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Mother’s Day 2018

Lianna Matt — Fri, 04 May 2018 21:01:45 +0000

Mother’s Day 2018

Photo by Nina Hagen

Like many holidays in the calendar year, Mother’s Day can be over-commercialized. But does it really hurt to get a little reminder to celebrate one of the most important bonds in life? Blood related or otherwise, mothers can make such a difference in everyone’s life, so make some time to show them just how much you love them with these events around the Twin Cities.

Woman Power

This trio of events is all about mom and woman power. Listen To Your Mother (May 10) reflects on the trials and treasures of motherhood with live, onstage readings. Minneapolis’ takes place in the historic Riverview Theater, but these events are also happening across the continent. Two days later, the Minnesota Lynx are taking on the Chicago Sky. Ok, game day is the day before Mother’s Day, and it’s not necessarily Mother’s Day-themed, but we would have egg on our face if we didn’t mention some of the strongest women in the state as they warm up for a run at a fifth championship title in the last eight years. As Mother’s Day wraps up on Sunday, May 13, go to the Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant for Soul Women: Three local vocalists are going to bring the house down.

Get Active, Get Outdoors

On Mother’s Day, moms get in free at the Minnesota Zoo, and they are also treated to discounts at the gift store and IMAX Theatre. Como Park Zoo & Conservatory is always free, and while they don’t have long outdoor trails filled with sea otters, farm babies and Asian wild horses or a red panda on their Tropics Trail, they have a special Mother’s Day bonsai show in addition to their polar bear, great apes and spectacular conservatory.

On May 12, you can get your hands dirty with the Three Rivers Park District’s Mother’s Day Weekend Tree Planting. Otherwise, on Mother’s Day, the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary’s special Mother’s Day Wildflower Walks at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. will get you outdoors in nature as will the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum’s 1,200 acres and vibrant tulip show. For a different change of pace outside, take advantage of the DNR’s Take a Mom Fishing Weekend, where moms can fish without a fishing license all weekend—children under 16 can always fish without a license—or go on one of the first Mississippi River tours of the season at Paradise Charter Cruises. For the really active, run or walk a Mother’s Day 5K together.

Get Artsy

Creators Space in St. Paul has a handful of crafty classes for Mother’s Day the entire weekend you can do with your mother, such as painting a flower still life, making herbal healing salve or even painting a portrait of your pet. If you’re on the west side of the cities on May 13, St. Louis Park’s Pinot’s Palette offers an all ages (13-plus recommended), no-experience-needed, discounted art class with available refreshments—and your mom will get to sip on a free mimosa—while you paint Van Gogh’s “Daisies and Poppies.” If you have a child ages 7 to 15, check out Mother’s Day Tea at Way Cool Cooking School for a morning of baking goodies for a tea with mom.

It’s Showtime

With such a bustling arts and culture scene, check out these performing arts options you can treat your mother to. On May 12, see the decadent and emotional opera Thäis in St. Paul, or see the St. Paul Ballet all weekend in their 1920s adaptation of Bizet’s “Carmen.” At the Guthrie, they’re doing the classic “Guess Who’s Coming for Dinner?” among other shows, and for a whole family affair, consider the Children Theatre Co.’s whimsical “Lorax” or the high energy “Newsies” at Chanhassen Dinner Theatre. (For a taste of both of the latter, check out our reviews here and here, respectively.) And, of course, who could forget the St. Paul Civic Symphony’s annual free Mother’s Day concert? This year it features Stravinsky’s “Firebird Suite” at the Landmark Center at 1 p.m. on May 13.

Getting Gifts or Time Together?

The day before Mother’s Day, JB Hudson Jewelers on Nicollet is offering an upstairs children’s beading clinic where they’ll make a bead bracelet for mom with a personalized metal charm, and downstairs in the main area, the Mother’s Day trunk show will be out and glimmering. (In short, the perfect way to either get a last minute Mother’s Day present or bring her along so there’s no guessing what she likes.) Another pre-Mother’s Day event that could either be a gift, bonding or both are the Mother’s Day Arrangement Classes at Block Studios on May 10 where she can take home a vase of flowers specially arranged by you.

