Running with a View: 19 Fantastic Paths!
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
We all know that running is one of the best workouts. Not only does it provide you with a full body workout, but it also offers a chance to escape your daily life and boring routine at the gym. Running in a natural setting allows you to connect with nature and enjoy life away from busy work schedules and daily monotone tasks.
Nothing makes it easier to run that being surrounded by gorgeous views. It’s much more motivating to complete a run out in beautiful nature as opposed to a monotonous treadmill. Get out of the gym, enjoy nature, and begin to take advantage of all the beautiful paths available! Grab your GPS watch and get moving!
Listed below are a few amazing paths around the US. Each offers a beautiful setting that is sure to keep you coming back for more. From 5k to half marathon training, these are my picks for the most breathtaking places to train for your next PR!
Chicago Lakefront Path
Distance: 18.5 miles (37 miles round-trip)
Difficulty: Easy
Address & Parking: Parking is available in various parking garages and on city streets. The best place to start is near Millennium Park and continue going north towards Lincoln Park (201 E. Randolph St. Chicago, IL 60602). The trail stretches from 5800 N. Ardmore to 7100 South Shore.
One of the most beautiful urban paths is Chicago’s Lakefront Trail, an uninterrupted 18.5 mile paved path that winds along scenic Lake Michigan. This gorgeous path stretches from Ardmore Street on the North End to 71st Street on the South End. A portion of the scenic Chicago Half Marathon runs along this beautiful course!
During the course of your run, you will experience the best Chicago has to offer including amazing views of one of the top skylines in the world. There are so many unique places to explore along the way if you feel like taking a break. You will have access to Chicago’s wonderful museum campus, Buckingham Fountain, Navy Pier, and the Lincoln Park Zoo.
An easy choice for running in Chicago, the Lakefront Path offers enough mileage to train for your longest run. Restrooms, water fountains, and snacks can be found along the route. The Chicago Lakefront Path is not only the best attraction in the city, but also the best place for any type of lengthy exercise.
The path is well-maintained, very flat, and clean. It tends to get very busy in the summer months, so get out there early to avoid the crowds (and heat!). The Chicago Lakefront Path is easily one of the top urban paths in the country. Nothing beats the views and amenities offered on this grand trail. If you are looking to combine a run with a sightseeing adventure, Chicago is the place to be!
Tip: Visit during the fall months for fewer crowds!
More info on the Chicago Lakefront Path
Boise Greenbelt
Distance: 25 miles (50 miles round-trip).
Difficulty: Easy
Address & Parking: Parking in Julia Davis Park (700 S Capitol Blvd, Boise, ID 83702) is free and a great place to start your jog. There are plenty of amenities at this park including picnic tables to enjoy a lunch after your run.
What a treat to take a leisurely weekend morning jog along Boise’s amazing 25 mile long multi-purpose paved recreational path. The tree-lined beauty provides fantastic views of the river throughout most of its course. The greenbelt is one of the most relaxing places to run in Boise. Early morning hours are prime time for wildlife watching.
Along the way, there are many sights to take in including the Boise skyline, various parks, and Boise State University. If you feel like taking a break, you can take a stroll around the Boise Zoo, check out the historic Anne Frank Memorial, or rent a paddle boat at beautiful Julia Davis Park.
If you are the type of person motivated by serene, natural surroundings then Boise’s Greenbelt Path will be a true running oasis. The path is flat, well-maintained and time will fly by as you enjoy peaceful views of the river. The path is almost never overly crowded, even on the weekends. A little bit of light traffic by Julia Davis park, although traffic thins out for the rest of the course.
The Greenbelt really is a beautiful path in an amazing little city. Don’t pass out on this free natural attraction – the best Boise has to offer. It makes running on your vacation that much easier!
The fall season is a particularly awesome time to visit as you are surrounded by beautiful fall colors, not to mention temps are much cooler.
Tip: Book your stay at a hotel with direct access to the Greenbelt. Shilo Inn Boise Riverside is located directly on the path. What a great way to start out your day!
Bayshore Blvd
Distance: 4.5 miles (9 miles round-trip)
Difficulty: Easy
Address & Parking: Parking can be found along the side streets or in public lots. Parking meters are in effect weekdays until 6pm. The start of the path is near 312 Bayshore Blvd. Tampa, FL 33606. You will see a parking lot with the Gasparilla boat in front of it.
