Design a Walking Tour, Earn $100 in Grinnell Bucks

Design a walking tour, earn $100 in Grinnell Bucks

New website encourages walking for wellness and tourism

GRINNELL, Iowa– Do you have expertise on local history, architecture and other points of interest in Grinnell? Or does your family have favorite places and things to do in town? It could be worth $100 in Grinnell Bucks if you turn your knowledge of the community into a self-guided walking tour for www.grinnellwalkingtours.com.

The idea is simple: local residents turn their knowledge of buildings, landmarks or other points of interest into a self-guided walking tour. Submitted tours will be reviewed and approved to add to the website. The first 10 parties to submit approved tours will each earn $100 in Grinnell Bucks. The website is a collaboration between the Grinnell Convention & Visitors Bureau, Grinnell Regional Medical Center, Grinnell College and the Grinnell Hotel-Motel Tax Committee in an effort to promote walking as a healthy way for both residents and visitors to explore the community.

“Any time a person is up and moving versus sitting on the couch, they are doing their health a service, and these walking tours are a great way to add variety to our wellness routines while exploring the community,” said Jen Ness, GRMC Wellness Specialist.

Grinnellians are encouraged to get out and walk during the Healthiest State Walk and Walk to School Day next Wednesday, and the new walking tour website is a resource for individuals, families and groups who are wanting to add more walking to their routines beyond these one-day events.

 “These walks provide a great wellness opportunity in so many ways­–you can get to know our community better, be active as you are able, and connect with others through social wellness,” said Jen Jacobsen, Grinnell College Wellness Director.

Grinnellwalkingtours.com incudes detailed route maps that list the total mileage and descriptions of sights included in the tour. The tours can be viewed online or downloaded as a pdf file for those who wish to print it. There are a few tours posted on the site already, with themes including architecture, community arts and downtown history.

“We encourage residents to get creative with designing their own tours to submit to the site. Other themes might include prairie walks, family fun routes, ghost tours, and food-related tours,” said Emily Counts with the Grinnell CVB.

The website will continue to evolve and grow with submissions and input from the public.

“Our vision is to compile a database of self-guided tours that will help people explore our city at their own pace, on their own time,” Counts said. “These tours are a fantastic way for visitors to see Grinnell from a resident’s perspective, to see things they might not stumble upon on their own. The site will also be a great resource for locals wanting to learn more about points of interest in town or just looking for a fun, healthy activity to do with their family.”

Those wishing to submit a tour for inclusion on the website should complete the form at www.grinnellwalkingtours.com, which includes advice and steps to take when designing a tour. Questions may be directed to Emily Counts at visit@getintogrinnell.com or 641-236-6555.