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Stroll Through 10 of Our Favorite Twin Cities Gardens

Lianna Matt — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 19:17:23 +0000

STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES

Wander the abundance of gardens in the Twin Cities

Photo courtesy of Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.

By Lianna Matt

The Twin Cities is a place with four very different seasons, and summer is definitely a time to stop and smell the roses. Given that the Twin Cities is ranked number one again on the 2017 Park Score index, an abundance of flowers displays can be found around the metro, but we’ve chosen our top gardens for visitors to see. No worries if you miss the summer season; many of these gardens have blooming schedules online so you can see when the blossoms will pop up again in the spring or how long the blooms will last into the fall.

Photos courtesy of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board

Lyndale Park Gardens

The four Lyndale Park Gardens come to mind immediately when you think Twin Cities gardens. The Rose Garden is probably the most talked about. It’s the second oldest public rose garden in the nation, and in its 62 flowerbeds live founder Theodore Wirth’s proof that roses can grow in Minnesota. While the first peak of blooms is in June, the flowers last throughout the summer and even intensify in color come September.

The whole park area is adjacent to the Roberts Bird Sanctuary if you want to see even more pollinators in addition to the ones found in its Butterfly and Hummingbird gardens. The Peace Garden is Japanese inspired with ever-zigzagging paths, conifers and sculptures, including a bronze crane commemorating Sadako Saksi of the true story, Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. | 1300 W 42nd St., Minneapolis, 612-230-6400, minneapolisparks.org

Como Park Zoo & Conservatory

With several outdoor gardens and a stately conservatory that includes a fern room, orchid house, a tropical plant room and a seasonally changing garden (they even have a winter flower show!), Como Park Zoo & Conservatory has a garden for you no matter the season. Branching off of the conservatory is a glass-walled hallway leading to bonsai displays and, in the warm months, the Japanese garden. In the summer months especially, enjoy the water lilies that line the outside of the conservatory, the koi in the Japanese garden and the Blooming Butterflies exhibit, where butterflies are released weekly to fly among the flowers. | 1225 Estabrook Dr., St. Paul, 651-487-8201, comozooconservatory.org

Photos courtesy of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

It’s difficult to know where to start with when it comes to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. There’s the roses, of course, a crowd favorite, but those are only a handful of the 5,000 plant species there. The hosta glade, kitchen herb garden, maze garden, peony walk and sensory garden make up just some of the specialty gardens, but for those who want more of nature after exploring them, there are natural habitats like the half-mile bog trail at Green Heron Pond, 65 acres of on-leash dog trails, and the Grace B. Dayton Wildflower Garden. Add some art to your day by surveying the 23 sculptures in the arboretum’s sculpture garden, or check out some of the many events and classes for all ages that happen at the arboretum. | 3675 Arboretum Dr., Chaska, 952-443-1400, arboretum.umn.edu

Normandale Japanese Gardens

While Bloomington is a bustling city just southeast of the cities, Normandale’s Japanese Garden offers two acres of serenity. Bridges, structures, a waterfall and a lagoon complement the simple, 300-plus trees and shrubs that make up the landscape. Just like some of Japan’s most iconic nature photos, cherry blossoms also bloom here, and throughout the growing season, hydrangeas, irises, azaleas and more provide accents of color. | 9700 France Ave. S, Bloomington, 952-358-8200, normandale.edu

Minnehaha Regional Park

Everyone loves Minnehaha; it’s difficult not to love a 53-foot waterfall that turns the city into a nature escape. Amid the dog parks, transportation museum and the first wooden house west of the Mississippi, there are also several gardens, all focusing on native plants and trees. Minnehaha Falls Pergola Garden lets you look out at the falls after walking underneath the picture-perfect pergolas, and the Longfellow Gardens gives visitors a place to rest underneath the arbor or walk along paved pathways toward the manicured plant that burst with colorful cone flowers, salvias, lilies and more. Renting a bike from Minnehaha’s Song of Hiawatha Garden can stretch out the trip as you explore even more of Minnehaha Park’s 167 acres. | 4801 S Minnehaha Dr., Minneapolis, 612-230-6400, minneapolisparks.org

