I’ve always felt that the best way to explore a new city is through running.

Not only are you quickly familiarized with the layout — I mean, you do have to get yourself back to your original starting point — but you also discover places and things you may not have seen otherwise. Case in point: the Lake Harriet gnome door.

An avid runner and being new in town, I was ecstatic to learn that there is a way to tour the city without having to hop on a Segway: City Running Tours.

City Running Tours offers a variety of options, with something for all levels and interests. May as well learn a little something while huffing and puffing, right?

City Running Tours Minneapolis offers personalized and guided, or social, running tours. Guided running tours include: Cherry & Spoon, Beer, Skyscrapers & Stadiums, and Uptown & Lakes. I was most interested to find that tours are available year round. I, for one, will be signing up for a winter run (may as well add an extra motivator to get off the couch).

Not interested in touring Minneapolis? City Running Tours runs in 10 locations, including Austin, Boston, Charleston, Chicago, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington D.C.