Fantastic park right off the lake. Wood structures with plenty of areas for play - even for the…read moreyounger children. A pavilion nearby, plenty of swings. Such a wonderful variety with balance beams and climbing walls. Nooks to hids. Play boat or castle....or dig in the sand and look out at the lake. Just beautiful. The only bad part is the city need to wipe the spider webs off more.

Great spot on the lake to stop and enjoy the view...or play on the playground equipment with the…read morekiddos! No wildcats witnessed on our visit.

Banning State Park was one of our favorite outdoor stops during our Hinckley getaway. The park is…read moreknown for its scenic hiking trails, sandstone cliffs, and the views of the Kettle River, making it a great place to spend a few hours exploring. Our goal was to find the waterfall, but like many first-time visitors, we ended up taking a wrong turn and wandered a little longer than expected. Honestly, it turned into part of the adventure. As we explored, we spotted deer quietly moving, squirrels darting between the trees, and plenty of birds and caterpillars along the way. We discovered quiet trails, beautiful overlooks, and peaceful stretches of the river that we might have missed if we'd gone straight to our destination. The sound of the water, the surrounding rock formations, and the forest scenery made it one of those places where you naturally want to stop and take it all in. If you're visiting Banning State Park for the first time, don't stress if you get a little turned around. Give yourself extra time, wear comfortable shoes, and enjoy the journey.

This is a beautiful state park that offers so many opportunities to commune with nature. Lush…read moretrails, flowers native to shorelines and wet soils, and a waterfall are among some of the many joys here. It is located off I-35 near Sandstone, and 90 miles away from the Twin Cities (about an hour and a half away). It is worth making a day trip to visit. The park stretches along 10 miles of the Kettle River, and has 1.5 miles of churning class IV rapids for those daring kayakers.

I came here to swim in the lake in May 2023. The air temperature was 80 degrees Fahrenheit and the…read morewater was slightly cool but still nice. The water was reasonably clear. Overall it was a great experience!

This was an awesome park! Lots of beautiful, well-maintained trails for hiking. Pretty trees,…read morecreeks, and a really nice lake. It had really nice picnic areas on the beach with BBQ grills, too. Also had some nice primitive camping grounds, too. Also seems very underused...we met almost nobody there!

In my tour of state parks this will be another spot that ranks high on my list. Historic in the…read moresense as it's a good example of how the glacier affected Minnesota topography, as we usually see more examples of the ice age draw back in Wisconsin. There are some quiet scenic campsites and various hiking trails, some open all year, some for horses. The hiking trails are mostly easy with packed down grass and a few rough areas on the hill climbs. From the scenic hills you will see what's left of the Minnesota prairie with wildflowers. The highest elevation is 1352' which in Mn is almost considered a mountain.

For a smaller Minnesota state park, this is a pretty great stop for anyone looking to get out to a…read morepark! While there aren't a million miles of hiking, this park does offer some tremendous lookouts, lots of bird watching, the option to get into the water, and plenty of education on the geography of this place! The rangers were very friendly and we were able to get firewood. Bathrooms were decent and the campsite was splendid. The campsite isn't as secluded or covered as other parks, so be aware that your neighbors will be staring right at ya. Overall, super great park. Easy access to trails and lots to look at and learn. Bring sunglasses and a hat! Not a ton of shade.

This garden is a must-see attraction if you're ever near the St. Cloud area. It looks as if it's…read morestraight out of a fairytale book! There are beautiful fountains, winding walkways, and charming trellises to enjoy - and the best part? It's completely FREE to experience. Munsinger Gardens holds historical significance as one of St. Cloud's most beloved landmarks, with its origins dating back to the 1930s. It has been lovingly maintained to showcase seasonal blooms, peaceful river views, and stunning landscapes that make every visit magical. Whether you're looking for a serene stroll, a romantic photo spot, or just a place to appreciate nature's beauty, this garden delivers!

These gardens are absolutely beautiful! The grounds are so well kept, with many different types of…read moreflowers. There is a cute ice cream shop on-site, and it is right next to the river walk as well. Super close to downtown, access to many restaurants. Lots of street parking which is a quick walk to the location. Great spot to check out with free time!

Along the Ricori Trail/Glacial Lakes State Trail on the Sauk River. Newer splash pad is near the…read moreplayground area. There is an outdoor auditorium-the John & Rose Alexander Memorial Auditorium. Clean, flushable public restrooms (and water fountain) are available. There were fisherman on both of the river today. Wonderful stop and I can't wait to bicycle here!

One of the more medium sized MN State Parks but had some lovely features. We were here to hike and…read morewe did the hiking club trail. Our visit in the fall provided stunning tree color. The little stream that follows part of the path was slow moving and provided a perfect mirror of the colorful foliage. The bridges across the water provided some great photo ops. You can learn a bit about Mr Lindbergh's life as well from the placards that are found near the trail head. Great stop.

A fairly compact park near Little Falls near the start of the Mississippi River. There are some…read morestructures from the WPA era (1930's) and a few hiking paths. There is a large campsite and trials marked for hiking and for winter sports. There is a boat launch, swimming and plenty of picnic options. The trails aren't titled so be sure to pick up a map in the case outside the main office, which has limited hours only from Friday to Sunday. A highlight on the trip is Charles A Lindbergh landing site in a former farm field of his first plane which he bought used in Georgia and flew home to Little Falls.

This is a great spot to begin an adventure in Hutchinson, Mn. You can visit the animal sanctuary…read moreor walk trails, go fishing, or even launch a canoe or kayak. During the winter when the river freezes, people can be seen skating. The park is beautiful year-round!

This review is only regarding the cliff jumping you can do at the park into the water- this review…read moreis not meant to discourage others to go to this beautiful park - just to make people aware of the risks. If you plan to cliff jump - please read!!! I have been to this park many times in my life, and jumped off the high cliff into the water at least half a dozen times. Last Memorial Day, I went with my friends to enjoy the park. I went to the highest cliff jumping spot and I jumped off into the water. I immediately knew something was wrong with my spine when I hit the water as I could barely breathe and my back exploded in pain. As the signs state at the park - you jump at your own risk. It was clear they do not have a protocol for when people get injuries. It took about 10 minutes to get a ranger to come over and help, who did end up calling an ambulance, but they did not offer anything else. They didn't clear the area, and people continued to climb up and jump around me. My friends had to kick me across the whole quarry to get to the shore to get to the ambulance. At the hospital they did an x-ray and a vertebrae in my spine had compressed due to the angle I hit the water and fractured. It was about a 5-month recovery with a back brace full time. If you go for the cliff jumping just be aware that there is a risk jumping into the water, and the risk gets greater the higher you go. All this to say - the park is beautiful and it is still a lovely spot for swimming and hiking. Just know the risks before you go cliff jumping into the water.

Definitely a gem in this little town. The walking trails are pleasant and go for miles. Wear…read morecomfortable shoes. There's a quarry with cliffs to dive from. Parking fee's vary $5 Sep-May and $10 during the summer.