I was in the area the other day and decided to take advantage of the nice spring weather. I wasn't…read moreexpecting a $7 day fee to enter, but I decided to consider it a donation to the parks system, fed it my debit card and got a ticket to put on my dash. There were three parking lots to choose from, but I drove all the way down to the third and last one by the park office and playground. Decided to do the approximately six mile loop on the dirt path trails (also used for skiing when there's snow on the ground). It was nice hiking through the various groupings of pine trees. I could still hear the freeway noise, but it was mostly in the background. The prettiest part was definitely at the beginning beside the lake though (but perhaps in other seasons, like fall, it might be even prettier). Some mild elevation change, nothing too challenging by any means. There was also the option to walk on a paved path with many benches if you do need something less strenuous or you aren't hiking. The playground was really cute with relatively new equipment. Lots of climbing options, slides, and one large swing (very comfy to lean back in and admire the lake). There were picnic tables around along with barbecues and trash/recycling bins. There's a dock for fishing off of, and another (at the second parking lot) for canoe/kayak launching (which I'll have to come back and try when I have some free time this summer). There were two port-a-potties available for when the park office isn't open. The park office has many a toilet, all singletons so non-gendered, which was lovely. They were clean and well-stocked. The park office didn't have much going for it from what I could glean, but there was space in the lobby to sit and relax if desired, as well as a large backroom that seemed like it was probably for classes and such. It wasn't very busy while I was there; likely because the weather was predicting a storm, but I lucked out and it never came the two hours I was there. I came across a couple that had their dogs off leash, which the park rules state you're supposed to keep your dogs leashed... People, man.

A beauty hidden gem in the southeast metro that I would recommend if you are looking for a close to…read morehome walk/bike with some varied terrain. We hiked this the first week of March and we both wish we would have worn spikes or brought poles- if you get off the main trail, there is some really great up and down. I did not have my cross country skis with me but the trails looked amazing and are groomed for both skate and classic! Highly recommend if you need to get outdoors and want some up and down!

Went to Pine Point on a gorgeous 50 degree day in the middle of February! Happy V Day to me! Took…read morethe family on a 2 mile hike through the park. Lots of the trails are still all ice so you have to be cautious otherwise it's a gorgeous park and was definitely quiet today. It's a popular place for horse riding as well as cross country skiing. We were able to walk out onto Lake Louise and see some sand hill cranes too.

Eeeh.... Overhyped. I come here while biking gateway all the time and it's mostly just horse trails.read more

A rather plain looking park. There is a large office which apparently is open all year. There are…read moreplenty of picnic tables protected from rain. Not much for hiking as there are a few trails that are not scenic. The main reason for the bland look is a lack of trees. Here we go again for a regional park. Wide open areas with crew cut grass which just burns in the sun all summer. There is a small patch of prairie grass which they more of, or else plant some trees.

Washington County Regional Park on the St. Croix River with a nice campground and some nice trees…read moreand picnic areas. From the size of the boat parking lot, I would guess that this is a main boat launch. Not a fancy beach, Rocky and a little weedy, but swimming river water felt great.

Tranquil hike with moderate trails. Keep in mind though that the paved path down to the falls is…read moreVERY steep and wasn't very accessible. We went on a busy day and even then, the park never felt over-crowded. Park entry is around $16 and you can get a pass online in advance.

We wanted a spot that offered outdoor fun with a nearby city for lunch, and this park delivered!…read moreIt's huge.... offering hiking, camping, biking, swimming, and even skiing in the winter. There's always something to do no matter the season. Parking is $8, and on busy days you might wait a few minutes, but it's worth it. At the entrance, you'll get a helpful map (also available online) that shows all the trails and recreation options. We parked near the boat launch and took the 1.5-mile loop to the waterfall, a beautiful, family-friendly walk with no complaints from the kids! The waterfall itself is stunning. We kicked off our shoes, dipped our feet in the cool water, and climbed around the rocks above the falls. There are more challenging hikes if you're feeling adventurous, and it's only about 10 minutes to great Hudson riverfront dining afterward. We left smiling and saying, "That was so fun maybe we should get an annual pass!

