Say what you want about Minnesota seasons, but the changes make for the most beautiful scenery. This is especially apparent during the fall months when Mother Nature changes her wardrobe from forest green to a palette of blazing golds, oranges and reds. Here’s a list of our favorite “runways” in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Image by Kevin T. Houle/flickr

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

If Mother Nature had its own Mona Lisa, Sistine Chapel ceiling or Starry Night canvas in the Twin Cities, the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum would be it. The arboretum’s green spaces spread out for more than 1,200 acres, and their gardens, tree collections, prairies, woods and trails are sprouting with more than 5,000 plant species and varieties. No frills here, just natural beauty at its best.

Image by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources/flickr

St. Croix River Valley

A short 20 mile drive from downtown St. Paul will bring you to one of the state’s most prized towns and locations—Stillwater in the St. Croix River Valley. The charming city on the banks of the St. Croix River has been voted one of America’s Most Picturesque Small Towns by USA Today Travel and one of America’s Best Towns for Fall Colors by Travel & Leisure Magazine. Traverse the trails by the river lined with towering rocky facades or hop aboard a public cruise from St. Croix Boat & Packet Co. for some wining, dining and sightseeing (just pretend that rhymes better than it does).

Image by USFWSmidwest/flickr

Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge

This slice of natural heaven south of Bloomington blankets 14,000 acres and stretches for nearly 70 miles along the Minnesota River. The Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge‘s protected land provides a critical and safe habitat for migratory waterfowl, fish and other threatened wildlife, including coyotes, bald eagles and trout. If you are looking to get lost in the splendor and beauty of the outdoors in the heart of the city, look no further.

Image by Corey Anderson/flickr

Minnehaha Regional Park

How do you make a lush display of fall colors even better? By tossing in a 53-foot waterfall that crashes over limestone bluffs. The accompanying trail and creek that winds their way through a dense forest before reaching the Mississippi River don’t hurt, either. Check out the explosion of color at Minnehaha Regional Park, and then head over to Sea Salt Eatery for some of the best seafood around and Sebastian Joe’s ice cream.

Image by NatureNerd/flickr

Fort Snelling State Park

Like the 64 count box of Crayola Crayons from your elementary school days, Fort Snelling State Park is overflowing with color. One of the state’s top 10 tourist attractions, the park sees an average of more than 400,000 visitors every year, and its 18 miles of hiking trails, 5 miles of biking trails and canoe rental options offer a myriad of ways to get out and see the fall foliage.

By Lianna Matt

In her 23 years as a park naturalist, Kristine Hiller has been at Minnesota’s Jay Cooke State Park for 17 of them. As the state’s seventh largest park, more than 300,000 people visit it year-round with almost 35,000 making overnight camping trips. With the park’s location about 23 miles southwest of Duluth, it’s the perfect highlight for a weekend trip out of the cities or even a Duluth day trip.

If you have your doubts about the two hour drive up, the first impression you get of Jay Cooke will make them go away. Depending on your route, you’ll catch alluring glimpses of the St. Louis River from the road, but when you cross the swinging bridge near the entrance of the park, well … The view will take your breath away.

“You know, the first time I drove in—and I think to a lot of our first time visitors—it’s an unexpected place,” Hiller says. “The river, because of the rapids and the slanted rocks that look so rugged. … People don’t expect to see something like that in Minnesota. There is also lots of terrain, and we think of Minnesota as being a flat state.”

As the St. Louis swirls over hidden and unhidden rocks, its liquid glass surface wrinkles and flows in between a valley of flat, slanted slate and greywacke rocks that are all tilted toward the sky. While the rocks are not technically on the trail, when you’re near the swinging bridge, you’ll always find a few hikers making their way carefully among the flatter rocks to get closer to the water.

Here are some of Hiller’s insider tips from almost two decades at the 8,938-acre state park:

For Hiking:

“Everybody comes to the swinging bridge; that is our landmark feature,” says Hiller. “Either way that you go from the bridge—you can be on the north side or the south side across the river—and there’s at least 25 miles of trails to choose from on either side.”

For an easier trail, Hiller recommends the 1.8 miles along the CCC Trail. For about half of the hike, you follow the river and catch beautiful glimpses of it through the park’s foliage, and the rest of the path is underneath the forest canopy.

