How To Become A Tour Guide

The question I’m asked most often is“How long have you been a tour guide?” I tell them, seven years.  That’s not a lot of time compared to most of my colleagues. However, it’s been long enough to experience success, personal fulfillment, and building relationships. I found it to be the perfect retirement gig. So much so, I wonder what would have happened had I started this journey fresh out of college decades ago. In seven years, I’ve met new people and encountered new experiences.  However, without my years of lawyering, I might not have acquired the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to be successful in this line of work. Let me share my journey since entering the workforce and transitioning into a second career during retirement. In seven years I went from an aspiring entry-level trainee to a successful, self-employed independent local tour guide—the cumulative effect of training, professional development, and practice all helped to guarantee my success.

Training

Training is essential no matter how much you know or how smart you are. Self-training over established training methods can significantly impact one’s development and success. Self-training may not be right for some. I know guides who trained themselves, but I recommend the established training method. There is a learning curve and it may require an unnecessary investment of time trying to figure it all out. My interest was sparked when I heard a local NPR radio program on tour guiding. It led me to a local tour guide service offering training for a fee, promising a job and a fee refund after signing a two-year exclusive contract.  The structured learning offered practical experience while working with other experienced guides. It turned out to be a good deal.

After two years, I wanted to grow my income and expand my guiding opportunities which were limited by an exclusive contract. I was hesitant about giving up a steady paycheck.  That changed with joining the Guild of Professional Tour Guides of Washington DC., but seeing so many other successful guides gave me the confidence to jump out on my own. I knew little about marketing and client development but was open to learning. Through my connections with guild members, I gained valuable networking opportunities essential to building a strong client base. Instead of relying on a single paycheck, I transitioned to earning a steady income from multiple contracts. Collaborating with Guild guides significantly boosted my confidence to pursue an independent path

Business Development

How do you become a top-level tour guide? Practice, practice, practice. The practice of tour guiding begins with training that includes actual fieldwork. Working with a senior guide or a mentor can help build, sharpen, and broaden your guiding skills.  Early on I recognized routing to be a weakness.  As a step-on guide, you and the driver become partners in arriving, loading, and unloading passengers, and different groups have different challenges. 

Learning to deliver commentary, watch the road, and direct the driver requires multitasking.  On two occasions, I was inattentive and missed the exit creating a substantial loss of time.  I learned not to make that embarrassing mistake again. In one incident the driver turned down a narrow street resulting in a fender bender. I wasn’t driving but I felt totally at blame.

While having an experienced driver is ideal, it’s not always guaranteed. I learned to make it a priority to know the route to and from any site in advance. This level of preparedness comes only with experience. Whether you’re a step-on coach guide or working with a chauffeured SUV tour, it’s crucial for both the driver and guide to be in sync, sharing their expertise. Together, they share the responsibility and mission of ensuring the group’s safe and efficient transportation

An experienced guide knows the pitfalls of certain road travel.  Tour guiding requires dedication and continuous learning.  The desire to conduct business at top level requires training, business development, and practice.  Tour guiding is both an art and a practice that involves leading groups of visitors through places of interest, providing them with insightful commentary and information about historical, cultural, and social aspects of the sites.

Another skill I’ve developed is crafting engaging commentary and adapting it for different audiences. During my White House and National Mall tours, for example, I enjoy sharing the intriguing story of Congressman Daniel Sickles. He infamously shot his wife’s lover, Philip Barton Key, the nephew of Francis Scott Key. Later, Sickles introduced his mistress to Queen Victoria under a false name. He lost a leg at Gettysburg, and would annually visit the Medical Museum to toast and smoke a cigar beside his preserved limb. These are the anecdotes that peak interest but some topics like murder and adultery are not suitable for schoolchildren.

Reflecting on my journey I realize that while in the beginning I may not have possessed the necessary skills my years of legal experience honed. My background equipped me perfectly and through dedication, continuous learning, and a passion for sharing the local culture, I have transformed my second career into an entrepreneurial venture offering unique and personalized experiences to travelers.