Tampa’s shining gem is downtown’s beautiful Bayshore Blvd., the longest continuous sidewalk in the world. A jog/walk/bike ride down this scenic path is a must while visiting Tampa. Along the route, you will enjoy beautiful views of the Hillsborough River and possibly even spot a dolphin or manatee if you arrive early enough. Coming down from the Southern half of the journey, you will be treated to one-of-a-kind views of Tampa’s small, yet attractive skyline.
The path is very well-maintained and clean without a speck of any litter or garbage. There are resting benches and water fountains along the way for your convenience. For an urban path, it is very desolate, even on weekday mornings. Tampa’s mild climate makes running along Bayshore Blvd. a breeze even in the winter months! There is no excuse not to get out for your run now!
A winter visit to Tampa is not complete without an invigorating jog down Bayshore Blvd. While everyone elsewhere in the country is inside running on the boring treadmill, you will be enjoying the sunny skies and cool breezes as you stroll past palm trees, waterfront mansions, and serene views of the river.
Tip: Visit on a weekend for free parking (downtown Tampa meters are not in effect at this time).
Minuteman Bikeway
Distance: 11 miles (22 miles round-trip)
Difficulty: Easy
Address & Parking: Although you can start at several points, the best starting point is in Bedford where you will find a large, free lot at 110 South Road. Bedford, MA 01730
Massachusetts’ Minuteman Man trail is one of the top rated rail trails in the country. Rail trails are former railroad routes that have been converted into public recreational paths. The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy included this path in its’ Hall of Fame directory. This is no surprise as this popular path provides year round recreation for local commuters, daily exercisers, and adventurous tourists.
This gorgeous tree-lined 11 mile trail is perfect for slow, relaxing weekend runs. As you travel through the northern suburbs of Bedford, Lexington, Arlington, and Cambridge, you will enjoy both the peaceful sights and sounds of nature, with the added bonus of seeing a few places of historical significance.
Fall is an amazing time to visit. As we all know, New England is the top place in the country for leaf peeping. Massachusetts is no exception, with the Boston area coming alive with vivid colors starting in September. The Minuteman Trail is one of the best places in the Boston area for leaf peeping as the trail is lined with all different sorts of trees. A fall jog is simply a must-do while visiting the area. What better setting than a gorgeous colorful path lined with crisp colored trees and a hint of scattered leaves?
Tip: There is an entrance to Trader Joe’s about 4 miles into the path if you need to refuel (how convenient is that?!) This is a great place to get a snack, turn around, and finish 4 additional miles for a total of about 8 miles.
More info on the Minuteman Bikeway
Marvin Braude Bike Trail
Distance: 22 miles (44 miles round-trip)
Difficulty: Medium
Address & Parking: The best place to find free parking is near the starting point in Torrance, also one of the most scenic sections to run along. Check the signs and you should be able to park along the road. If no spaces are available, you will find a large beach parking lot with meters. If you decide to complete the Manhattan Beach portion of the trail, you can input 2 Manhattan Beach Blvd. Manhattan Beach, CA into your GPS and search for parking lots or meters near this pier address.
22 miles of sunshine, sand, water, volleyball, and surf. As you run down this iconic Los Angeles trail, you will encounter other runners, bikers, and skaters all enjoying the beautiful mild California weather. This trail is perfect for year-round use.
Whether you plan on completing 4 miles or 14, the views are sure to be spectacular. Along the way, you have the opportunity to see many famous L.A. area landmarks including: The Santa Monica Pier, Manhattan Beach Pier, and the Venice Beach boardwalk.
L.A.’s best path stretches from Torrance all the way down to Pacific Palisades. One of the most scenic portions of the path is the section through beautiful Manhattan Beach – it also happens to be one of the quietest portions with barely any traffic. This path is also conveniently separated into a separate cycling and 2.1 mile walking/running trail. Great for avoiding traffic jams! The Manhattan Beach portion is perfect for quick, scenic runs.
A beachfront path like no other. Surfers, volleyball players, cyclists, runners, piers, restaurants, and unending views of the Pacific Coast…a summer run doesn’t get any better than this! When the top attraction in Los Angeles doubles as exercise, you know it’s going to be a great time! A Southern California gem not to be missed!
The path is flat and well-maintained. It is relatively easy minus the windy section near Marina del Ray.
Overall, the Marvin Braude Trail is a great way to get out and explore all the beach towns of Los Angeles while also getting in a fabulous workout. An A+: a beautiful treasure in Los Angeles.
Tip: Complete a run through each section of the trail (on different days of course!). There are so many sights to see, with each section offering its’ own unique views and attractions.
