Minneapolis is known for the Vikings, the Twins and the Metrodome as well as the skywalks between downtown buildings that provide shelter to workers on cold winter days. What a lot of people are unaware of is that it is also a city full of parks. Yes, parks.The land of 10,000 lakes is host to 182 parks, many of them on or near one of those lakes. On a recent visit to the Twin Cities, we visited several of those parks and were pleasantly surprised at their variety and the extensive use made of those parks.
Minnehaha falls is a wonderful place for a picnic or even a wedding, both of which we saw while visiting there. Located south of downtown Minneapolis, it has a wonderful waterfall, which drains into the Mississippi river. No, it is not as high as Niagara Falls, but it is impressive.
There is a small concession stand where soft drinks and beer are available for drinking inside or alfresco. Bicycles, including one that can accommodate four people, are also available for use on the many trails throughout the park. Parking in the designated lots is at a premium so be prepared to park your car on the street and walk to the falls.
Two other parks also merit mention. These are Lake Harriet and Lake Calhoun, which are located about five minutes apart near the Uptown section of the city. Both have walking and biking trails around the lake, each of which is around 3 miles long. They have small beaches where limited swimming is permitted. One of the benefits of walking around Calhoun is the presence of a small restaurant called the Tin Fish. It offers mainly fish dishes (no surprise there) including fish tacos and walleye sandwiches. On the weekends, the lines can be quite long, so be prepared to wait. It is definitely worth the wait.
For more information on these and other parks in the Minneapolis area, visit
www.minneapolisparks.org
