The city of Chicago has two baseball teams, a football team and 10 million residents. The Chicago metropolitan area also has a number of casinos in the downtown area by the lakefront.

Horseshoe Hammond Casino

The Horseshoe Hammond Casino is located 17 miles from downtown Chicago so why not end up here after a long scenic waterside run?

It’s the busiest casino within the Chicago city limits. Set within the marina, the property includes 108,000 square feet of casino space, on par with many of the mega resorts in Las Vegas.

The casino has thousands of slot machines and video poker machines and over 100 table games. These include all the favorites such as blackjack, craps, roulette and baccarat.

It also has the area’s largest poker room which comprises 34 tables. Many big tournaments are held here including the World Series of Poker circuit events.

As sports betting is now legal in Indiana the casino also caters for fans of a number of sportsbooks. The Horseshoe Hammond is also home to a large concert venue and 4 restaurants.

The Horseshoe is owned by Caesars Entertainment which means you can use your Caesars Rewards Card here. There are numerous free shuttles running to and from downtown Chicago so you won’t have to run back!

Ameristar East Chicago

The Ameristar is the closest casino to Chicago with a hotel. As it’s located almost 24 miles from downtown Chicago that could come in handy if you don’t fancy making the journey back after a long run. Like the Horseshoe it is in a marina. In addition to its 288 hotel rooms and 6 restaurants the Ameristar has over fifty thousand square feet of casino floor space. This incorporates 1,700 slot machines and 65 table games. It also has a sportsbook with 12 betting kiosks.

Rivers Casino

The Rivers casino is located near the airport but if you´re running out from the city you can take a route that goes through beautiful scenery. Take a route that goes via the Acacia Park cemetery, Schiller Woods and the Forest preserves of Cook County. The casino has more slots than any other in Illinois and claims to have the biggest payouts on table games. With plenty of accomodation and restaurant options this is a perfect location to finish your casino run

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Chicago Lakefront Trail

Possibly the finest running route in all of Chicago, this 18-mile path stretches alongside the lake shoreline. It offers plenty of places to stop off including restrooms and water stops. There are also many beautiful landmarks to see such as Soldier Field, North Avenue Beach and Navy Pier along the way. Back in 1836 the aim was to make this a public ground forever. For that reason there are no buildings or obstacles blocking the views. In 2017 plans were started to create separate lanes for pedestrians and cyclists to avoid accidents.

The 606, or Bloomingdale Trail

This route was once a railway line which served the thriving manufacturing district. These days this 2.7-mile elevated trail connects the western Chicago neighborhoods of Wicker Park, Humboldt Park, Bucktown, and Logan Square. Start your run at the easternmost point in Ashland Avenue. and Marshfield Avenue. and head west until you reach the Ridgeway Trailhead. The Exelon Observatory hosts monthly events for stargazers here. Also watch out for all the artwork along the route. These include murals and sculptures like Brick House, which resembles an enormous snake made entirely from tires and steel.

North Branch Trail

During busy times like summer or a fall day when the lakefront’s full of marathon-training groups, be sure to head northwest for a change of scenery. You can park up at any one of the lots here and then follow this shady, mostly flat route through wooded areas. The route ends up in Glencoe and the beautiful Chicago Botanic Garden. If at you feel tired at any point, hire a $7/hour bike rental and cycle back.

Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve

For those runners looking for more of a challenge than the other easier flat routes, head out of town to this spot. Nicknamed Big Bertha, this is a 9.5-mile loop in Darien, a 25-mile drive from downtown Chicago. A trail race is also held here each Summer called the Waterfall Glen Xtreme 10.

Grant Park

This park was modeled after the gardens at Versailles and runs between Michigan Avenue and the Museum Campus. It´s quite a sensation to run through these trees and paths and is a change in scenery from the Lakefront Trail. Highlights along the way the Buckingham Fountain as well as other sculptures and monuments. The northwest section of the park houses Millennium Park and the Art Institute of Chicago. A loop including the main paths of Grant Park is approximately 3 miles. Running the perimeter of Millennium Park will add another mile.

The Loop

This run includes a number of Chicago’s most impressive buildings. It should be said that this route isn’t really designed for running and there aren’t any designated running paths. For amateurs looking for a scenic jog however this is a fantastic route and one of the best running routes in Chicago. The best time to do it is first thing in the morning or in the evening to avoid the crowds.

North Shore

There are some great routes in this part of the city. These include some beautiful parks and residential neighborhoods. One route follows the North Shore Classic Half Marathon course which incorporates the Highland Park neighborhood. Your run will take in a number of classic, tree-lined streets made famous in movies. Many of these are John Hughes productions such as Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club. The loop follows a counter-clockwise loop of the North Shore area.

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