Our annual Fourth of July spot! They normally do fireworks July 3rd so it's nice to come here…read morebefore everyone is busy on the fourth. The area is very nice. We get a nice spot by the lake to set up chairs. Bring bug spray because it can get wild with the mosquitos! There's tons of food trucks and booths but the lines were looooong. There's a waterfall that's nice to take pictures at. Parking can be tricky and traffic can be crazy. Stop by for a walk around the lake if you find yourself in the area.

Had some extra time to spare before an event nearby and it was reasonably nice outside (aka,…read moreforties in March lol), so I decided to take a hike around the lake. You won't manage to escape road noise really because it's surrounded on three sides by fairly busy roadways, but still better than nothing! It's not a long walk around, just about forty-five minutes worth at a leisurely pace. The park actually features two paved trails that run parallel to one another, with the outer ring for bicyclists and other wheeled conveyance usage, and on-foot folk on the inner ring. Dogs do need to be on leash. Occasional benches around the lake, and a cute man-made waterfall. There are a couple of gazebos near the parking lot for if you'd like to have a picnic. The bandshell structure was particularly impressive and neat. There are bathrooms built into the back of it, which were even open during off season, so that was highly appreciated. Water fountain was currently turned off though, unsurprisingly. Parking lot seemed a bit small, but perhaps most folks who visit are from the surrounding office buildings on their lunch break.

Lake of the Isles is a lake in Minneapolis, it's connected to Cedar Lake and Bde Maka Ska. It's…read morepart of the Chain of Lakes. It's a park area. There's a walk area, and around the lake there are fancy homes.

This is my favorite lake in the twin cities, especially during the fall when the leaves are at peak…read moreintensity of fall colors! I especially love paddle boarding here because it's usually a short walk from street parking to the lake. The views are spectacular and the wildlife is fun to watch. The walking paths around the lake are always well maintained and it's about a 3 mile loop around, with great views the entire time.

An extremely popular spot for group activities. It's not unusual to various nature curious groups…read moreand school and preschool students exploring the exhibits. There is a large fire pit in a meeting area near the headquarters. Hit the trails and take a gander at the map provided to prepare for how long of a hike you want. All the trails loop around and come back but you may end up out longer than anticipated as the only problem there are few trail markers along the way, not like the state park system. The park system is connected and you could cross into another territory. Look for the various ponds and lakes nestled in valleys and thickly wooded areas. Trails are always in good shape and there are steep hills. There is no charge to enter the park and plenty of parking.

The Richardson Nature Center is a part of the greater Hyland Lake Park Reserve, situated at the…read morenorth end. It includes a large indoor community space building, an outdoor nature playspace for kids, as well as a mile or so double-loop around three lakes. The southern loop goes through wooded area, whereas the northern loop will take you through the prairie. Both are gorgeous in their own right/ways. Along the loops you will find benches to take a breather, as well as occasional docks to admire aquatic life. These trails also connect with longer trails that continue further into Hyland, if you're looking for a longer adventure. Inside the nature center building are interactive exhibits for youngsters, activity rooms, pamphlets on monthly events that utilize said rooms, and even a small gift shop with toys/books for kids and snacks. I bought a cute little plush fox to accompany on my hike and support the park. Additional facilities include restrooms, water fountain/water bottle refill station, trash/recycling, and picnic tables if you care to relax and have lunch (which I also did). The hours of operation for the nature center are 9am-5pm Mon through Sat and noon to five on Sun. The restrooms are open the same hours the park is, which is 5am-10pm. The natural play area seemed quite popular while I was visiting on a Thursday late morning; lots of families had brought their small children to run, jump, and climb around. Even so, you likely won't ever have to worry about finding a place to park, as the lot (which is free) boasts approximately 120 spots. I really enjoyed my time here. The place is well cared for and a resource for the community to connect with nature.

We had a great time walking thru the historic mill district and over the Mississippi River. It's a…read morenice place to get exercise as well. The views of the city especially at night will last a lifetime