Photos courtesy of the Three Rivers Park District

Noerenberg Memorial Gardens

Located along Crystal Bay on Lake Minnetonka, Noerenberg Memorial Gardens will make you feel as if you’re strolling along the English landscape. Tiered rose beds, a wide variety of daylilies, manicured lawns and paved walkways complete the idyllic picture, as does the circle of pillars from the original Noerenberg estate before the land was donated in 1972. | 2865 Northshore Dr., Wayzata, 763-559-9000, threeriversparks.org

Veterans Memorial Rose Garden at the State Capitol

While this rose garden isn’t the largest garden in the metro area, it makes for the perfect afternoon when combined with a tour of the newly renovated capitol. The approximately 800 roses, a combination of hybrid teas, grandifloras and multifloras, are meant to honor Minnesota veterans. | 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, mngardens.horticulture.umn.edu

Photos courtesy of Bud Lutz

Lutz Railroad Garden

For something a little unexpected and charming, swing by this Eagan garden. Bud Lutz’s backyard garden is open on select days in the summer and has a miniature city nestled among the greenery with a model train winding its way around the plants. The more whimsical might call it a fairy garden, and whether Lutz agrees, the Ohio Buckeyes, magnolias, peonies and water features transform the space into something magical. The remaining 2017 garden season dates include July 16, Aug. 20, and Sept. 17. | 2960 Egan Ave., Eagan, 651-454-3534, lutzrailroadgarden.net

Eloise Butler Wildflower Gardens

The Eloise Butler Wildflower Gardens packs its summer with nature hikes, citizen science opportunities, book clubs, naturalist classes for all ages and more. The garden has more than 500 plant species including our state flower, the Lady Slipper, as well as 130 bird species. If you’re feeling particularly inspired, you can submit to the 2017 Wildflower Garden Photography Contest (deadline Aug. 20). | 1 Theodore Wirth Pkwy., Minneapolis, 612-370-4903, minneapolisparks.org

Nokomis Naturescape Garden

Minnesota used to have 18 million acres of prairie, but today barely one percent remains. Different conservation groups are working to preserve and replant, including the volunteers that maintain the four acres of Nokomis Naturescape. There, native grasses and wildflowers line the northeastern part of Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis. A bonus? The wildflowers often double as pollinator-friendly plants, earning the garden a Monarch Waystation status and making it the site of September’s annual Minneapolis Monarch Festival. | 5001 E Lake Nokomis Pkwy., Minneapolis, 612-230-6400, minneapolisparks.org

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Wheel Fun Rentals

Claire Noack — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 19:54:38 +0000

TAKE A SPIN AROUND A TWIN CITIES PARK WITH WHEEL FUN RENTALS

Wheel Fun Rentals gets locals and visitors biking, paddling and boating around six Twin Cities parks

Photos by Wheel Fun Rentals

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.

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Minneapolis Sculpture Garden Grand Reopening

Aubrey Schield — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 20:33:25 +0000

RE-INTRODUCING, THE MINNEAPOLIS SCULPTURE GARDEN

The newly renovated outdoor exhibit features new pieces alongside old favorites

Image by Gene Pittman, courtesy Walker Art Center, Minneapolis

By Aubrey Schield

The wait is over. Well, almost over. The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and Walker Art Center have been partially or entirely closed in some capacity for the past two years, and renovations are finally complete, just in time for a grand reopening celebration this Saturday. As a lifelong Twin Citian, the sculpture garden has served as a symbol for Minneapolis—especially with its “Spoonbridge and Cherry” sculpture. (I remember craning my neck as a kid trying to see the giant, bright red cherry from the car window as my family traveled east on I-94.)

In cooperation with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, the sculpture garden underwent massive construction to create a 19-acre finished product that is both aesthetically and environmentally pleasing—a water reuse system was set up to make the attraction more eco-friendly. In addition to a landscaping facelift, the garden received 18 new pieces of artwork, including Katharina Fritsch’s royal blue statue of a rooster, “Hahn/Cock”.

Some of the works from the garden’s past life were moved to other areas throughout the city, including Gold Medal Park, Weisman Art Museum and Minneapolis Institute of Art. I am pleased to share, however, that among the pieces still on display in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is the Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen-designed “Spoonbridge and Cherry”. Named one of the best contemporary art museums in the country, the Walker Art Center also got in on the renovation and is unveiling new landscaping and a new, more welcoming entrance for visitors.

