The Getaway crew could not have made a better choice for their first foray into Urban Adventures outside of North America. Taken under the wing of the local Urban Adventures guide, Mauro Scarparti, Getaway presenter Catriona Rowntree took a leisurely three-hour stroll through this romantic European metropolis, following the pages of Elizabeth Gilbert’s best-selling book, Eat Pray Love.

Urban Adventures look a little closer, like this detail from a fountain at the Pantheon in Rome, Italy

While Rome has a reputation for being overwhelming or disorientating to outsiders, Mauro made everything seem simple and understandable, and the Urban Adventures Dolce Vita Tour provided wonderful insight into the real character of the Eternal City. With stops at crowd-pleasing locations such as the Pantheon and Piazza Navona, indulgence in a variety of Eat Pray Love-inspired culinary delights, and a few quiet moments in known-to-locals locales, like Tiber Island, the Dolce Vita tour is an unparalleled glimpse into the soul of the city. Better yet, Mauro’s commentary is a perfect overlay of the kind of insider perspectives that make Urban Adventures experiences truly unique.

If you were not able to watch the episode live, you can whet your appetite online and learn about Catriona’s satisfaction following the Urban Adventures model of small tours that take in the sights, tastes and smells most outsiders don’t come across. Urban Adventures in Rome is just one of a growing portfolio of destinations that is expected to include over 100 cities by the end of 2010.

Remember: When in Rome…!

Seattle, also known as "Jet City," is renowned for its picturesque harbour and its famous sounds. Photo courtesy of Urban Adventures

The Seattle Music Tour by Foot – which makes stops at the city’s renowned rock clubs, with time leftover to take in the talented buskers of the Pike Place Market – was the subject of the latest episode of Getaway, the highest-rated travel show in Australia, with approximately 1.2 million weekly viewers.

The full episode, which aired on Thursday August 19th, was presented by famous Australian singer Delta Goodrem and can now be viewed online.

Led by Seattle Urban Adventures’ Seattle guide Dan Moore, the Getaway special delves deep into the city’s music culture – exploring everything from the history of Sub Pop Records (the indie label that launched Nirvana into stardom) to its famous parks and landmarks. Along the way, viewers can catch sight of music venues such as the Crocodile, memorials dedicated to musical legends including Kurt Cobain and Jimi Hendrix, and visit eclectic neighbourhoods like Fremont and Capitol Hill, which are positively buzzing with entertainment of all varieties.

Whether you’re looking for a trip down musical memory lane or a glimpse into future sounds, Seattle Urban Adventures have something to offer you. And if you don’t want to take our word for it, just ask Delta Goodrem!

San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, perhaps its greatest landmark, was built in 1936 and earned its name as gateway to the gold that helped fuel the development of California

The chosen destination – one of more than 50 in 30-plus countries on six continents in which Urban Adventures offers unique day tours – was the inimitable Golden Gate city of San Francisco, California. Getaway filmed with the Urban Adventures local partner and unveiled the latter’s novel approach to helping travellers step into the lives of the locals and unlock the secrets of some of their favourite urban centres.

With the San Francisco Urban Adventures guide, the Getaway host was taken on local transport for a local’s-eye view of Frisco life that took in the Mission District, Chinatown, North Beach and, back on the tourist trail, Fisherman’s Wharf, culminating in a cruise on the world-famous Bay, the location of Alcatraz and the soaring Golden Gate Bridge.

This Chinatown street has views of San Francisco's most prominent skyscraper: the TransAmerica building. On a guided exploration of Chinatown, the narrow lanes reveal a fortune-cookie factory, local markets and the city's oldest Chinese temple.

“I love Urban Adventures because it allows me to share one of the great cities of the world: San Francisco,” commented Greg Mazzola of the San Francisco Urban Adventure team. “It truly is a kaleidoscope, beautifully rich in color, character and culture. Latinos, Chinese, African-Americans and Europeans, bohemians, innovators, hustlers, trendsetters, fortune-seekers, and world-class entertainers have all made San Francisco home. From rugged cliffs and crashing surf to the eclectic neighborhoods and financial district, San Francisco offers travellers great diversity and now, having the opportunity to share it all with travellers as a job absolutely makes me one of the luckiest people alive.”

Unique Day Tours in over 100 Cities by the End of 2010

Launched in October 2009, Urban Adventures are a global range of city-based tours. Ranging from two-hour to one-day experiences, they may be short in duration, but they’re long on real-life experiences. They put you in touch with what makes a city tick and acquaint you with the local food, culture and traditions, all in the company of an expert local guide. On an Urban Adventure, you see more than just the usual sights.

Sea lions have made San Francisco's Pier 39 home since 1989. The docks where they lounge are now protected. In November 2009, sea lion numbers dropped from more than 1,000 to less than 10 in just a couple of days as they headed north to chase food. Since then, several have returned and 70 or more are usually visible.

Whether you’re after an evening of home cooking and hanging locally in Istanbul, a full-day exploration of the magnificent temples of the Angkor complex in Cambodia, visiting the history and people of Johannesburg by bicycle or sampling Los Angeles, from Hollywood glitz to the quirkiness of Venice Beach, Urban Adventures really connect with the destination.

The Urban Adventures business was developed by leading adventure travel operator Intrepid Travel and the WHL Group, the largest local-travel company in the world. Urban Adventures relies on a combination of Intrepid Travel’s experience in designing and running the world’s best experiential trips, plus the WHL Group’s network of local operators and the technology to sell these trips at low cost. Intrepid and WHL Group share a commitment to local and sustainable travel with a minimum impact on the environment and on communities.

Urban Adventures depart daily with groups of no more than 12 people. Prices start from US$15.