Beyond the Treadmill: Unique Travel Workouts at Kimpton

With all the distractions and temptations (we’re looking at you, cheesecake) that go along with traveling, it can take a monk-like devotion to fitness to stay on your health program when you’re on the road. We try to do our part by providing in-room yoga mats, a dedicated yoga TV channel, and free bikes at all our hotels — and many Kimptons also offer out-of-the-ordinary exercise opportunities for guests who want to get their sweat on. From kayaking to shooting hoops, these unique travel workouts just might be the high point of your trip.

Biking

Yes, every Kimpton has some sweet PUBLIC bikes available for any guest to use for free, but some of our hotels add a whole other layer to wheeling around town. At Hotel Monaco in Washington, D.C., General Manager Ed Virtue — a dedicated cyclist (#BikeWithEd) — has preloaded his top 25 rides through D.C. and Virginia into Garmin Edge 800 touchscreen GPS devices available for you to use. You’ll have turn-by-turn instructions for the best bike rolls in the area (think Georgetown, Pennsylvania Avenue, etc.).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc6kZBssFKE

For those with a competitive edge, you can use the GPS to race against Ed’s best times. Beat the GM’s personal best on a route and claim a well-earned prize from the front desk. Or for a healthy dose of sightseeing, meet up on Wednesday afternoons, from 4:30 to 5:30pm (spring through fall), for a guided bike ride with Ed on a scenic tour of Washington’s monuments and historic sites or cruises along the Potomac River or through Rock Creek Park.

Guided Runs

“Take ’em to the bridge!” was a musical demand made by the Godfather of Soul James Brown … so who are we to argue? At Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh, Stay Fit Concierge Melissa Braff leads guests on 3- or 5-mile runs that showcase the Steel City’s spectacular bridges. The “Bridge Run” gets on the good foot every Wednesday at 6:30am, spring through summer (or upon request). Or grab a customized running map from the front desk for a solo outing.

RiverPlace Hotel GM Ryan Kunzer takes ’em to the bridge in Portland, OR, too.

Some of our GMs get on up and at ’em for guided runs, as well. At the Kimpton Carlyle – Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C., General Manager Thomas Fraher takes guests on 3-mile runs every Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30am; in Portland, OR, RiverPlace Hotel GM Ryan Kunzer leads a 5k at 5pm on Mondays, taking in views of the Willamette River; Chicago lakefront vistas provide the eye candy for Hotel Palomar Chicago’s manager’s run, every Tuesday at 6:30am; while in Cambridge, MA, Hotel Marlowe’s manager-led jog by GM Joe Capalbo, makes a 3- or 4-mile loop around the Charles River, two days a week at 6:45am.

In Philadelphia, you can take the Hotel Palomar’s guided “Rocky Run.” You’ll kill two birds with one stone as you get your exercise and get to partake in a Philly rite of passage: Bounding up the stairs of the Philadelphia Museum of Art for a celebratory dance, just like Rocky Balboa.

Basketball

We got game. Well, at least Hotel Vintage Guest Services Manager Antwain Peterson does. If you’re in Portland, OR, you can do some “Balling With the Bellman” every Friday afternoon at 4pm. So whether you’re looking to play some HORSE, go a little one-on-one, or drop into a local pick-up game, Antwain is there for the assist.

Rock Climbing Wall

Remember climbing rocks and swinging from jungle gyms when you were a kid? Turns out those are still great ways to get some exercise. And at Alexis Hotel in Seattle you can buff out your inner child at the newly renovated fitness center, where monkey bars, jump ropes, hula hoops and a rock climbing wall turn your workout into child’s play.

Kayaking

Kayaking offers the best of all worlds for a travel workout: fresh air, vigorous exercise, and a unique sightseeing opportunity. Hotel Marlowe, just across the Charles River from Boston, has kayaks free for the using and you need to get in one — no experience necessary.