I’ve been lucky enough to have enjoyed several Segway tours throughout Europe. From Rome to Berlin to Stockholm and now, here at home, in Tampa and St.Petersburg. It’s a whole load of fun once you suss out your equilibrium!
After seeing a great deal for tickets on Groupon, I took my daughter and granddaughter on a Magic Carpet Glide Segway Tour in Tampa.
What is a Segway, you ask? It’s a two-wheeled, self-balancing motorized personal vehicle with an upright handlebar. There’s a generous platform for your feet and, once powered on, the Segway balances automatically.
(The name Segway is a homophone of the word ‘segue,’ meaning smooth transition.)
It’s equipped with a computer, gyroscopic sensors and fluid-based leveling sensors that detect your weight shift. It’s so intuitive, you just stand on it and the Segway adjusts to you.
To start moving, steer the upright handlebar in whatever direction you want and when you’re ready to go forward, just lean slightly forward with the handlebar and it moves ahead. When you want to stop, just lean back and gently pull the handlebar towards you. Easy as that.
The Tampa Bay tour begins at the Embassy Suites Tampa at the corner of Channelside Drive and South Franklin Street. There is a parking garage inside the Embassy Suites, as well as a parking lot on Channelside Drive across the street. All tour participants meet at this location and receive a lesson before the tour begins — instruction only takes a few minutes and certainly less time than learning to ride a bike. The tour guide gives out helmets and pouches for personal items.
Our guide was great and gave us a lot of information on our Tampa Bay destinations as we toured. We rode through beautiful downtown Tampa stopping at places like Amalie Arena, Bayshore Boulevard, Harbour Island, Tampa Convention Center, Curtis Hixon Park, University of Tampa, and the Tampa Riverwalk.
It’s really a neat way for tourists or residents alike to experience Tampa. I would recommend it to anyone visiting the city for a few days wanting to learn more about the city and have a little fun along the way. Tampa Bay also offers a night glider tour at $55 per person.
The following week, we went on the St. Petersburg tour and we were not disappointed. We had beautiful weather and another fantastic tour guide.
Tours last about 90 minutes and the tour groups are small. Minimum of two and maximum of eight riders in each group. Smaller groups make it easy for the tour guide to keep an eye on us all and to answer any questions we have. Magic Carpet Glide caters to any child 12 years or older.
A great deal of research has gone into ensuring the Segway will provide a safe experience when used appropriately. The Segway has also been evaluated by four independent agencies for safety.
IF YOU GO
Magic Carpet Glide Segway Tours is located at 513 South Florida Ave
Tampa, FL 33602
Call directly at 813-637-9797
or email us at [email protected]
Tour Times
• 10:30 AM
• 1:30 PM
• 5:30PM (Sunset)
Tour Price
$55 – 1.5 Hour Tour
$65 – 2 Hour Tour
Advanced purchase is required
To book online:
magiccarpetglide.com/tampa-bay-segway-tours-location/