The Never Ending Journey

The journey to becoming a successful tour guide is never-ending. There will be growth, improvement and adversity. The journey to becoming a successful tour guide comes through personal experience and commitment, it transcends mere knowledge of sites and their histories. It encompasses a holistic development process, where formal training and real-world application merge to cultivate guiding skills and essential business acumen.

Destination Success

Tour guiding rewards the curious and the passionate, offering endless opportunities to learn, grow, and connect with people from all walks of life. Whether starting fresh out of college or as a retirement gig the experiences and skills accrued over the years can perfectly equip one for this enriching career. Whether through structured training or self-directed learning, each step taken is a step towards mastering the art and practice of tour guiding—a profession that is as rewarding as it is challenging.

Harpers Ferry an Autumn Weekend Getaway

The Perfect Weekend Getaway

It’s that time of year when my buddy laments the season change as if the shorter days have already triggered his Seasonal Affective Disorder. Like clockwork, as he has for the past 30 years, he bemoans Winter’s approach complaining about coming days of less sunlight, cold weather, ice and snow, and the dreaded cabin fever. I wait for his commentary like the first frost, tempted to suggest if it’s that bad, he should move to a warmer climate, but I bite my tongue, fearing he might do so, and leave me to endure the cold alone. To immune us from the impending gloom I propose an autumn road trip seizing the presence of autumn’s glorious weather. Who doesn’t enjoy autumn weekends with their crisp evenings following a sunny afternoons?

One of the pleasant experiences of living in the mid-Atlantic region is observing the vibrant autumn foliage as the leaves change colors. This natural spectacle serves as a welcome distraction from the impending anxiety brought on by the sun’s retreat. Later, fond memories of these experiences can provide comfort during the discomforts of winter. Like everything else in life, I maintain the attitude that ‘this too shall pass.’

Storer College was an historically black college located in Harpers Ferry,

Autumn weather is ideal for outdoor activities, from apple picking to exploring pumpkin patches. The region offers an array of attractive destinations. You can visit Bunny Mellon Gardens at Oak Spring Farm, take a scenic drive to Luray Caverns, or hike in Shenandoah National Park to enjoy stunning vistas. A short drive to Annapolis allows you to stroll the State Capitol grounds or tour the Naval Academy, savoring the historic charm of the old town atmosphere. You can even cruise the bay and relish Maryland crabs and waterfront dining. Whether it’s a visit to Gettysburg, a trip to Rehoboth Beach, or an excursion to Maryland’s Catoctin Mountains, there are abundant options for getaway activities.

I embrace autumn with weekend getaways filled with outdoor activities, from apple picking to exploring pumpkin patches. The region offers an array of attractive destinations. You can visit Bunny Mellon Gardens at Oak Spring Farm, take a scenic drive to Luray Caverns, or hike in Shenandoah National Park to enjoy stunning vistas. A short drive to Annapolis allows you to stroll the State Capitol grounds or tour the Naval Academy, savoring the historic charm of the old town atmosphere. You can even cruise the bay and relish Maryland crabs and waterfront dining. Whether it’s a visit to Gettysburg, a trip to Rehoboth Beach, or an excursion to Maryland’s Catoctin Mountains, there are abundant options for getaway activities.

Optimizing the Three Day Weekend

The three-day federal holiday weekends in October and November are the perfect time for a getaway. In the DMV (D.C., Maryland, and Virginia) there is no shortage of nearby sites, locations and activities to choose from within 120 miles or a 2-hour drive. My favorite is Harpers Ferry either as day trip or overnight getaway. This city in West Virginia, about 90 minutes from Washington, is where the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers come together. Famous for its role in Civil War history, the area is just as popular as a getaway destination for its scenic beauty and abundance of outdoor activities.

The Harpers Ferry National Park offers history, hiking, and exploring for miles. Amidst the stunning natural backdrop, you can explore numerous historic sites and exhibitions that provide insights into the area’s history. This park preserves and interprets the history of Harpers Ferry. It’s a great place to start your visit. You can explore the historic lower town, visit museums, and take guided tours to learn about its role in the Civil War and as a center for industry and transportation.