The Carlton Trail Trip is a favorite of visitors who want more of an intermediate to advanced hike. Beautiful views of the river, hills, roots, the occasional mud puddle and even some places where you may need to cling to a rock or to make this trail a true adventure through the park. The 5-mile trail branches out so hikers can take easier trails through a pioneer cemetery and shaded forest on the return route.

Horseback riding and mountain biking are also common ways to explore the park, and in the the winter, people often bring out the cross country skis, snow shoes and fat bikes.

For Wildlife:

Jay Cooke State Park has more than 45 animal species wandering around, including black bears, timber wolves and coyotes. If you’re walking the more populated trails in the summer, you probably won’t see any of these magnificent creatures, but you will see some adorable red squirrels and chipmunks. In general, diurnal animals tend to be more active in the morning or in the early evening when it’s cool out to avoid the summer heat.

Birding is best done in May through the first week of July. Hiller usually sends people up the paved Forbray Trail that’s connected to the main parking lot; there, she can pick out 25-30 different bird species—a lot of warblers, apparently—from just that one spot.

While some animals hibernate in the winter, there is still plenty of activity on the parkland, even if the blanket of snow muffles it. You’re more likely to run into foxes or bobcats on the trail, says Hiller, because they, like you, want the path of least resistance, and the flat, groomed paths seem easier than traipsing through the snow. You can also see the otters.

In the summer, otters have full run of the river, slipping in and out of it as they please. When the winter hits, though, parts of the river freezes up, creating specific pockets of rushing open water that limits the otters’ normal freedom. “A lot of time just before the bridge, we’ll see their tracks and we’ll see them sliding down the rocks,” Hiller says.

For Wildflowers:

Springtime is the best for wildflowers, and Hiller would send you straight to the West Ridge Trail. After an initial hill, the 1.8-mile trail is easy walking, and in the spring, naturalists frequently lead guided wildflower walks along it. Wildflowers are one of Hiller’s favorite parts about nature, and she loves the variety that Jay Cooke has. Although she can’t single out just one species, she does love spotting the first hepatica for the season—seeing the small plant poke its lobed leaves and miniature lavender, pink and white flowers always means that winter is ending.

For New Experiences:

Jay Cooke State Park’s naturalists offer programming year round for all ages and groups. Simply visit their online calendar for the most up to date information on events like geocaching how-to’s, guided walks, fishing excursions and interactive teachings about animals, astronomy and more. They’re great ways to learn more about the outdoors, and with the naturalists’ knowledge, you’ll find new things to discover at Jay Cooke each and every time.

To be fair to Mother Nature, even without the naturalists’ healthy list of events, repeat visitors always love going to Jay Cooke. The park is eternally changing and showing new parts of itself, and this fall people will be able to see all of it once again.

Since 2012, half of the roads in the park have been more difficult to reach because of flooding damage. In October, the road is opening up again, and Hiller couldn’t be more excited. “It’s what I like about the park—if you visit one side, it looks one way. If you visit the other side, it’s a very different look just because of how big the park is.”

By Lianna Matt

Sometimes it takes the beauty of a place like Nerstrand Big Woods State Park to make you stop and wonder what Minnesota looked like 500 or even 100 years ago. As you hike along, you’re in constant, emerald shade as the trees stretch into dappled canopies above you. Ferns and underbrush cover the ground, only breaking for the gravel-lined hiking path and the creek that leads to a hidden waterfall. Children and adults alike walk on the waterfall’s flat top, looking out to the forest as the water flows smoothly across the stone into a gentle curtain and down to a basin where more families play.

Nerstrand State Park is located just under an hour south of Minneapolis and St. Paul, the perfect distance for a day trip or a weekend camping excursion. The park has open picnic and camping grounds, and the nearby city of Northfield can rescue any first-time and forgetful campers.

While less known around the metro than parks such as Minnehaha Regional Park or Taylors Falls, this gem is one of the last remnants of a forest that grew tall amid the oak and savanna prairies. Nestled within the park’s 2,884 acres are more than 200 varieties of wildflowers, including the endangered dwarf trout lily, that bloom in the spring underneath sugar maples, basswood, oak, elm, ironwood, ash, hickory and aspen trees. With such a protected and secluded area, a variety of birds including seven species of woodpeckers, rose-breasted grosbeaks, indigo buntings and meadowlarks can be seen flitting around, and raccoon, fox and deer are some of the forest residents.