If you go…

Head to the Walker Art Center, located just outside of downtown Minneapolis, on Saturday morning for the grand reopening. In addition to unparalleled sight-seeing, the celebration will feature hands-on activities. Create your own works of art and enjoy delicious food truck fare during the free event, which is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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Sensational State Parks: Como Regional Park

Claire Noack — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 18:45:56 +0000

COMO REGIONAL PARK

With a zoo, gardens, pool, picnic areas, athletic fields and much more, Como Regional Park in St. Paul is one of the best places to play this summer

By Claire Noack

Como Regional Park, otherwise known as Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, is an urban outdoor haven for St. Paul residents and visitors. This 450-acre public space includes a zoo, kids’ amusement park, lake, golf course, garden, pool, athletic fields and several picnic pavilions. And to top it all off, many of these amenities are free and open year round. What more could you ask for in one park?

Park & Pool

With a wide array of activities and facilities at Como Regional Park, it’s easy to spend a whole day experiencing all that the park has to offer. From the two miles of paved walking and biking trails to softball, baseball and soccer fields at the McMurray Athletic Complex, there are plenty of ways to stay active and play this summer. Prime picnic spots can also be found throughout the park with grills, fire pits, picnic pavilions and a large playground for visitors to use as they please.

Como Park’s latest addition, a community pool, is sure to make a splash this summer. The Como Regional Park Pool features lap swimming, an aquatic zip line and climbing wall, 400-foot lazy river, water aerobics, swimming lessons, and much more. Opening June 10, community members and visitors of all ages can have fun cooling off at St. Paul’s newest outdoor aquatics park. For more information on admission prices and hours, check the pool’s website.

Zoo & Gardens

Visit the Como Zoo and Marjorie McNeely Conservatory to watch exotic wildlife and explore beautiful gardens. From tigers and giraffes to gorillas and polar bears, visitors can see all walks of life at the zoo. And the numerous gardens in the conservatory include everything from tropical plants and seasonal flowers to a collection of bonsai trees and pools of water lilies. Both the zoo and gardens are free with a suggested donation to keep the exhibits up and running.

More Family-friendly Amenities

And the fun doesn’t end there! There are still many other features at Como Regional Park to take advantage of, including an 18-hole golf course, a lake complete with a fishing pier and paddleboat rentals, a historic carousel and miniature golf. For more family fun, head to Como Town, located next to the zoo entrance. With more than 18 amusement park rides and attractions, kids and adults alike will revel in delight. And when all that excitement tires you out, head to Como Dockside, a restaurant and event space, that serves up southern-inspired cuisine on the shores of Como Lake.

As if things could get any better, the park also hosts free, live music series with Music at the Parks at Como Dockside and Groovin’ in the Garden in the Enchanted Garden. More information on concerts and events can be found on the St. Paul parks’ website. If it were up to us, we’d be hanging out at Como Regional Park all summer long.

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Downtown Minneapolis’ Gold Medal Park

Kerry Roberson — Wed, 24 May 2017 17:06:17 +0000

GOLD MEDAL PARK: WHO SAYS DOWNTOWN IS JUST CHAOS?

Visit Minneapolis’ Gold Medal Park and Stone Arch Bridge for a day of fun and relaxation

Image by Meet Minneapolis

By Kerry Roberson

Gold Medal Park
Gold Medal Park is one of Minneapolis’ newest parks, the 7.5 acre park that originally opened in 2007 is a large stretch of lush, well-manicured Kentucky bluegrass that, due to its close proximity to St. Anthony Falls, draws in large crowds of people seeking a moment to unwind.

Group Activities
“Huck it like you mean it,” the group yelled to a player who threw the frisbee and laughed as another ran and dove to catch the low flying disc. Gold Medal Park has a variety of visitors all looking to have a little fun in the summer sun. Small groups of welcoming players set up activities and friendly games of ultimate frisbee and touch football, while others come with picnic baskets and yoga mats ready for a relaxing afternoon of cloud watching.

Since the park’s opening, tourists have come from all over to see the Park and St. Anthony Falls, just a ten-minute walk up the River Parkway Trail. The increased traffic has pushed the city to keep the area around the Falls alive and green, making Minneapolis residences and nearby shop owners like, Lara Hammel and Jeff Sommers, owners of Izzy’s Ice Cream shop happy.