The three-day federal holiday weekends in October and November are the perfect time for a getaway. In the DMV (D.C., Maryland, and Virginia) there is no shortage of nearby sites, locations and activities to choose from within 120 miles or a 2-hour drive. My favorite is Harpers Ferry either as day trip or overnight getaway. This city in West Virginia, about 90 minutes from Washington, is where the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers come together. Famous for its role in Civil War history, the area is just as popular as a getaway destination for its scenic beauty and abundance of outdoor activities.

Things To See and Do

The three-day federal holiday weekends in October and November are the perfect time for a getaway. In the DMV (D.C., Maryland, and Virginia) there is no shortage of nearby sites, locations and activities to choose from within 120 miles or a 2-hour drive. My favorite is Harpers Ferry either as day trip or overnight getaway. This city in West Virginia, about 90 minutes from Washington, is where the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers come together. Famous for its role in Civil War history, the area is just as popular as a getaway destination for its scenic beauty and abundance of outdoor activities.

Remnants of  arsenal buildings were set ablaze by the retreating Union forces.  

Leaf peeping and witnessing the vibrant transformation from summer green to various shades of red, orange, yellow, and brown as autumn progresses can be a rousing outing. The scenic beauty is an ideal backdrop for a romantic or other getaway. Once you arrive at Harpers Ferry, you will find plenty of activities to enjoy, and here the fun begins. Whatever your interests or favorite activities, there is something for you. As a history buff, I recommend a Park Service tour of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, where you can take in the history while enjoying the beautiful natural surroundings where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers meet.

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is great place to start your visit before exploring the historic lower town, visit museums, and take guided tours to learn about its role in the Civil War and as a center for industry and transportation. Bolivar Heights Scenic Overlook: Drive or hike up to Bolivar Heights for panoramic views of the town and the surrounding area. It’s an excellent spot for photography.

John Brown’s Fort: This historic building played a significant role in the events leading up to the Civil War. It was the site of John Brown’s 1859 raid, which aimed to incite a slave rebellion. The fort has been moved and reconstructed within the park.

Hiking: Harpers Ferry is a popular destination for hikers. The Appalachian Trail passes through the town, making it an ideal spot for hikers to start or finish their journey. You can also explore trails in the area, offering scenic views of the rivers and surrounding landscapes.

The confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers provides opportunities for water-based activities like kayaking, tubing, and white-water rafting. Several outfitters in the area offer rentals and guided trips.

See St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church: This picturesque church dates back to the mid-1800s and features stunning architecture. It’s open to visitors and often hosts events. Enjoy lunch at a local pub or stop for ice cream on a stroll through the historic district of the historic town and the well-preserved 19th-century buildings. Many shops and restaurants occupy these landmark structures.

Harper House: This historic building, now a museum, showcases life in the 19th century. You can explore the furnished rooms and learn about the town’s past. Shops and Dining: Harpers Ferry offers a range of specialty shops, including those selling crafts, antiques, and local goods. Enjoy dining at local restaurants and cafes, which often feature regional cuisine.

Storer College was the high point of my visit. Now a part of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, the once esteemed historic Black college closed its doors in 1955 due to financial difficulties and declining enrollment. A venue for the Niagara Movement, Storer College played a role in several significant historical events, including John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry in 1859. The college’s campus served as a refuge and hospital during the raid.

Welcome to West Virginia

There are plenty of camping areas for overnight stays. Harpers Ferry has several charming B&Bs that offer unique and historic lodging experiences. The Ledge House Bed and Breakfast is a popular option. This boutique property has a scenic hillside location with sweeping views of the Potomac River from its large front porch.

Conclusion

If you are in the mid-Atlantic region and looking for someplace or something to do, consider Harper’s Ferry. I recommend taking advantage of the 3-day Federal holiday weekends with an overnight stay. It’s the kind of atmosphere where you want to linger and savor without schedule-restrained limitations. Weeks later, when Winter is upon you, and you find your movements limited to indoors, embrace the cozy indoors. Don’t despair, but reflect on those memorable moments you experienced on that weekend getaway and begin to plan another.

