He Said: One of our favorite nearby parks. The playground is…read morewell-shaded, fenced-in (easier to watch kids), there are play structures for most kid ages, and has a nearby park and library. Pros: - All- around great playground option, in the metro area Cons: - There is some litter, but that is more the fault of the people coming to the playground, not the playground itself.

I had a fun time here. There were lot of different benches to sit on…read more It was over 90 degrees but the trees provided a nice shade. One of the dads that was there with his daughter kept staring at me. When I made it obvious that I wasn't interested in him, his body language became aggressive. There was also a couple rude women there. I wouldn't suggest going here alone. A park is for serenity but a lot of people there are miserable, unfortunately.

Come out and visit the Trail Head at Theodore Wirth!…read more It has a fantastic community space and outdoor recreation center. Totally makes winter in Minnesota even better. I'm new to discovering The Trailhead at Theodore Wirth Regional Park, but believe me when I say I'll be back many more time. In the winter, they offer cross-country skiing and lessons. (You can rent a full set of gear for about $30- no need to have your own to experience skiing! They also have à la carte options for cheaper if you only need poles or boots, etc.) Besides skiing, outdoor winter activities also include snow tubing, snowboarding, snowshoeing.... You name it. (I haven't been in fall or summer yet, but I also hear great things about their mountain biking and trail running options.) Inside The Trailhead, there's food and drink concessions, ample seating, lockers, bathrooms, and even rooms for rent. The last time I was there, a family was hosting a young child's birthday party in the multi-purpose room. Altogether, there is an amazing assortment of services here to come and check out. Can't wait for next ski season!

HIDDEN GEM IN THE CITY…read more I've lived on this parkway for 3 years now and I don't think I've shut up about how amazing Theo Wirth is since! The City Chain of Lakes get all the hype, but you know what's even closer to downtown, in the heart of the city, with: a lake xc ski trails fat bike / mountain bike trails endless walking paths beach with volleyball courts public golf course and so much more?! Yeah, that's right - my neighborhood park! You can do about every outdoor activity you can think of here. Plus, the Trailhead is the main hub for all of it, with a restaurant, tons of indoor seating, gear rentals year-round, and an amazing nature space in the heart of the city. This is the perfect park to embrace any season in Minne!

This lovely park has extensive walking/jogging trails through the lake, marsh and woodlands, plus…read morehigh quality children's play areas, a full water park ( closed for the winter in late August), tennis and pickleball, and fishing docks. I enjoyed an early morning walk along the lake front and marshland with nice late summer flowers and great bird watching.

It was a cute park, more run down than the other parks we visited in the area. It does have a lot…read moreto do and is safe for toddlers and bigger kids!

I'm going to have to return to this park again when I have a bit more time to explore. I stopped by…read morefor a quick hike and was a bit stymied when my GPS took me an unnecessary two miles over to the west entrance (past the unrelated marina) when I'd been intending to use the east one. The west entrance has a good-sized free parking lot nearby the gazebo. This structure has picnic tables, fire pit, water fountain, and restrooms (however, the latter two are seasonal... in November the fountain was shut off and the restrooms were locked, which kind of sucked for me who was in need of both... thus why I made my stay somewhat short). The trails for the most part are all paved, unless you take the unofficial ones beaten down along the riverway (which seem to be most utilized by fishers from what I could glean). So that's great for bicyclists or people pushing baby strollers or rollerbladers, but wasn't exactly the vibe I was looking for. Depends on what your desires are recreationally. There was one lake area under restoration that was therefore inaccessible for now; always nice to see when resources are being invested to keep our parks nice. Lots of trees, plenty of shade, even when most of the trees have lost their leaves in preparation for winter. I think I'll come back when some snow has fallen, because I'm sure it would probably be quite gorgeous.

Love this park! Beautiful sand trails by the river and also paved trails. Highly recommend checking…read moreit out. There are many places to park along the road, but I love the parking lot by the picnic shelter, too!

A Gem: Fort Snelling State Park…read more Rating: I visited Fort Snelling State Park on Memorial Day and I was blown away. Not what you'd expect from the name I know, but this is no ordinary park - it's better. From the moment I walked in I was struck by the natural beauty of the park. If you love the outdoors this is the place for you with plenty of hiking and exploring to be had. The staff do a great job of keeping the park clean and up to date. One of the highlights of my visit was the bike trail. I brought my bike and it was a great decision. The trail is well maintained and has great views of the surrounding area. Plus the park is close to several other trails so it's a great place to start a longer ride. I'm already planning on coming back to use this park as my starting point for future bike adventures. Overall I highly recommend Fort Snelling State Park to anyone looking for a beautiful outdoor experience. Whether you're a seasoned hiker, casual biker or just someone who loves the great outdoors this park has something for everyone. From the natural beauty to the location and trails Fort Snelling State Park is a gem that needs to be found.

Nice park near the cities! I stopped in after some rain so it was a little wet and muddy out as…read moremany of the paths are dirt, which is nice when it's dry. There are a lot of different places to explore, including the historic fort, at different experience levels so it's a great spot for families of all abilities. Their visitor center is also nice and informative!

Nice little park & parking lot, north of the Hanover City Hall. 4.99 acres. It offers: a…read moresheltered picnic area, outdoor grills, horseshoe pits, sand volleyball court, ball fields, playground with a large sand filled area, and an "L" shaped paved parking lot. The shelter can be rented out. We parked here for a bicycle ride to Lake Bebee, since it is so close to the bike trails.

First stroll of the season! Overall a good couple mile trail system in the heart of Eden prairie…read more Reminds me a lot of Elm Creek Park in Maple grove with the park and beach overlooking the lake. The trails are nicely paved as well as some gravel and dirt trails if you get deeper into the wooded areas. Concessions, trail maps nice playground for the kids and a nice size beach for the area it's in. Definitely want to come back when the leaves start returning.

A city park with a load of amenities and plenty of free parking…read more Just blocks from shopping and offices is a quiet well kept park. Boat launch, beach with large umbrellas where I saw at least 10 would be artists practicing their hobby. Swimmers and beach loungers. There is a walking trail and an off-leash dog park. Boat and canoe rentals are available as well. Even Disc Golf. Picnic tables and of course the all important concession stand which opens at 11:00 a.m. daily! The hiking trail is listed as 1.5 miles and then merges with a state trail.

This is a very nice green spot-ahem, I mean park in Northern Ramsey County. It is 9.59 acres of…read morepark activities: Playground, benches, grills, picnic pavilion, picnic tables, volleyball court & ice rink (weather dependent), and a nice paved trail encircling the park. Currently there are lacrosse & soccer fields set up. There is also a portable restroom in the park (right by the north parking lot). There are two off-street parking lots. The old-fashioned long slide at the back of the playground is fun for the kids!