Hi, I’m Sherine, the founder of Sidewalk Tourist and a travel lover. You’ve likely landed here because you love to travel as well.

What I’ve learned about myself over the years is that I love immersing myself in a great city. I like to keep my travel adventures simple and low-stress, budget-friendly and locally-focused. That’s my partner hiding behind me on our first trip together. He hadn’t travelled much before we met, so I thought I would ease him in with a trip to Las Vegas. It worked! We had a great time and now he’s willing to travel just about anywhere with me. We both enjoy the “take your time” approach and everywhere we’ve travelled together, our best memories have been discovering that little bookstore off the beaten path or that secret night club with no obvious signage.

I believe the best way to explore a city is to walk its streets, savour its flavours, and connect with landmarks and history. So lets travel better—one step at a time!

In a world where travel often feels rushed—hopping from one attraction to the next just to check it off a list—slow travel offers a different approach. It’s about taking your time, immersing yourself in the local culture, and truly experiencing a place rather than just passing through.

Slow travel encourages staying longer in one destination, using local transportation, supporting small businesses, and engaging with the community. It’s not only more relaxing and meaningful, but it’s also better for the environment and the places we visit. Instead of overwhelming popular spots with fleeting visits, slow travel helps distribute tourism more sustainably, preserving the charm and authenticity of local communities.

In fact, you’ve probably already been hearing about the push-back that’s been happening in some of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. Local people are fed-up with disrespectful visitors who clog up the streets, leave their garbage behind and even deface some of their architectural and artistic treasures!

Sidewalk Tourist is for the sustainably-conscious and uber respectful urban traveller. An urban traveller is someone who enjoys exploring cities and immersing themselves in the city’s local culture, architecture and daily life.

Massachusetts State House

While your social media might be filled with images and videos of turquoise waters and white, sandy beaches, we explore the cities of the world in our travels. In fact, it started with a short trip to Boston. If you’ve never been to Boston, we highly recommend a visit. It was an incredible trip. My travel partner and I walked for hours through the downtown core. We followed The Freedom Trail from start to finish and took our time. We stopped at every point and read every plaque. We admired the statues and the churches and buildings. We sat in the parks and soaked in the fusion of new and old. We smiled at the people (tourists and locals), as they hurried along the winding streets.

By the end of the trail, we felt a connection to Boston that would have never happened if we weren’t there with boots on the ground, walking where thousands had walked for hundreds of years. And when we returned home, we reminisced for weeks about the cafés and bookstores we stumbled across. By the end of our 3-day trip, we had fallen in love with the city. You can read about our Boston trip here.

Urban tourism (also known as city tourism), is a dynamic way to experience the essence of a city. Whether you’re exploring historical landmarks, indulging in culinary delights, or simply wandering through bustling streets, city tourism offers endless possibilities for adventure and discovery.

Here’s why it’s a great way to travel:

• Cultural Diversity: Cities are melting pots of culture. They offer a chance to experience a wide array of traditions, languages, and cuisines, often all in one place.

• Iconic Landmarks: Urban areas are home to world-renowned landmarks and architectural wonders. Think Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Colosseum in Rome, or the Statue of Liberty in New York.

• Entertainment and Nightlife: Cities boast vibrant nightlife, theatres, live music, and entertainment venues that cater to all tastes and preferences.

• Shopping: From high-end boutiques to local markets, cities offer unparalleled shopping experiences.

• Accessibility: Cities are often hubs of transportation, making them easily accessible by plane, train, or car. Once there, public transportation makes getting around convenient and stress-free and reduces your carbon footprint.

• Sustainability: More and more cities are offering sustainable accommodations, programs that support local business, and cater to tourists.

Beirut, Lebanon

City tourism offers an exhilarating way to experience the heart and soul of any destination. When we visit a great city, we come away with an understanding of its unique identity. Cities are living and breathing entities with a past, present and future that is woven together. For example, Las Vegas, Nevada. If you’ve ever visited and never left the Strip, you’ve missed out on an intriguing history (did you know, for example, that Vegas was built by the Mafia?).

• Plan Ahead: Research and plan your itinerary to make the most of your time. Prioritize must-see attractions and events. Yes, even the tourist attractions. They’re attractions for a reason!
• Stay Central: Book accommodations in central locations to reduce travel time between sites. Being able to walk everywhere will save you BIG $.
• Use Public Transportation: Familiarize yourself with the city’s public transit system. It’s often the most efficient way to get around.
• BUT, walk whenever possible: Walking is the best way to explore a city’s hidden gems and local neighbourhoods.
• Try the Local Cuisine: Dive into the local food scene by visiting markets, street food vendors, and recommended restaurants.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to stories—telling them, uncovering them, and living them. My career has taken me from the fast-paced world of television journalism, where I spent years as a news anchor and reporter, to the classroom, where I had the privilege of shaping future journalists, as a college professor. But if there’s one passion that has remained constant through every chapter of my life, it’s my love of travel. Travel, for me, has never been just about checking off destinations or taking instagram-worthy photos. It’s always been about immersion, connection, and understanding. Some of my most memorable experiences haven’t been in grand tourist landmarks but in the quiet, unscripted moments—a conversation with a vendor in an old Shanghai market, getting lost in a labyrinth of alleyways in Valencia, or stumbling upon the America’s oldest tavern in Boston, Massachusetts. Over the years, I’ve come to appreciate that the way we travel matters. As a journalist, I’ve always believed in seeking out the full story and looking beyond the obvious. That mindset naturally carried over into how I explore the world. I believe in traveling with purpose—being mindful of the communities I visit, supporting local businesses, and making choices that contribute to sustainable tourism. After years of writing for others—news scripts, lesson plans, and lectures—I realized it was time to write for myself. That’s how SidewalkTourist.com came to be. This space is where I merge my background in journalism with my love of travel, curating thoughtful, engaging, and brutally honest travel content. My goal is to inspire others to see cities through a different lens—not just as visitors but as engaged, responsible travellers who leave a place better than they found it. This is my next chapter: telling the stories of the world, one sidewalk at a time. I hope you’ll come along for the journey.