By Claire Noack

We love our parks here in the Twin Cities, and with more than 67 of them around the state, the opportunities to see natural beauty and participate in outdoor recreation are endless. From kayaking, canoeing and biking to sledding and ice skating, we utilize our parks and lakes to get the most out of every season.

For locals and visitors who don’t have recreation equipment on hand, Wheel Fun Rentals offers select bike and water vehicles at six parks around the Twin Cities. And with included safety gear, including helmets, bike locks, baskets, paddles and life jackets, you’ll have everything you need to keep the fun going. Stop by the Wheel Fun Rentals stands at these parks and pay an hourly fee (price varies per item) for your preferred mode of exploration.

Lake Calhoun

This popular lake in Uptown Minneapolis offers the largest selection of Wheel Fun Rentals recreation equipment in the area. Peddle around the lake with cruiser, mountain, tandem and kids bikes, or take to the water with pedal boats, double pedal boats, kayaks, double kayaks, stand up paddleboards and canoes. Make a pit stop at The Tin Fish on the shore of Lake Calhoun to grab some fresh, fish tacos or crab cakes before heading back out into the summer sun.

Lake Como

A free zoo and conservatory isn’t all this St. Paul park has to offer. An expansive park and lake offer the perfect place for family-friendly recreation. Race between the numerous gardens scattered throughout the park on a Wheel Fun Rentals surrey or double surrey, or head down to the water with a pedal boat, double pedal boat, kayak, double kayak, canoe or stand up paddleboard. Lake Como even offers Duffy boat excursions, where up to six people can sit back and relax on a guided lake cruise.

Lake Harriet

At Lake Calhoun’s sister lake, Lake Harriet, visitors can swim, bike, sail, relax in hammocks and much more. Wheel Fun Rentals offers pedal boats, double pedal boats, kayaks, double kayaks, canoes, stand up paddleboards, cruiser bikes, mountain bikes and tandem bikes for lasting family entertainment. Walk through the Lyndale Rose Garden or Japanese Peace Garden, or listen to live music during the summer months at the Lake Harriet bandshell. A large playground and snacks from Bread & Pickle keep kids playing all day long.

Lake Nokomis

Southeast from the Chain of Lakes lies the serene Lake Nokomis. Although not as well known, its wide array of amenities and sandy beaches make Lake Nokomis one of the hidden gems of the Twin Cities. Rent out a variety of unique rides, including surreys, double surreys, deuce coupes, choppers and quad sports, or paddle around the lake in pedal boats, double pedal boats, kayaks, double kayaks, canoes and stand up paddleboards. Getting hungry from all the exercise? Sandcastle Minneapolis serves up American eats and ice cream shore-side.

Minnehaha Falls

The crown jewel of Minneapolis parks resides at Minnehaha Falls. Sandstone bluffs give way to the iconic 53-foot waterfall. Take a hike to see where the creek meets the Mighty Mississippi, or ride around the sizable park and take in picturesque river views on one of the Wheel Fun Rentals bikes. This location offers surreys, double surreys, choppers and quad sports. Listen to live entertainment in the park while chowing down on seasonal dishes from Sea Salt Eatery.

Veteran’s Park

In the southern suburb of Richfield, Veteran’s Park offers fun for the whole family. Between the ice arena, outdoor pool and 18-hole mini-golf course, you’ll want to come back again and again. Pick up treats, including grilled cheese sandwiches and malts, at Malt-T-Melt and take Wheel Fun Rentals surrey or double surrey out for a spin around the park.

By Claire Noack

Perhaps best known for hosting the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships each year, Lake Nokomis Park also has a wide array of offerings during the warmer months. Referred to by locals as the “unknown Calhoun,” this lake draws smaller crowds than its popular sister, but has all of the fun and amenities you could want.

Lake Nokomis Water Activities

Lake Nokomis is one of three sailing lakes (along with Lake Harriet and Lake Calhoun) in the Minneapolis park system. Water sport enthusiasts can rent canoes, kayaks, boats and paddle boards at Wheel Fun Rentals. For those looking for a bit more adventure, nearby community gym Paddlesculpt offers stand up paddle board (SUP) yoga classes on the lake.

Both the park’s main beach and the smaller 50th Street beach tout sandy shores and swimming areas with select lifeguard hours throughout the summer. Fishing piers are located on the north side of the lake at East Minnehaha Parkway and Lake Nokomis Parkway, and on the southeast side of lake at East Lake Nokomis Parkway between East 54th and 55th Streets. There’s also a canoe and boat launch area south of the main beach on the west side.

Lake Nokomis Park Recreation

After a long day on the lake, visitors can also take advantage of the park’s many amenities on land. The perfect place for a family picnic, Lake Nokomis Park has plenty of green space to set up a blanket in the shade and throw some grub on the coal grills around the park. Separate biking, walking and rollerblading paths make for a nice (and safe) stroll around the lake. A playground and restroom facilities also ensure that kids will have fun playing at the park all day long.

The 4-acre Lake Nokomis Naturescape Garden is home to many native flowers and plants. The garden is kept up by volunteers from the community and is a certified monarch butterfly waystation. The park hosts the annual Minneapolis Monarch Festival here every September.

The park is a sports lovers’ haven with a variety of spaces designated to specific games. Grab your racket or your soccer ball and head to Lake Nokomis’ sports areas that are open to the public, including baseball, football, soccer and softball fields, tennis court and pickleball court, as well as a pond hockey rink during the winter.

 Neighborhood Eats

Combining good food, community and sustainability, Sandcastle serves up grub right on the shore of Lake Nokomis. Their dog friendly patio makes a great place to enjoy your American eats, beer and wine, and ice cream treats.

There are also several neighborhood joints within walking distance of the park that feature some local favorites. In the northwest corner of the lake, you’ll find Italian fare at two restaurants. Italian Eatery dishes up modern Italian food and pergola bar with a seasonal patio. Cabone’s Pizza & Pub is a local pizza chain with tons of pizza toppings.

On the south side of the lake, Fat Lorenzo’s offers casual Italian eats, including pizza, pasta, hoagies and gelato, and features colorful murals as decor. A short walk away from Lake Nokomis’ southern shore, there’s also 5-8 Club, home to the original cheese-stuffed Juicy Lucy burger, along with pub staples like cheese curds and fried pickles.

If you get to the park early and are looking for some hot food and coffee to wake you up, head to Hot Plate on the west side of the lake for a family-friendly breakfast spot. On the east side, stop by Nokomis Beach Coffee for your morning cup-o-joe, or check out Mel-O-Glaze Bakery for donuts and other sweet treats.

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

A short drive east of St. Paul takes you to the St. Croix River, the waterway that runs along the border between Minnesota and Wisconsin. The surrounding St. Croix Valley is a beautiful expanse of craggy bluffs and forest trees.

The Mighty Mississippi flows through the Twin Cities and provides recreational fun for all skill levels. Whether you hit the water with a guide or prefer taking on the current alone, the steady flow of the Mississippi River is a paddle junkie’s dream come true.

The Chain of Lakes is nestled in Uptown with downtown Minneapolis’ skyline as a backdrop. Explore the network of lakes that comprises Cedar Lake, Lake of the Isles, Lakes Calhoun and Harriet from a kayak, canoe or stand up paddleboard.

Wheel Fun Rentals is your one-stop shop for kayaks, paddleboats, canoes and stand up paddleboards. They have two locations, one on the shores of Lake Calhoun and one on the shores of Lake Harriet, and both offer competitive rental pricing by the hour. Have fun exploring the four bodies of water connected by channels in the Chain of Lakes