Flour Power…read more Located alongside the Mississippi River across the riverbank from Downtown Minneapolis is a 1.4 acre park that celebrates water power and the historic flour mills. It is the Water Power Park. Situated on Father Hennepin Island, this is a gift from Xcel Energy, the primary energy company in the Twin Cities. As part of a deal to renew Xcel Energy as the primary source they were mandated to create a park overlooking Upper St. Anthony Falls. The upshot is that the tallest flora are powerlines that tower above the park and a transistor station at the Gateway to the park at Main Street. Although I relished spending time in the home of the current largest mall in America (Mall of America), I was truly at home alongside the Mississippi River. This is my latest review sharing the parks and trails alongside the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. With that said, when I explored Water Power Park, it was one of a series of parks and trails alongside the Mississippi from the Plymouth Avenue Bridge at the north to the Old Stone Bridge at the south. Just like a member in a legendary band, Water Power Park would be part of a whole that would make the Mississippi River Band awesome. It was our last day in Minneapolis that my brother and I explored Water Power Park. We had just walked through Boom Island to the north and were bound for the Old Stone Bridge. Ideally this park goes great with the far more natural Hennipen Bluffs Park at the south. The reason why I did not explore this park earlier in the vacation when I did Hennipen Bluffs Park was that it gave a poor first impression. From Main Street the transformer station dominates the entrance. This is the main sight walking north. Walking south is a different story. From northbound Main Street, we turned onto a trail that reminds me of a dock. The beginning is a slight downhill elevation with ramps. On our left was the Xcel Energy transformer station that brought to life the power lines marching alongside and over the Mississippi River. It was at the end of the primary trail that overlooks the source of the power. If I was interested in the vast information explaining Upper St. Anthony Falls role in providing power there were several kiosks alongside the trail. In all honesty I'd leave the teaching to Google later on. I was interested in taking pictures. Making my way through a flat topography where interspersed trees shared the land with powerlines poles, I walked what was now an smooth unpaved trail to the edge of the Mississippi River. It was at the Mississippi River where I took in spectacular view of the Upper St. Anthony Falls under the Third Avenue Bridge. This is the closest spot to the Upper St. Anthony Falls which is the only water falls on the Mississippi River. There were two prime spots to capture the falls. They were here at the conclusion of the main trail and where the intersection of the main and spur trail. The intersection view provides a close up perpendicular view of one of the falls. It was a neat sight watching a close up water fall at a perpendicular angle. Especially when it is a view of the Mississippi River with the historic flour and lumber mills with the Minneapolis skyline. Heading back towards Main Street I enjoyed a nice vista of grass reaching towards the Historic Pillsbury "A" Mill rising above the transformer station. Instead of seeing the Pillsbury Doughboy, we'd take a short trip on the short dead-end spur trail. This leads to a view of Hennipen Bluffs Park and the Stone Arch Bridge. The later serves as a very popular St. Anthony Falls overlook. There you have it. This review is a representation of first hand experience in a park showcasing water power and flour mills. Hopefully this review has provided knowledge on the Water Power Park. Because when it comes to power, "Knowledge is power."

A beautiful spot for walking with many dining and shopping locations located off the path. There…read moreare paddle boats and mini golf in the summer and ice skating in the winter.many options for parking attached

The Summer owes us nothing!…read more Centennial Lake's showcases the beauty MN has to offer in the Summertime. It has a beautiful lake surrounding by greenery, food and shopping outlet including Pins, Yogurt shops, RH rooftop up the street, and fun for the family. You can mini-golf or rent a swan boat for $30 for 45 minutes or swing on their beautiful lakes or get some work done in the Gazebo seating area. This is a popular destination for Farmer's market, taking photos, and even weddings. Never a dull time here, its so peaceful and relaxing. I've even had a few dates here (wink wink).

Great shorter hike with some steep slick parts but we had a heavy rain last night and still very…read moredoable. One thing I'd mention that I hadn't read much about was that the poison ivy was pervasive, jutting into the path even in areas that we wouldn't have considered the paths to be overgrown. We opted to stay on the paved path until we got to the most direct path down to the falls. I used the map and route marked on Daytripper28.com's website. Enjoy!

Pretty cool place! I'm not the kind of person to say 'the air was pregnant with humidity' often,…read morebut that is the impression I got here. Lots of dragonflies dancing about here, some nice views of the Mississippi as well.

Very, very late review of maybe my favorite of the chain of lakes…read more Even though it's connected to much busier lakes it seems more secluded and quieter than the others. It does have a smattering of large homes but much of the shoreline appears almost uninhabited despite being surrounded by the city. Walking along the lake shore can be a relaxing way to pass some time. Even driving by seems calm and peaceful if you're not in a rush. A bonus is my book is that the Lake is next to the Cedar Lake bicycle trail which skirts the North shore.

The lake offers ample shore fishing opportunities…read more Trail Pedestrian is almost 2.miles and the bike is around the same I believe You can grill, do cross country skiing when it's winter I heard. You need to paid for parking lot. Is connected to Lake of the Isles. I post a video of the lake.

This is a huge park that has a little of everything. This park has a fine mix of modern amenities…read moreand rustic appeal. It is a little piece of calm just outside the busy city. It spans 34 acres and is named after Charles Loring, an American businessman, miller and publicist who was the first Minneapolis Park Board and considered the "Father of the Park System" in Minneapolis. The park has an astounding flower garden. It was very pretty. You will also find a very nice lake/wetland here. It has seating and is very soothing. The lake is home to many animals. Fishing is welcome at the lake. They even have a fishing pier. The park has a full basketball court and a half-court basketball court that are in great shape. The park's horseshoe pits could use some TLC, though. The park is home to about 10 pits. If you are a pickleball player, then the park has a couple of nice courts to play on. Other park amenities include tennis courts, shuffleboard, and two playground areas on wood-chip beds. One area is fenced in and is for smaller children. This area has a bank of swings, a saucer swing, slides, a modern merry-go-round, a bebble bridge, and a jungle gym. The other playground area, for older kids, has a climbing net, balance beam, slides, pebble bridge, and rock climbing wall. This area is not fenced in. I have seen a lot of parks, and this is a nice one. They host events such as movie screenings, ice skating, and lunchtime concerts. You can easily spend half a day here. I really enjoyed my time here and am sure that you will too.

I love a beautiful park in the middle of the city! Loring Park is a tranquil oasis in the middle of…read morethe hustle and bustle of Minneapolis. Lots of beautiful flower beds in the Garden of the Seasons. Great place for a stroll or picnic. Lots of benches to stop and take a rest and enjoy nature. Spring is my favorite time to visit because I love to see the tulips!