The paths are designed in easy-to-plan loops, and a clearly labeled map is at every crossroad, making hiking or biking easily navigable. In the winter, when snow covers up the gravel and weaves in and out of the tree trunks, most of the summer paths are open for snowmobiling and cross country skiing, too.

by Kyle Smelter

They may not be the Great Wall of China, the Colosseum or Machu Picchu, but Minneapolis and St. Paul are great in their own right, so we came up with a list of the Seven Wonders of the Twin Cities. Out of all the exciting and inspiring attractions found throughout the metro, we have narrowed it down to these seven must- see and do’s that set the Twin Cities apart from other top towns across the nation.

Image by Hafiz Issadeen/flickr

Minnehaha Falls

Located just minutes from downtown Minneapolis is one of the Twin Cities most beautiful green spaces—Minnehaha Regional Park. And the centerpiece of it all is the iconic 53-foot waterfall. Each year this majestic tower of water draws more than 850,000 visitors as they watch the water tumble over the limestone bluffs and crash into the stream below. Take in the views from above on the bridge over the falls, or below on walking paths that follow the stream as it twists and turns through a forested area for almost a half-mile before joining the mighty Mississippi River.

Image by Richard Roche/flickr

Skyway System

While a skyway on its own is not really a wonder—just a fancy way of connecting two buildings above street level—an entirely connected downtown with more than nine miles of skyways in Minneapolis is a true marvel to behold. Not to mention, this climate-controlled environment is the world’s largest continuous system of pedestrian bridges in the world, making it one of the more unique Seven Wonders of the Twin Cities. This comes in especially handy during the famous subzero Minnesota winters. Visitors can leave their hotel in the morning, shop and dine at hundreds of boutiques, stores and restaurants, all without ever setting a foot outside.

Image by Jerry Huddleston/flickr

Minnesota State Fair

Although the Minnesota State Fair is not technically a state holiday, it should be. This week-and-a-half long event covers 320 acres and attracts more than 1.8 million people annually (the largest state fair in the U.S. by average daily attendance) during the waning weeks of summer. “The Great Minnesota Get-Together” features nearly 500 foods, including deep-fried candy bars, hot dish and more than 80 foods on-a-stick. Over 900 performances from more than 100 acts can also seen and heard at the numerous venues found throughout the fairgrounds. And this is just scratching the surface. We have not even mentioned the livestock barns, rodeo shows, carnival games and rides, shopping options and contests. It is not surprising that when you type the word “Minnesota” into Google’s search bar, the State Fair is the first recommended option, further cementing it as one of the Seven Wonders of the Twin Cities.

Stone Arch Bridge

Consisting of 23 arches and measuring 2,100 feet long, the granite and limestone Stone Arch Bridge is the only bridge of its kind that stretches over the Mississippi River. What was once a railroad bridge in Minneapolis’ milling heyday has transformed into a hotspot for walking, running and spending time with friends and family during the summer. Every June it plays host to the Stone Arch Bridge Festival, a weekend of art and music featuring more than 250 musicians and artists, and it serves as an extremely popular front row seat for a fireworks spectacular during our nation’s birthday.

Basilica of Saint Mary

You would be hard pressed to find a more beautiful architectural marvel than the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis. The beaux arts-styled wonder began construction in 1907, but did not finish until 1926, the same year Pope Pius Xl named the church the first Basilica in the U.S.—one of only 69 in the country today. An Italian-crafted marble altar and carved shrines of Saint Anne, Saint Joseph, the Apostles are just a few of the iconic features that can be found on the Basilica’s grounds. Every summer hordes of music fans line its steps and rock out to some of the hottest bands at the Basilica Block Party.

Image by Above the Falls Sports

Mississippi River

The longest river in the country begins as a tiny stream small enough to walk across at Itasca State Park in northern Minnesota before carving its way through the heart of the United States and ending at the Gulf of Mexico. Even though it does not play as big of a role as it once did during the Twin Cities’ milling empire, the river that separates the two cities continues to be an important lifeline of the metro for business and recreation alike. Paddle junkie’s can get their fix traversing the steady current either alone or during a guided tour, cruises are offered to those who want to relax and take in the breathtaking panoramic views, and commercial boats continue to make deliveries using the river’s system of locks and dams.