Afton is a solid resort within a half hour drive of the Twin Cities airport and downtown St Paul…read more Part of Epic for pass holders (Afton was acquired by Vail Resorts in 2012). The teaching staff is excellent, as are the group lesson ratios, especially if you're in the ARC ski-racing program. Big airy bright base lodge with reasonable prices. And no one this close to the metro has this much terrain to choose from. Afton's not Kitzbuhel, but the snow just might be better.

A beautiful area right next to Afton State Park. I am not a skier but this is the third ski area…read moreto review based on looks and amenities without being too generic. A few years ago I was fascinated with the multitude of machines making snow and thought more movie production companies should be using these machines to make a more realistic snow scene. At any rate the chalet is top notch there are scenic slopes and they are constantly updating the site. Urban development is creeping down from the north into Afton so enjoy the ride out here as a respite from cookie cutter developments and another Applebees before the snow hilly countryside is gone.

You can't convince me otherwise that the best part of this park is the zipline near the parking…read morelot. It is just SO FUN, even for adults. This alone is worth stopping by to check out, in my opinion. There's also a Nature Play Area with various features, wood and rock formations for climbing on and playing. Benches and a little library. Gazebo with picnic tables. An observation deck. No toilets or water fountains, unfortunately. During the nicer months there is a port-a-potty, though by November this had been taken away. Beyond all that are a few trails you can take around the lakes nearby. They are picturesque and lovely. You'll see all kinds of trees, and likely some wildlife too! I saw squirrel, deer, and birds on my walk. The trails aren't too long or challenging, though there are some decent elevation changes along the way. The paths are primarily dirt or sandy. A fair number of folks were using it to walk their dogs.

Came here for the first time this morning with my dogs. I wanted a nice trail and new smells for…read morethem. What a great hiking area! Very well maintained. We saw deer, or what I'm sure my dogs thought were weird looking doggies. I'll admit we did get semi lost at one point. Came across a map that I SWORE I had just looked at (Twilight Zone moment) and it turns out I had. Pulled out the GPS on my phone and we had done TWO full circles w/o even knowing it. As we were getting back on track we did hear a deep growl come from the tree area. Like DEEP growl. Had it been night with a full moon and I was in a horror movie, this would be the time I got attacked by a werewolf, therefore I recommend maybe bringing pepper spray along. Luckily it didn't follow us and we made it out alive albeit exhausted and sweaty. I wanted to lay down and have the dogs drag me to the car, but I resisted. I'll definitely come back with pepper spray in hand.

I'm debating whether or not I should say it's worth coming here from the twin cities. It's…read morecertainly pretty, a nice place to get away, but you can find similar lakes and parks closer. If you happen to be north of MSP, then I'd say it's a fine place to visit.

Everything in this area is considered "Rice Creek Park" but I'm reviewing the Rice Creek Chain of…read moreLakes Park Reserve & Campgrounds. There is a staffed Visitors Center with restrooms; the bike trailhead is near this building. There is a bike repair station as well as connecting trails. This is a fee-based park for vehicles: daily permits $5, annual permits $25.

I spent the afternoon in Stillwater, Minnesota. It is a small, scenic town located on the banks of…read morethe St. Croix river. I'm not feeling well, so we didn't do much walking. There were several specialty shops and small cafes. I liked the boat club and took photos of the riverboats. The river was frozen in spots so I wasn't able to take a boat ride. The town was bustling with locals and visitors. I plan to visit again during the summer. If you're even in the Minneapolis area, I highly suggest you visit this town and boat club.

So here is the deal...We rented a nice pontoon boat. We drove the nice pontoon boat down the river…read moreto a sandbar and hung out for an hour. When we tried to start our pontoon boat it was no longer nice. Our boat would not start (the starter had failed). We called the Stillwater boat club and 1hour and 45 minutes later they arrived with a different pontoon boat. Now, I could name the young man who brought the pontoon boat down for us but I don't want to get too personal. I just want to say that we were told, by the fore mentioned young man, that there would be a discount on the fuel and the rental to make up for our time marooned. Here is what we received: An approximate discount on fuel of $10 and a promised $50 discount on the next $490 pontoon rental (gas included). Moral of the story: If you would like to give up 20% of your time on a pontoon and receive a credit for that loss of enjoyment of 10%, go to the Stillwater Boat Club and Rentals. -John C.