Handmade Frozen Treats
Izzy’s Ice Cream, located across the street from Gold Medal Park, has been a Minneapolis favorite since its owners, Lara and Jeff, dedicated themselves to learning from the best in the business before opening their shop in July of 2000. Izzy’s specializes in handmade ice cream, frozen yogurt, and sherbet, made with the finest ingredients from around the world. Laughing kids and smiling employees fill Izzy’s to the brim every summer as the ice cream shop draws in loyal customers and curious wanders from the park with its selection of 32 delicious desserts.

The Stone Arch Bridge
The Stone Arch Bridge overlooks the scenic, St. Anthony Falls as it pushes billions of gallons of water down the Mississippi River everyday. The bridge, built in 1883 is the only one of its kind in the area. The native granite and limestone bridge gives walkers and cyclists a panoramic view of the Falls that have provided waterpower to the Twin Cities since the early 1800’s.

Important sites around the Falls are marked with plaques that provide a brief introduction to the location and its historic significance. Walking and segway tours can also be scheduled for anyone that wants to understand the full impact the Falls had on shaping the Twin Cities.

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Sensational State Parks: Centennial Lakes Park

Claire Noack — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 18:28:16 +0000

CENTENNIAL LAKES PARK

We love our parks in the Twin Cities, and Centennial Lakes Park in Edina is one of the most fun-filled in the area

Photo by Explore Edina

By Claire Noack

With 24 acres of landscaped greenery and a 10-acre pond, Centennial Lakes Park is the ultimate place to kick back for a relaxing day at the park. Located in the southeast region of Edina, this park is filled with fun activities. Shady areas make great places for picnics, swinging benches offer a relaxing place to take in the surroundings, and playgrounds provide fun places for kids to play.

During the summer months, Centennial Lakes Park offers more recreational fun with paddleboats, lawn bowling and croquet courts. There’s also a golf course that may be miniature in size, but is not your typical mini golf game. Don’t expect to putt golf balls into the mouth of a dragon or through a windmill. This golf green features 18 holes that range from 57 to 125 feet and are bordered by boulders, planter beds, ponds and sand traps. Visitors can call ahead to rent out the courts and gear. Group reservations for the putting course are available Monday through Friday until 5 p.m. and there are no reservations on weekends or evenings.

The Centennial Lakes Park ponds are also great for fishing and are stocked with sunfish, bullheads and bass. Local tip: Bring a loaf of bread to feed the fish in the pond. The bullheads will swim right up and practically eat out of your hand.

You can expect to see many people playing Pokémon Go in the park on warm days, as locals have dubbed Centennial Lake Park a hotspot for the popular game. Cultural performances and live music also draw crowds to the park from June through August at the outdoor Maetzold Amphitheater. And movies are shown at sunset on Thursday evenings throughout the summer. Nearby restaurants and shopping at the Galleria, Southdale Mall and 50th & France make this worth an entire day trip to the area.

Spring Hours: Monday through Friday 2 p.m. to sunset, Saturday 10 a.m. to sunset, Sunday noon to sunset

Summer Hours (starting Memorial Day weekend): 10 a.m. to sunset daily

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Sensational State Parks: Theodore Wirth Park

Claire Noack — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 20:04:28 +0000

THEODORE WIRTH PARK

Explore the largest park in Minneapolis’ park system for fun activities and outdoor exploration

Images by Claire Noack

By Claire Noack

Over Easter weekend, I was able to take a break from city life and visit one of the Twin Cities’ beautiful state parks. Theodore Wirth Park is conveniently located in the northern suburb of Golden Valley, just outside of Minneapolis. It is very easy to get to from the cities and once you’re there, it feels like you are completely removed from the hustle and bustle of downtown. The 740-acre park is the largest park in the city’s park system and features an array of amenities and features that make it fun in every season.

From biking, hiking and cross-country skiing trails to fishing, tennis courts and sledding hills, the options for outdoor recreation are endless at Theodore Wirth Park. One of my favorite aspects of the park is that it preserves acres upon acres of natural ecosystems, including a 15-acre garden and bog complete with boardwalks.