Chain of Lakes/Trail System

It would not be right to talk about the Seven Wonders of the Twin Cities without mentioning their award-winning parks and trails. Ranked No. 1 for city parks in the country by Trust for Land’s annual Parkscore index, the Twin Cities’ sprawling metropolis is covered with 50-plus parks and reserves and 340 miles of trails like a giant green blanket. The proverbial cherry on top is the chain of lakes: Brownie, Cedar, Lake of the Isles, Calhoun and Harriet. Combined, these five lakes and parks give residents and visitors of the metro the up-north-at-the-cabin feel without leaving the city limits.

Honorable Mentions

Mall of America
First Ave
Spoonbridge and Cherry
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

By Tammy Galvin

Before having kids of my own, I never understood the importance of MEA weekend. More officially known as Minnesota Educator Academy—a two-day educational conference for, you guessed it, educators—the event signaled two things: Fall has officially arrived, and perhaps more importantly, K-12 students get their first reprieve of the year from their daily grind.

The timing of MEA is near-perfect…almost as if somewhere along the way school administrators, teachers, parents and students all came together and collectively agreed that this “break” was needed. After all, it is well over a month-plus into the new school year, while simultaneously being about another month away from Thanksgiving break.

As such, many families have built years of traditions around this first long weekend of the school year, which always falls on the third Thursday and Friday of October. To help you figure out your MEA plans, we’ve compiled a few short-lists of “must-dos” whether you are planning a weekend getaway, a stay-cation filled with daytrips, or the best “free” activities in and around the metro. Enjoy!

Top 5 Weekend Getaways

1. North Shore. Yes, Duluth gets busy this weekend and lodging rates can be absurdly, well north, but finding last-minute vacancies are well worth the effort. Try VRBO or even consider a bit further north to Two Harbors where the rates drop quite a bit the further north you head.
2. Lanesboro. None other than the B&B capital of Minnesota.
3. Winona. The drive alone is worth the trek.
4. Banning State Park. Waterfalls, log arches and ice caves. What’s more to say?
5. Waconia. An idylllic lakeside community.

Top 5 Daytrips

1. Taylor’s Falls
2. Stillwater
3. Minnehaha Falls
4. Caponi Art Park
5. St. Croix River Valley

Top 5 Freebies

1. Apple orchards. While admission to most are free, the “extras” like hayrides, baked treats, ciders and mazes usually have token admission rates of a few bucks. The best part about going on MEA weekend is most offer special events and extra MEA hours of admissions. Our favorites include: Aamodt’s Apple Farm (Stillwater), Afton Apple Orchard (Hastings), Applewood Orchard (Lakeville and bonus: Leashed dogs are welcome!), and Apple Jack Orchards (Delano; better-suited for younger tots).
2. Geocaching ANYWHERE and EVERYWHERE (ok this might cost you $9.99 to download the official geocaching app if you don’t have one, but it is worth every single penny and then some. And actually, if you plan ahead, you can register for free on geocache.com and simply enter the GPS coordinates of the caches near you, keeping it truly free. Don’t know what it is? Check out this 75 second video. There are thousands upon thousands of geocaches in and around the Twin Cities. Some favorites include Hyland Lake Park Reserve (there are also several caches through the Three Rivers Park District system), Isaac Walton Trail in Bloomington, and many more. For example, as I sit in my downtown Minneapolis office and do a search for “nearby caches” on my geocaching app, there are 53 caches that I could easily navigate to within 1 mile from my office.
3. Must-See Museums. Choose from always-free Mia, the Weisman Art Museum (although finding free parking could prove impossible) and the Minnehaha Depot at Minnehaha Falls.
4. Walk the Stone Arch Bridge, pack a picnic, blanket and some yard games. Pet-friendly, too, so bring some water for the pups and a staked leash.
5. Bike or walk on one of the award-winning trails. Try a few closer to the city and not in the ‘burbs for a change of pace: Midtown Greenway or West River Parkway, which runs right by the Mill City Ruins, are my faves. If, however, Mother Nature isn’t cooperating spend the day immersed in the Central Library downtown, a truly amazing building with far more than books on hand to keep you and the family busy for hours. If the kids balk at the idea of spending their “break” in a hushed environment, mention the Adaptive Technology Lab, Best Buy Teen Tech Center, Piano room and so much more. Then head out and explore the nine miles of skyway that connect other downtown delights.

Image by Andy Richter