I first learned about Bronx Tours on social media, when the founder and the brains behind the operation Alexandra Maruri commented on one of my earlier Bronx posts. Given her in-depth knowledge of the Bronx, she asserted that perhaps I could be exposed to a few diamonds in the rough. She was absolutely right and that was before I had the pleasure of visiting the Bronx Zoo and the Botanical Gardens for the first time.
Intrigued, we started a dialogue which led to us following each other’s worlds on Instagram and Twitter. It then led to conversations about foodie tours, cultural excursions and restaurants, which is when I learned about the her tours of the Bronx, which range from cultural, artistic and educational to nature, historical and food. It was Alex who recommended many of the restaurants we reviewed here on We Blog the World. Crikey, I even wrote about Fourth of July fireworks in the Bronx last July.
We had quite an eye opening time as we sampled delicious food across a number of neighborhoods over the course of six months — from the bowels of the South Bronx (we love you Charlies) and Riverdale to City Island and Arthur Avenue. The authentic Italian food on Arthur Avenue is so worth exploring. After so many successful Bronx restaurant experiences, we even ventured out and did a round up of where to find great brunch in Harlem.
What we learned in this process was how important it is to dig under the hood, to explore untamed territories — how different is that to a sentiment I subscribe to in that the gems are usually found on the road less taken? Most avid travelers will agree.
Alex is your go to gal for exploring the Bronx. She apparently came up with the idea for the Bronx Tours from working in a hotel. I particularly love her art and culture tours as there’s a wealth to learn and see from the raw talent found in the Bronx.
Now that she has been running the business for awhile, she has faced some “image” issues which isn’t surprising given how little is known about the Bronx. Remember that most travelers hang their hat in Manhattan when they hit the Big Apple, preferring to dine in Chelsea, the West Village or the upper West Side.
After all, much of the City’s theatrical performances and Broadway shows are in mid-town, but that’s also what makes it so expensive and the food often so mediocre. This interesting article in Tracy’s New York Life walks you through some of the challenges Alex has faced by representing a less known New York borough, whereas this piece in Bronx Ink on graffiti and street art will give you a taste of some of the cultural diversity you can find in the Bronx.
Her tours provide access to the following attractions and places: Wave Hill, Yankee Stadium, Bartow-Pell Mansion, New York Botanical Garden, Wildlife Conservation Society The Bronx Zoo, Lehman College Art Gallery, Hall of Fame for Great Americans, City Island Nautical Museum, Andrew Freedman Complex, The Bronx Museum of the Arts, Edgar Allan Poe Cottage, Bronx County Historical Society, Home Bronx Council on the Arts, Bronx Documentary Center, Woodlawn Cemetery, Van Cortlandt House Museum, Former Adath Israel Temple, Wallworks NYC, Elisa Contemporary Art, Derfner Judaica Museum, Bronx Music Heritage Center and more.
Some of the specific tours include the following highlights, most of which are walking tours: (not an exhaustive list)
- Bronx Street Art Walking Tour
- El Barrio/East Harlem Cultural & Historic Walking Tour
- Salsa Row Historic Walking Tour
- Bronx Historical Walking Tour to Arthur Avenue
- Fort Apache The Bronx Walking Tour
- Bronx Sightseeing Tour to Arthur Avenue
- Arthur Avenue Little Italy, History & Pizza Group Bus Tour
Renee Blodgett is the Founder and Managing Editor of We Blog the World, a global travel, culture and lifestyle publication exploring the world through the lens of meaningful experiences, human connection and cultural depth. Having lived in 10 countries and traveled to 95, Renee has spent much of her life immersed in the people, traditions, landscapes and ideas that shape how we experience the world.
Since launching We Blog the World in 2007, she has written and produced extensive editorial coverage spanning boutique and luxury travel, culinary experiences, arts and culture, wellness, adventure, technology, spiritual traditions and transformative travel. Her work is rooted in the belief that travel is about more than where we go—it is also about what a place, culture or encounter awakens within us.
Renee brings more than three decades of experience across journalism, photography, media, brand strategy, technology, wellness and global storytelling. She has worked with companies and organizations around the world on brand positioning, communications, product launches, media strategy, speaker positioning and storytelling. Through Blue Soul Media, she works with authors, entrepreneurs, thought leaders and purpose-driven brands to clarify their message and expand their impact, which includes speaker coaching/training for high-profile stages such as TED and bringing authors’ work to market while retaining authors rights.
She is also the co-founder of Blue Soul Earth, an educational platform exploring consciousness, ancient wisdom, spirituality, healing and the intersection between science and the nature of reality. Renee is the producer and host of the award-winning Blue Soul CHATS, a conversational series bringing together leading voices in science, technology, consciousness, wellness and spirituality.
Her growing body of work also includes Blue Soul Living, which extends her interest in consciousness and well-being into the spaces we inhabit, exploring how intentional design, energy and environment can support greater harmony and connection.
Renee is the award-winning co-author of the bestselling Magdalene’s Journey and founder of the Magdalene Collection, inspired by women’s voices, stories and wisdom across cultures and generations.
A longtime photographer and storyteller, Renee has documented people, places and cultures around the world and produced photographic collections focused on destinations including the Galápagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome and Ecuador. She also co-founded Traveling Geeks, an international initiative that brought entrepreneurs, journalists, creators and technology leaders together with their counterparts in other countries to exchange ideas and explore innovation across cultures.
Renee’s work has been recognized by Forbes, the United Nations and others for her influence in media and social storytelling. Across her work in travel, media, consciousness and culture, a common thread remains: curiosity about the world, the stories that connect us and the ways meaningful experiences can change how we see ourselves and one another.
