feel lured by a sightseeing bus tour, save your money and instead, wander around on your own. I promise you a time you'll remember fondly.
