What a lovely hidden gem off of Mississippi River Blvd. We…read morefollowed the path up and around the waterfall. We hiked out near the Summit Monument where we hung out looking over the river. Nice place to check out for a short hike.

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!

Hennepin Bluffs Park in Minneapolis is on the east bank of the Mississippi River, and is the north…read moreentry point to the Stone Arch bridge, letting one walk across to downtown. It is named after Father Louis Hennepin, who was the first to document the nearby Falls in 1680, and named it St Anthony (after his patron saint). I visited it on a snow covered day in March, entering it once I crossed the bridge from downtown. One can supposedly walk down to the river from here, probably a lot more accessible during non-snow season. Will give it a try the next time I visit.

Father Hennepin Bluffs Park and Lower Trail is so beautiful! With gorgeous views of the…read moreMississippi River, Minneapolis skyline, Stone Arch Bridge and the Historic Pillsbury Factory area. We saw a few photographers doing senior photo shoots here - a great area for that. We loved the Lower Trails with the gorgeous footbridges. There are many stairs, uneven pavement and some rocky terrain so it is not suitable for people with mobility problems.

White Sand Beach is a true hidden gem of a beach in the cities, especially for those who like to…read moresit back and take in the beauty of the Mississippi River that flows by the beach + nice hiking/walking trail before you find yourself at the beach and enjoying the spectacular views and soft natural sandstone sand! Bear in mind there is quite a few old firewood chips scattered all over the beach. A little annoying how they are scattered everywhere, but luckily it's not a huge issue, but just don't be surprised or disappointed when go. Seems like it's a popular spot for locals to host intimate bonfires, which I love this spot for a fun summer night bonfire with friends. Just make sure to "Leave No Trace" practice by cleaning up all bonfires and throwing away left over trash. Love that there's a few trash bins down by the beach! Overall great place to check out!!

Wow! Mother Nature was showing off here today! We "hiked" for about 1.5 miles. It was an easy…read morewalk with not much elevation changes, but the trail is not paved, and covered with leaves and hay, so it could be slippery after a good rain. The trails are well marked and there was even a volunteer at the entrance telling us all about the flowers and birds we could expect to see during our visit. It was lovely and I'm already planning to bring my family back here soon.

Nature therapy at its finest! I felt so peaceful amongst all the beautiful greenery and with the…read moresounds of birds.

This is such a beautiful park plenty of great spots to relax and reflect there's great sandwich…read moreoptions and seafood at the sea salt eatery and ice cream and bike rentals

A great location for a close waterfall. The park has a lot of explore and fun activities for…read morefamilies. Mostly paid parking, has picnic areas, and a playground

This is a beautiful park with a great view of the city. We came for the Brew Review and couldn't…read morehave asked for a better day. It was sunny and 70. S'mores were being made in the small pavilion fire places. The parking lot was off limits for this event, otherwise they have a decent parking lot. There were plenty of biffys. I didn't actually see a restroom at this park so I'm not sure if they have restrooms outside of events.

Great park. Nice and spacious. Historic area next to the Mississippi River. I love looking at the…read morepublic art and taking the walking bridge near De La Salle and to the Hennepin Ave bridge. Fun place to hangout and have parties

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.

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!