Best Places to Run in Chicago: Ravenswood.

Instead of sticking to the usual lakefront path on your weekend run, consider mixing it up with a neighborhood jog through Ravenswood to get your miles in.

Since I moved to Chicago in 2008, I have lived in or within walking distance of Ravenswood on Chicago's North Side. It's a relatively quiet, but beautiful, neighborhood bordered by Montrose Avenue to the south, Ashland to the east, Foster to the north and the Chicago River to the west.

Running in a new neighborhood is a fantastic way to get to know the area, and Ravenswood is a neighborhood that seems built for runners. From its leafy, historic side streets to its many wonderful small businesses, a route through Ravenswood is perfect for a serene Saturday morning run.

If you have time to make a day trip out of it, make sure to stop by River Valley Farmer's Table for lunch or Margie's Candies for ice cream post-workout.

Here is my suggested 5k running route through Ravenswood:

• Start at the Montrose Brown Line station and run east a few blocks to Paulina Avenue
• Heat north on Paulina to Winnemac Avenue
• Go west on Winnemac to Winnemac Park, and follow the path across the park and back
• Run east on Winnemac to Hermitage Avenue
• Head south on Hermitage, ending at Montrose

{This post was originally published on the NBC Chicago Stride blog in May 2015. Chicago Jogger is a regular contributor to NBC Stride. Follow @StrideNBC on Twitter and click here to check out more articles from the blog.}