Runs
Sightseeing on the Run
Running tours offer a new way for fit-minded travellers to soak up the sights of a city.
January 12, 2009Best Runs
Since the concept of “best runs” in any city tends to be a subjective thing, it’s best to always ask someone in the know, so here’s what the tour operators have to say:
Quebec City:
While the obvious attractions in Quebec City include the Chateau Frontenac, the St. Lawrence River, Old Quebec and the city walls, Dominic Menard points out that one of the best places to run is at the Plains of Abraham. “Many of our clients seem to know about this large urban park when they arrive in the city,” he says, “and they’re anxious to run around this important historical site.” According the Menard, the park is large, beautiful, quiet, and offers many hilly challenges.
His personal favourite is along the banks of Rivière Saint-Charles, in the Lower City. “It’s like you’re running through a well-kept garden,” he says. The entire loop around the river is 10K, but runners who continue a bit further will find it turns into forest trails and fields – all within the city limits. Quebec Jogging Tours is looking to offer this run to clients in the near future and is also testing out routes in Montreal for a spring launch.
Chicago:
In Chicago, Michael Gazaleh, of City Running Tours, says most people want to run the groomed path along Lakeshore Drive that borders Lake Michigan. A 10-10K run with no traffic is “a real draw for local runners and bikers,” he says. The run can also be extended through the heart of the city to include Grant Park and Millennium Park.
Washington, D.C.:
In Washington, the 10-13K spin around National Mall, which includes monuments such as Lincoln Memorial, the White House and Washington Monument, tops the list of most popular runs.
New York City:
In New York, the most-requested route offered by City Running Tours, the Downtown Run, winds through Lower Manhattan, over Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges, through the financial district, Little Italy and Chinatown, and can be anywhere from 8-12K. Another popular route includes taking the subway up to Brooklyn and running back through the various neighbourhoods – including SoHo, Greenwich Village, Chinatown and Little Italy.
Austin, Texas:
In Austin, the Downtown Run snakes past the historic and government sites around the University of Texas campus, UT Tower and other landmarks.
Charleston, South Carolina:
Charleston’s Historic Downtown Run includes running along the harbour in Waterfront Park and enjoying the signature sights of Charleston, such as cobblestone streets, carriages, Charleston single houses and tiny alleyways leading to courtyard gardens.
San Diego, California:
San Diego’s downtown run takes visitors past the harbour-moored USS Midway, to spectacular views of the bay through Little Italy and the Gaslamp District.
Rome, Italy:
Carolina Gasparetto of Sight Jogging Tours says the most popular Rome routes are the areas around St. Peter’s Basilica, the Coliseum and Imperial Fora.
