Andy Maunder
I was born in England and lived there for many years, both in South London and in the historic city of Winchester. I spent some of my school years in Singapore and in Germany, and my early professional years in Vancouver, Canada and moved to Philadelphia in 1994. My love for travel has taken me to almost 50 countries and over 30 States, but the longest time I have spent in one place, by far, is Philadelphia, my children having studied at schools in the city, as well as over the bridge in New Jersey. Having always been interested in the history of the United States, it was a simple step to studying how the city of Philadelphia has been such an important part of all the major developments that have taken place, from the early days of William Penn, to the Revolutionary War, to Independence, the Industrial Revolution, the Civil War, the railways and on and on.
Now you may ask what a Brit is doing giving guided tours of Philadelphia? Well, I am passionate about the city and its history and want others to experience everything that is good about it. I have always been a devout traveler, both in my personal and business life and I know a lot about what people want when they go to a new place. I know that I can provide visitors with a unique experience that is missing in the city.
The kind of service we offer is available in many international cities and countries, cities like Rome and countries such as Israel, where the availability of tour guides, who provide a personal experience for you and your friends or family, is commonplace. In Philly, though, we’re quite unique!
Jason Fried
I was born and raised in Newburgh, NY, in the Hudson Valley region of New York, about 60 miles north of New York City. I graduated from Penn State University in 2002 with degrees in Labor & Employment Relations and Psychology, and then graduated from Villanova Law School in 2005. After practicing law for 3 years at a non-profit, I joined Philadelphia Urban Adventures to pursue my passion and desire to work in the travel industry.
My love for travel has brought me to 8 foreign countries, 43 states, and most of the Canadian Provinces. The summer after I finished college, I took a 3 month road trip with high school friends camping, hiking, and traveling the back roads of the United States. We covered almost 20,000 miles driving mostly the perimeter of the country. I've been addicted to travel ever since and nothing brings me more excitement than exploring a new place for the first time.
While law school brought me to Philadelphia, the city itself has kept me here for almost a decade now. I very quickly fell in love with the history, culture, arts, entertainment, energy, and people of Philadelphia. I'm eager to show off everything the city has to offer through our tours. Our goal is to make our travelers’ tours unique and memorable, and to give a perspective of Philadelphia unlike any other.
Josh
I was born in Cleveland, Ohio, where I developed a passion for urban history and historic landmarks from adolescence on. This passion and the joy of wandering through cities led me naturally to Urban Adventures’ pursuit of Philadelphia neighborhoods and “off-the-standard-route” places in its tours. Along the way, I have received a history degree from the University of Cincinnati and a Master’s in Historic Preservation from the University of Pennsylvania, and I have worked in recent years as a tour guide in various capacities and a part-time American history instructor at the Community College of Philadelphia.
Paige
I am originally from Boca Raton, Florida, and lived there until going to college at the University of Florida in the north central part of the state. I earned a B.A.,
summa cum laude, in history and political science, and then moved to Philadelphia to pursue a master's degree in history from the University of Pennsylvania. Since my initial trip to check out Penn, I have grown attached to and charmed by all that Philadelphia has to offer.
Not only has my academic training prepared and taught me to examine history with a critical eye, but my passion for sharing history with others is why I love guiding visitors around all of the city's unique spots. In addition to being a guide with Urban Adventures on the weekend, I work full-time at the National Constitution Center on Independence Mall.
I have held internships at the Supreme Court of the United States, Massachusetts Historical Society, and Boca Raton Historical Society. My particular interests are in women's history and 20th century American history. I also enjoy cooking and running - ask me about some of my favorite eateries in Philly and for suggestions on scenic running routes.
Chuck Hey There! I was born and raised in Philadelphia and attended the University of Pennsylvania where I have degrees in Sociology, Urban Studies, and Environmental Studies. I've traveled throughout Europe, including Portugal, Spain and Italy and I have spent summers in Amsterdam, Vancouver, Prague, and Paris. And although I love exploring the world, I'm proud to call South Philadelphia my home of over 15 years.
I enjoy showing off the city and exploring many of it's hidden treasures while meeting new people, making recommendations, finding the perfect place to eat or discovering what makes Philadelphia such a special place to explore and live. I hope you enjoy your visit!
Alex Alex joined Philadelphia Urban Adventures/Awfully Nice Tours in 2009. He is passionate about urban life and history here in Philadelphia. Alex has a graduate degree in Historic Preservation and works on projects throughout the nation and here in Philadelphia. Some of his favorite places in the city are the Reading Terminal Market, PSFS Building, and Washington Square. You may see him out enjoying a walk through one of the city's historic neighborhoods. He loves to shop in the Italian Market, and his favorite food there is Tomato Pie from Sarcone's Bakery. On his tours Alex loves to highlight not just the city's rich history, but how that history is an integral and living part of today's Philadelphia.
J
eremy
I was born and raised in Ohio where I attended the University of Cincinnati and graduated from The Ohio State University with a BA in Geography. I moved to Philadelphia in 2007 to attend graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania. Since, graduating with a Master’s of City and Regional Planning I have worked at Penn in the School of Design and as a freelance geographic data analyst.
I joined Urban Adventures/Awfully Nice Tours in the summer of 2011 as an outlet for my desire to show off the city that I have come to love. Ever since visiting Philadelphia as kid with my family I was drawn to the city, this feeling grew when I moved here to start school. Philadelphia's intrinsic history, walkable neighborhoods and constant bustling has made it one of my favorite places and I hope one of yours.
On my tours I enjoy tying in parts of the 300 year history of the city with how Philadelphians live today. In addition to giving tours I also enjoy sampling the cast restaurant scene and exploring the city and region by bike.
Bob
The Boss asked me (more than once) to write a few lines about myself.
But I'm no Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be,
I'm an attendant guide, one that will do
To swell a progress, start a scene or two,
Advise the quest; no doubt, an easy tool,
Deferential, glad to be of use.
However, please don't be off put, instead
Let us go then, you and I
When the day is spread out against the sky
Let us go, through certain half-deserted streets
Streets that follow like an unraveling thread
Of mysterious intent
To lead us to an overwhelming question....
Oh, do not ask, "What is it?"
Let us go and make our visit.
On the tour the people come and go
Through a city wondrous to show.
TrevorI grew up in Allentown, the third largest city in PA. I came to Philly to attend Temple University where I received a BA in history and anthropology. I had the opportunity to study at Temple's Tokyo campus and traveled throughout Japan. I also spent some time studying in Saarbrucken, Germany as a teenager. My favorite traveling stats are that I've been to hot springs in three countries and to almost every national park in California.
I am a big history nerd and have had a variety of tour guide and museum jobs. My main job currently is as lead tour guide at Bartram's Garden, America's oldest botanic garden dating back to 1728. I especially enjoy historic sites that are hidden, forgotten, or include nature. I belong to a community garden, ride a bicycle, compost, and generally try to be nice to the Earth. I'm proud to live in and show off such a scenic and historic city, and really enjoy the great green spaces we have. Our craft beer isn't too shabby either!