For the tourist and the site-seer, time is of the essence. For visitors to Virginia and Washington D.C., the number and quality of attractions may lead to a crisis of decision: how do you maximize entertainment and value within your time constraints? Technology provides the solution in the form of the Segway transport and offers the tourist the invaluable capability to tour without exhaustion or confusion. When considering which of the Virginia/Metropolitan Area sites to visit, put Washington D.C. and the city of Richmond at the top of your tourist priorities and take a look at the unique options each location offers.

With it’s classic architecture, beautiful gardens, and accommodating sidewalks, the nation’s capitol may very well be the best Segway city in the United States. For a day’s worth of site-seeing entertainment, try this mix of well-known locations and secret travel spots. First, start off to the National Mall. The National Mall is a large green area that has vendors, events, and plenty of company. It features the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and the glorious reflecting pool. Don’t skimp for time here at the National Mall, via Segway you will have plenty of time to trace the entire mall and get a full view of the monument from every angle. If you are feeling especially adventurous, try a trip into the monument itself, the ride is well worth the price of admission. Later on in the day, consider a stop by the White House. The inside tour of the building itself is costly, so stick to the outskirts behind the main fence for your photo opportunities. Finally, finish your day with a trip to fantastic Georgetown to enjoy the shops and the nightlife of one of D.C.’s most popular and exclusive areas. The locals are accustomed to seeing Segway riders about the streets of Georgetown, so you should be right at home when you ride at night.

Though Washington D.C. offers glamour and power that Richmond cannot match the capitol of Virginia is still one of the best Segway cities in the area. Richmond is a unique city, completely individual in its mix of Northern urbanism and Southern culture and tradition. During the Civil War, Richmond served as the capitol of the Confederacy, but with the recent gentrification of Northern Virginia, the once proud Southern stronghold has grown Northern in its character and attitude and has become more progressive and less historically rooted. That being said it should be expected to see exceptional dose of tradition and class from this capital city of Virginia. Riders may be concerned about the way locals might react to the appearance of Segways on their streets, but these fears are unnecessary. Richmond has become a center for counter-culture and sub-cultures such as skateboarding and bicycle riding and the people of the city are more than accommodating with Segway riders. If you choose to see Richmond via Segway, make sure to stop at General Robert E. Lee’s grave for a dose of Civil War History. For dinner, you can’t go wrong with the famous Tobacco Company restaurant in downtown Richmond. As its name suggests, the building was originally a tobacco manufacturer that has since been turned into an upscale restaurant.

Virginia and Washington D.C. are two great locations for Segway tourism. Avail yourself of all the opportunities presented by our nation’s capitol and the city of Richmond by touring via personal transportation and maximizing your site-seeing potential.

In this atmosphere of ever increasing petroleum prices, and general uncertainty about the future of non-renewable energy, there is ever increasing interest in electric transportation alternatives. Amongst the personal transportation assisting devices that are available, there is one that stands out and makes a bold statement amongst the otherwise ordinary line of electric transportation vehicles that are presently available. This transportation device that dreams of taking the consumer market by storm and absolutely innovating the daily commute is known as the “Segway.”

Ever since its debut in late 2001, the Segway has continued to impress users worldwide. Since the Segway is both electric and completely self contained, it has found use in fields as varied as law enforcement officers on the beat, to Segway tours of some of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. Recently amidst rising fuel prices, more companies and theme parks have turned to the Segway as a viable, efficient local transport alternative for many of their clients and employees. In 2006, Segway introduced its two most recent models of upright personal transport, the i2 and the x2.

Both the i2 and the x2 rely on Segways internal gyroscope to keep the vehicle balanced and upright. Along with upright use, the Segway has a completely naturally aspired and intuitive steering design that relies on natural shifts in bodyweight to control the speed and direction of travel. Some things that set the i2 and x2 apart are the following.

The i2 is Segway’s answer to the inner city commuter. It has the daily driver in mind, and includes all of the Segways function while also remaining streamlined and efficient. The i2 comes standard with the Wireless Infokey, and the intuitive lean-steer mechanism that comes with all of the third generation Segways. The i2 also comes in two special editions, the i2 commuter which includes a locking mechanism which allows you to lock your Segway safely to an object like a bicycle rack, and the i2 cargo also includes two lockable cargo storage trunks suspended above each wheel, allowing easy and convenient transport of more of your personal belongings.

The x2 is Segway’s recreational vehicle. The x2 is built to handle off-road and rugged terrains with ease, and could be the 21st century’s answer to the golf cart. The x2 comes equipped with tough tires built for off-road excursions, and the x2 also comes in 2 golf oriented models that come with softer, wider tires that are built to protect the green. The x2 Turf comes with large, low pressure tires and scratch resistant fenders, as well as a higher clearance like all the x2 models. The x2 Golf includes all the attributes of the x2 with an easy access bag carrier included, so your Segway doubles as your caddie!

The bottom line is essentially, no matter where you want to go, the Segway can probably take you there in comfort and ease. With ever growing use from law enforcement to theme parks, the Segway will become a common sight on a sidewalk and fairway near you.

Segway i2 and x2 personal transporters can be purchased new or used. Those looking to save money can always pick up a gently used Segway from local tour operators at the end of the season.