Pokemon GO Meets US History At Grand Atlas Tours

2016 has been a year of massive destruction for many people’s everyday lives and throughout the year there hasn’t been many silver linings — except Pokémon GO. Released at the peak of summer, the game became a hit among old and new fans alike. From breaking people out of their comfort zones, shedding a few pounds with all the walking, and meeting new friends, it’s no wonder businesses have taken a shine to the mobile game. Now with the new update, allowing gamers to hatch new Pokémon, the game has once again attracted more companies and fans to continue their journeys to becoming a Pokémon Master.

While many businesses gave discounts and prizes for levels attained, Grand Atlas Tours of Washington, DC, combined all the fun of Pokémon GO with the free learning experience of touring the Nation’s Capital. Hosting two tours this past summer with Awesome Con and The Brightest Young Things as sponsors, fans traveled from Virginia, Maryland and beyond. With free prizes and the chance to win tickets to Awesome Con, Grand Atlas saw breakthrough numbers as this became one of the largest tours the company has hosted. Nerd Caliber got an exclusive interview with the tour company’s founders, Eric Lewis and Flannery Wasson, on how the idea came about.

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Nerd Caliber: How did you come up with the idea of a Pokémon GO tour?

Grand Atlas Tours: It was actually Flannery’s idea. Pokémon GO was getting a lot of people outside and Flannery recognized that it would be a good opportunity to do a tour of the [National] Mall and Memorials [Park] and show and tell people the really cool stuff about the area.

NC: How is this tour different from your average tour of DC?

GAT: It’s definitely a different kind of tour than a small-group private affair! Ultimately, though, it’s simply a matter of making sure everyone can hear me and they know when and where to meet after each point of interest. The larger the group, the more time you have to budget and the less leeway available to take detours. It’s a bit like trains in a shunting yard, once a large group is on the move it’s more or less not possible to go anywhere but forward!

NC: Are you a frequent player of the game? If so/not how did your tour affect your gameplay/perception of Pokémon?

GAT: I actually never touched a Pokémon game before GO was released! I was a bit too old to get into the universe early on and didn’t pay it much attention thereafter. When GO came out, though, I saw an opportunity to have some extra fun when I was already out and about all over Washington. I didn’t play for but a few weeks before putting it aside but I’m glad I did it so I could understand what people’s triumphs and frustrations are about!

NC: How did Awesome Con and Brightest Young Things get wind of the tour and how did you feel about them coming aboard?

GAT: We made a Facebook event for our first Pokéwalk and the Awesome Con folks simply reached out to us. We saw no downside to a partnership and they brought a lot of resources to the event, like tickets and gear to give out as prizes. We were thrilled to have them on board — they definitely made it even better.

NC: Do you plan on doing more Pokémon GO tours or other nerd-like tours in the future? And if so, what are some other nerdy tour ideas you have?

GAT: We do plan on doing more Pokémon tours, as well as other nerd-culture-themed tours should we get some good ideas. To that end, we’d love to hear ideas from the community!

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With major cons like Awesome Con, Otakon, and Anime USA now taking place in the District, nerds have the opportunity to take their geekiness to the next level and go on an educational tour while still getting some major game time in.

For tour inquiries you can check out Grand Atlas Tours’ website here. Also, be sure to tell Eric and Flannery what other nerdy things you may want to see. Grand Atlas will be sure to craft a special tour to fit your interests, no matter how geeky.