As winter approaches and you find yourself spending more time indoors, embrace the coziness of the season. Rather than despairing, reflect on the memorable moments from your weekend getaway and begin to dream and plan for another adventure.

As for my friend, he displays remarkable resilience when the thermometer drops below freezing. He may pull out one of his grandmother’s comforting recipes to be prepared while indulging in a Netflix binge. We also find other ways to joy our brotherly bond, whether it’s through shared moments watching ESPN, enjoying some beer or wine, or simply reveling in the spirit of camaraderie.

Dead Dreams, Book 1by Emma Right

  Genre: Young Adult

Book Title: Dead Dreams, Book 1, a young adult contemporary psychological thriller and mystery

Print Length: 170 pages

Publisher: Right House Books; 2013 First edition

(August 26, 2013)

Format: Kindle

ASIN: B00ESVEVBQ

Hosted by: WNL Virtual Book Tour: http://wnlbooktours.com/

About The Book:

Eighteen-year-old Brie O’Mara has so much going for her: a loving family in the sidelines, an heiress for a roommate, and dreams that might just come true. Big dreams–of going to acting school, finishing college and making a name for herself. She is about to be the envy of everyone she knew. What more could she hope for? Except her dreams are about to lead her down the road to nightmares. Nightmares that could turn into a deadly reality.

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About The Author:

Emma Right is a happy wife and Christian homeschool mother of five living in the Pacific West Coast of the USA. Besides running a busy home, and looking after their five pets, which includes two cats, a  bunny and a Long-haired dachshund, she also writes stories for her children. She loves the Lord and when she doesn’t have her nose in a book, she is telling her kids to get theirs in one.
Right worked as a copywriter for two major advertising agencies and won several awards, including the prestigious Clio Award for her ads, before she settled down to have children.

Social Links:
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Website: http://www.emmaright.com

Twitter link @emmbeliever

Facebook link https://www.facebook.com/DeadDreamsEmmaRight

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Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Emma-Right/e/B00BD7C4A8/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Dead-Dreams-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00ESVEVBQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1380565365&sr=1-1&keywords=young+adult+thriller%2C+B00ESVEVBQ

Music Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM7MI_3vqyo

Living Separate Lives by Paulette Harper

 

Title: Living Separate Lives

Four Friends, One Secret and The Weekend That Changed Their Destiny

Author: Paulette Harper

Publisher: Thy Word Publishing

Genre: Christian Fiction, Novella

Hosted By: Write Now Literary Virtual Book Tour www.wnlbooktours.com

ISBN-13:  978-0-9899691-0-9

Releasing: Nov 5, 2013 e-book and paperback

 About The Book

Candace Walker, Kaylan Smith, Jordan Tate, and Tiffany Thomas have their share of sorrows, but neither of them realizes how deep the sorrow goes.  What happens when they agree to meet for a weekend of relaxation in beautiful Napa County? Which one will leave the same or worse?

For Candace Walker, life has left her battered and bruised.  Kaylan Smith has struggled with prejudice from her in-laws. After fifteen years of marriage, bitterness is trying to raise its ugly head for Jordan Tate, whose husband wants to call it quits. And for Tiffany Thomas, dealing with rejection has never been one of her greatest feats.

Although they have been friends for years, they thought they knew each other well. But will a secret destroy their relationship and bring the sisterhood to a complete halt? Will they be able to forgive and allow God to mend that which might be torn?

About The Author

Paulette Harper is an award-winning and best-selling author. She is the owner of Write Now Literary Virtual Book Tours and is passionate about helping authors succeed in publishing and marketing their books. Paulette has been writing and publishing books since 2008.  Paulette is the author of That Was Then, This is Now, Completely Whole and The Sanctuary. Her articles have appeared on-line and in print.

Social Media Links

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/PauletteHarperAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/pauletteharper

LinkedIn:  http://www.linkedin.com/pub/paulette-harper-johnson/7/a29/8a7

Pinterest : http://pinterest.com/pauletteharper/

Website: www.pauletteharper.com

Email: pharperjohnson@gmail.com

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18524878-living-separate-lives

 Excerpt

“Stop preaching to me. I don’t want to hear it anymore. I’ve had enough of your self-righteousness.” The words continued to cut Jordan’s heart; words that she never heard before coming from the mouth of her husband, Eric. “You knew how I was before we got married.”  His tone deepened with every word.

