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.

Walked around here for the first time today.. and wow, I wish I had found this place sooner! I have…read moredriven past here many times but did not realize that it is the perfect over lunch walk around a lake. It is perfect because you get water front walking, woods walking, you can see the changing of the leaves. There are multiple places to park as well and you don't pass many cars at all. There is also a cute little waterfall (very mini) but nonetheless, some lovely nature for in the middle of the day. Will definitely be back there!

In the dead of winter, the art shanties are a fun activity at Lake Harriet. Always new and…read moresurprising shanties that come from the creative minds of the artists. You can dance, dress up and sing, learn about what lives below the ice, be a cat, cast a spell with Taylor Swift lyrics, and help aliens understand humans. This event epitomizes how Minnesotans don't let freezing temps keep them from enjoying the lake and expressing their creativity.

Minnesotans really know how to throw events no matter rain, shine, or winter. Reflecting on this…read morepast winter reminded me of the surreal experience of standing on top of this frozen lake having moved from a two season state. If you've never been when it's frozen over I would highly recommend coming during their kite festival which also happens during the art shanty exhibits. If you show up to the kite festival on a whim, no worries, the park will have kites for sale. I would highly encourage coming with footwear that has good traction or added cat tracks to get secure grip on the ice.

Urban Oasis for a Peaceful Stroll! Centennial Lakes is a…read moregreat outing, earning five stars from me. I wanted a nice place to stretch my legs, and this park was just right. The paved paths make for an easy and accessible walk, suitable for a quick escape or a leisurely stroll. What really stood out to me was how quiet it felt. Even with buildings in the background, the park feels remarkably peaceful. The gentle sound of water, the rustling of leaves, and the overall calm let you forget you're in a busy area. It's a fantastic bubble of serenity. The scenery mixes urban sophistication with natural beauty. Modern buildings create a sleek backdrop for the beautifully designed waterways and landscaped grounds. Even without full bloom, you can see a real commitment to diverse plants here. I can't wait for a return visit in the spring! I can only imagine how bright and colorful it gets when everything is in full bloom. If you want a peaceful place to clear your mind, enjoy some fresh air, and take a nice walk, Centennial Lakes is a must-visit. Whether you have 15 minutes or an hour, it's the perfect spot. I left feeling refreshed and energized. I can't wait to see it come to life in the spring!

I was in the area just to shop at Blick's art supplies, but it was a sunny winter day out and I…read morenoticed this was right nearby, so I decided to have a walk along the path and soak up some of the sunshine. It was way fancier than I'd been expecting from just finding it on the map on Google. I read on the historical plaque that it was designed in 1988 to replace some old gravel pit! Considering how gorgeous it is, that was a really good choice. I got the feeling from how many folks were enjoying the grounds that this park is a staple of the area for communal recreation. It is very much built into the cityscape to reside alongside it. You won't be escaping the buildings and roads nearby, but still, it was a nice bit of natural relief. The primary attraction this time of year is the ice skating between three man made lakes and paths between them. Rentals were available at the warming house, which also had a concessions stand (reasonably affordable fare!), restrooms, water fountain, lockers, and ample benches to put on your skates or warm up awhile (with two fireplaces on either end). There were also exterior restrooms for when the building itself isn't open, which are available year round (the outdoor water fountain though was understandably switched off). During other seasons there is apparently golf, fishing, and paddle boat rentals. Cute! Towards the south end sits an amphitheatre. There are various sculptures along the outer path to see as well, including a giant pine cone, crane, a golden retriever ready to shake your hand, and more. Lots of benches and even swinging benches to rest and relax. Plenty of maps at intervals. The park connects to the Edina Promenade pedestrian/bike trail that goes north and east. I think next time I'm in the area, I'll take a stroll down them. In the future I believe there are plans to connect them to other sections. There's plenty of parking to choose from in any of the nearby shopping centers with garages, but I believe there's also parking specific to the park as well.

Hyland Lake Park is one of my favorite places to rent a kayak and fish for bass in the Twin Cities…read more The lake is never too busy and the bass are always biting :) I easily rented a single-person kayak online and walked up to the rental booth to pick up my life jacket and paddle - off I went! There is a nice sandy beach, and other boats available to rent (including paddle boats!) This is a must-stop for your summer itinerary in Minnesota!

Been going to this park for years. The play structure alone is worth the drive! It's taken some…read morewear and tear, though, so some maintenance is in need to bring it back to its full potential. There's a beautiful walking path next to the park and many areas to have a nice picnic! Overall, a great area to spend the day with family/friends!