My first stop at the park was the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary. The garden is free and open to the public from April through October, and is home to more than 500 plant species and 130 bird species. Although the garden was not bursting with blooms, it was fun to spot flowers and sprouts while walking the mile-long path. The setting is extremely peaceful—it didn’t take me long to feel completely immersed in Mother Nature’s splendor.

The garden is a local favorite for bird watching and it’s easy to see why. Within minutes of being in the garden, I heard birds chirping and noticed wildlife scurrying around. While the garden will get many more species of birds over the next few months, I was already able to see cardinals, woodpeckers and robins inside the garden. I even spotted a wild turkey and a deer on my excursion.

I also checked out the Quaking Bog, which houses frogs, dragonflies and natural flora and fauna of the environment. The floating dock that meanders through the bog is a must-see, as it allows you to traverse right through the middle of the bog.

Then I walked over to Wirth Lake Beach and enjoyed the view of the lake while eating lunch. This area showcases the many amenities the park includes such as picnic tables, a playground, bathroom facilities, sand volleyball court, fishing pier, swimming area and free parking.

If you’re looking for a fun way to spend a summer afternoon, Theodore Wirth Park is the place to be. It is without a doubt one of the best parks within the Twin Cities, placing you in the midst of the Great Outdoors only a few miles from the heart of the city.

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Twin Cities Easter Egg Hunts

Aubrey Schield — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 19:15:51 +0000

HUNTING FOR EGGS

Celebrate Easter with these exciting egg hunts happening around the Twin Cities

Image by Aleksei Potov/fotolia

By Aubrey Schield

With Easter just around the corner (Sunday, April 16th to be exact), it’s time to start planning your holiday celebrations. And for any family with young ones in tow, Easter egg hunts are the perfect way to celebrate. Hunts throughout the Twin Cities are happening this weekend and next, and there are even indoor events in case the weather doesn’t cooperate with outdoor fun. Check out our roundup of egg hunts, including some free options!

Flashlight Egg Hunt, April 7
Free
Grab your flashlight for this evening egg hunt at Creekview Park in Minneapolis. You can register online, but it is not required. Just be sure to show up by 8:30 p.m. to ensure placement in the festivities!

Easter Egg Hunt, April 8
Free
Vadnais Heights hosts this community Easter egg hunt with staggered start times for five different age groups. Bring non-perishables to donate to the Vadnais Heights Food Shelf, and watch the kids enjoy scavenging for colorful eggs. They will be especially excited about meeting the Easter Bunny, who is known to make an appearance at the event.

Egg Hunt at the Ice Arena, April 8
$6.50
This indoor egg hunt is held on the turf in the Cottage Grove Ice Arena, so no matter what the weather, it’s sure to be a good time! Each ticket includes 10 eggs, pictures with the Easter Bunny, games, crafts and snacks with refreshments.

Easter Egg Hunt & Candy Grab, April 8
Free
This egg hunt has an added bonus…candy! The city of Shakopee hosts this free event that features activities for kids, crafts, prizes and more. If the weather turns sour, the event will be held indoors.

EggStravaganza Helicopter Egg Drop, April 8
Free
You read that right…On April 8 at 1 p.m., thousands of colorful Easter eggs will drop from a helicopter hovering over North Commons Park in Minneapolis. This is a sight you won’t want to miss. In case of rain, the event will be held on April 9 at the same time.

Easter Egg Hunt at James J. Hill House, April 9 & 15
$8, $6 for MNHS members
Celebrate this springtime holiday at this historic home on Summit Avenue in St. Paul. Children ages 2 to 7 will hunt for eggs on the lawn of the James J. Hill House, and then venture inside for stories about the iconic, Gilded Age home and its history. Attend the egg hunt on April 8 or April 15.

Bunny Party and Egg Hunt, April 15
Free
Bouncy houses, games and eggs containing prizes. It’s all happening at Windom and Audubon parks in Northeast Minneapolis at this event.

Easter at the Castle, April 15
$13, $10 for ASI members
The American Swedish Institute is pulling out all the stops for this Easter egg hunt and celebration. The Twin Cities’ only egg hunt that takes place in a castle, this is certainly an Easter tradition you’ll want to recreate year after year!

