Segway Sightseeing in Richmond, VA

If you ever get the chance to ride a Segway, do it! It really is intuitive and easy, once you get the hang of it. There’s no throttle and no brake: you lean where you want to go, or lean back to stop.

(Just don’t do like I did, get cocky and start steering with one hand and taking video with the other.)

A guided tour is the best way to go. A group of travel writers and I took Segway of Richmond’s tour of historic sites in our capital city. We started in Jackson Ward, the historic black neighborhood where Maggie Walker became the first female bank president and went all the way to the Canal Walk, the Museum of the Confederacy, Shockoe Bottom and the James River.

At various stops, our guide Tony pointed out monuments and buildings, like the Egyptian building which has a perfect ‘race track’ for Segway riders. The 10 of us presented quite a spectacle, crossing many streets, racing down old brick sidewalks without a problem. People smiled, waved, or just look incredulous. I’d do it again in a minute!

I have to say one of the best parts was soaking in a Jacuzzi tub at the fabulous historic Jefferson Hotel afterwards. Thanks to Virginia Tourism Corp and Richmond CVB for showing us the treasures in Virginia's beautiful capital city. Here's a video of us "racing." At the end you can see my fancy camera-work while driving.