Standing in front of the sink, Jordan was frozen and motionless in the middle of the kitchen. She held the dish towel in one hand and a plate in the other. She turned and faced Eric, whose eyes were cold and hard.  The verbal blows kept coming.  Her mouth opened wide, but no words could be formed when he uttered the deadly words, “I want a divorce.”

Hosted by:  WNL Virtual Book Tour: http://wnlbooktours.com

 

 

Eddie Huang’s hip hop memoir ‘Fresh Off The Boat’

Coming out of the hip hop generation Fresh of the Boat is probably the best recent memoir written.  When it comes to destroying the model minority myth and Asian stereotypes look to Eddie Huang.  How he managed to compress so much wisdom in 20 some years of living before rising to the heights of celebrity chef is a remarkable story.  Chronicling his intellectual and professional growth Huang narrates his iconoclastic life through the prism of hip hop music and good food all the while struggling against American racism with an added zesty taste for life.  Coming of age then and thereafter whatever path he chose he did so bypassing conventional behavior.  He’s a rebel, a maverick and a nonconformist.  Whatever you call it, homeboy played by his rules.

A first generation Chinese-American he spent his early childhood in Washington DC before his immigrant father settled the family in Florida.  Eddie was a gifted rebellious child and for good cause.  Coping with a dysfunctional family while classmates called him chigger and chink, this one was no Uncle Chan but a warrior standing up addressing the struggle against racism.  He defends his Chinese heritage as defined by the American experience with the same outrage and reasoned eloquence found in the writings of W.E.B. DuBois.  Indeed he was weaned on DuBois, Booker T. Washington, Toni Morrison and other African American literary greats.  His role models and heroes were a host of NBA players.

Eddie Huang’s focused discipline allowed him to accomplish whatever he set out to do.  This character trait was forged either because of or in spite of a dysfunctional home, a temperamental mother and a former Taiwanese gangsta Dad.  Most minority kids Black, Asian, Latino and others know how white kids –more so the privileged–can be particularly vicious in their racist taunts.  Most looked the other way or dismiss it, but a few will step to the behavior with violence and that was Eddie Huang.  His behavior was often frowned upon by his own people but Eddie didn’t care.

He was a honor student, an English major with felony record ending up at Cardoza School of Law.  He secured an associate position in a New York law firm, while becoming a sideline streetwear mogul capitalizing on designing and marketing the trendy styles. Then the economy tanked the streetwear market floundered and the law firm laid him off.  Despite the worst American society had to offer the immigrant minority Eddie Huang made the best of it reinventing himself as a celebrity Chef.   Huang says, “I wasn’t meant to be an attorney, but I was meant to go to law school.”  He would find his reason for being in food.

What stands out in Eddie Huang’s life is the confluence of hip hop, the cultural force of his generation, just as protest music was an indelible part of social fabric of the sixties and seventies.  Huang goes so far as to compare and contrast contemporary lyrics with Shakespeare.  Hip Hop influences language and fashion and his approach to food.  Hip hop is no longer defined by Blacks although originating in inner city ghettos; it’s defining today’s youth.

“My entire life,” Huang writes, “the single most interesting thing to me is race in America.  How something so stupid as skin or eyes or stinky Chinese lunch has such an impact on a person’s identity, there mental state, and the possibility of happiness.  It was race.  It was race.  Apologies to Frank Sinatra, but I’ve been called a ch!gg@r , a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, a pawn, and a chink; that’s life.  I am obsessed with what it means to be Chinese, thing the idea of America is cool, but at the end of the day wish the world had no lines.  Like Michael Ondaatje writes, “All I ever wanted was a world with maps.”

Race has destroyed many a youthful ambition. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if those affected all had Eddie Huang’s wherewithal?  Hip hop has done much to overcome the barriers of race. I highly recommend Fresh of the Boat.

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