Bloomington Egg Hunt, April 15
Free
Kids ages 8 and under will have fun hunting for over 9,000 Easter eggs hidden around the Normandale Lake Bandshell in Bloomington. The hunt starts at 11 a.m., but you’ll want to get there early for the Family Fun event, which features music, activities and prize drawings from 10 to 11 a.m.

Easter Egg Hunt + More, April 15
Free
Albertville Premium Outlets is hosting its 2nd Annual Easter Egg Hunt + More, this year with even more fun things to do. Hunt for eggs and take photos with the Easter Bunny at 9:45 a.m. in the Promenade, located on the east side of the shopping complex. And then stick around for live entertainment, a petting zoo, face painting and more in Plaza B (right in front of Claire’s). Grab a pair of bunny ears and wear them between noon and 2 p.m. to receive random prizes and gift cards!

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Top 6 St. Paul Hiking Trails

Charles Brandt — Thu, 30 Mar 2017 18:48:24 +0000

Top 6 St. Paul Hiking Trails

Image by Dudarev Mikhail/fotolia

Spring has come early this year, and the world outside is calling. Plenty of us get stuck inside during Minnesota’s colder months, but now that we’ve survived the winter, it’s time to get back outside and enjoy some fresh air. For those who live near St. Paul, opportunities to get out in nature are aplenty. Many of these locations have both paved walking paths and unpaved hiking trails that can be enjoyed year round. Below are six hiking spots near St. Paul that you can get to in no time.

Crosby Farm Regional Park

Just down West 7th Street from downtown St. Paul, where the southern tip of Highland Park meets the Mississippi River, is Crosby Farm Regional Park. The park offers almost seven miles of paved pathways for walking, biking and running, many additional trails for hiking, BBQ pits, fishing and a marina. When you’re surrounded by the tree-covered lowlands that surround the Mississippi, and the generous amount of recreational open space that surrounds Crosby Lake, it’s easy to forget that you’re still in the middle of the Twin Cities.

Lebanon Hills Regional Park

A little over 20 minutes south of downtown St. Paul, Lebanon Hills is the perfect afternoon retreat from city life. With almost 2,000 acres of land, the park has a number of paved pathways, over 12 miles of hiking trails, scenic lakefronts, picnic areas, equestrian trails, camping, mountain biking, designated swimming and bonfire areas, canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and even opportunities for hunting.

Fort Snelling State Park

What better place to spend a nice weekend day than where two rivers meet? Fort Snelling State Park is ideally located where the Minnesota River meets the great Mississippi, and is still within the heart of the Twin Cities area. Though no camping is allowed in the park, it is has five miles of paved trails and 18 miles of unpaved hiking trails, along with historical interpretive exhibits at the Thomas C. Savage Visitor Center. The paved walking/biking trails also connect to the Minnehaha Regional Park trail system, which reaches over to the Nokomis area of the Minneapolis.

Battle Creek Regional Park

Only 15 minutes east of downtown St. Paul, the park is sectioned into three parts: the northern section is dedicated to picnic areas, playgrounds and amenities, while the western and southern sections are filled with trails for walking, hiking and mountain biking. Battle Creek also has a dedicated dog park, if you are looking for a good place to give your pooch a chance to run off-leash for a while.

Hidden Falls Regional Park

The park rests on the western-edge of St. Paul where the city meets the Mississippi, and includes approximately seven miles of paved trails for walking, running and biking. Though not extensive, there are a number of hiking trails in the area as well, many of which follow the shoreline of the Mississippi. Even though these aren’t the longest hikes in Minnesota—or even the Twin Cities—it’s a fun park to visit on a nice day. If you’re looking to spend more time outside, Hidden Falls Regional Park also offers BBQ grill pits, a boat launch, fire pits and picnic areas.

Afton State Park

Jump on 94 eastbound, and then cut down south toward Afton for some great hiking within 30 minutes of the St. Paul. Afton State Park is the perfect way to escape the city and still be home in time for dinner. The park has beautiful bluffs that overlook the St. Croix River, 20 miles of hiking paths, four miles of paved biking trails, camping areas, a swimming beach and horse trails. If you’re going to spend a few hours hiking the area during the spring, I’d recommend wearing boots, as it can get a little muddy in places.

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