We have been here in early spring and hiked up the hills, pretty steep and into the woods, and then…read morethe kids slid down just on their snowpants. Fun! They have a covered picnic area with 4- 6 tables, lots of playground equipment including an adaptive swing. The kids have gone out on the dock and fished, a small cute lake. This place usually isn't too busy which is nice but in the summer there tends for be local camps using the area, but still plenty of wide open green space for all to share.

After finding Bryant overrun with children, our hiking led us in a direction that somehow dumped us…read moreoff at Lone Lake Park. It was especially cool since we hadn't seen a bathroom since Bryant and their facilities were nice (besides some amateur artist using her permanent marker for evil purposes). Upon my initial look over, I saw ideal picnic shelters, a small playground, and basketball hoops, and of course, a pristine view of the lake and a dock for further inspection (and Instagramming). It isn't a big lake by any means, but the trails around it provide a good shaded hike that are also mildly challenging--my Fitbit sent me a notification I hit 50 flights of stairs climbed from going from Bryant to Lone Lake and back. Clean facilities (water and bathrooms), pretty views, and good trails? Check, check, and check.

Lovely trail to walk this fall. Very popular so very busy…read more If you don't want crowds during these covid times probably not the best location. So popular that parking can be an issue. They have a long lot and thankfully someone else was leaving when I arrived so I could park in the lot to meet my friend for our outdoor walk and talk. Nice variety of nature- woods, lake, etc. Clear marked trail and nice spot during a less busy time.

Sadly, no bikes allowed :( It's a nice wooded area full of…read moretrails and educational experiences. Great for youngens.

First stroll of the season! Overall a good couple mile trail system in the heart of Eden prairie…read more Reminds me a lot of Elm Creek Park in Maple grove with the park and beach overlooking the lake. The trails are nicely paved as well as some gravel and dirt trails if you get deeper into the wooded areas. Concessions, trail maps nice playground for the kids and a nice size beach for the area it's in. Definitely want to come back when the leaves start returning.

A city park with a load of amenities and plenty of free parking…read more Just blocks from shopping and offices is a quiet well kept park. Boat launch, beach with large umbrellas where I saw at least 10 would be artists practicing their hobby. Swimmers and beach loungers. There is a walking trail and an off-leash dog park. Boat and canoe rentals are available as well. Even Disc Golf. Picnic tables and of course the all important concession stand which opens at 11:00 a.m. daily! The hiking trail is listed as 1.5 miles and then merges with a state trail.

Love walking around this lake. Cool beach fronts and nice open fields with playgrounds.read more

After yesterday's paddle, I gotta say this place is bliss…read more I'd kind of scoped it out a few days prior just by taking a hike around the entirety of the lake to see what all it had to offer besides hiking and biking. I'd parked over by the larger beach (Nokomis Main Beach) on the west side (there's a smaller one on the east side), utilizing the free parallel parking which was available since it wasn't yet a busy afternoon rather than the pay lot. The large beach is quite nice, with some play equipment for the kiddos, a decent restroom facility, even a eatery/ice cream place. Seasonally, there's also a rental place for kayaks/canoes/swan boats if you don't have your own. There's another parking lot on the north end which is nearby a dock that's great for putting in your own kayak/canoe. This is also where you'll find the nearby Community Center with lots more play equipment and tennis courts outside, as well as gyms and rooms inside (open in the afternoons/evenings). It looks to me that the community center offers a lot of classes/activities for kids throughout the year that you can sign up for. I took a quick detour inside and admired their small common area with little library, fish tank, art, etc. Walking around the entirety of the lake will also take you over the car bridge, which offers some nice views. Just north of that bridge is also where the fancier boats are anchored. When I came back the second time with my inflatable kayak, I was able to easily get out onto the water and enjoy my time. Lovely warm September day meant lovely warm lake water, and I paddled the length of it and back, stopping frequently to just lay back and vibe. I especially enjoyed relaxing at the southern end of the lake where the planes fly directly over on their descent into MSP airport. So cool to marvel at!

Just so you know this park is in Bloomington, not Minneapolis, the search maps pull by a zip code…read moreoffice. I've put in a request for Yelp to update. This is a nice park, not outstanding, just nice. In the summer there is swimming and a large central building. A few picnic tables and short hiking paths that connect to larger trails. There is a guard station that on occasion charges admission to the park, otherwise there are two parking lots to handle events.

If I had to choose one of the parks on this road, it would be the one the street is named after,…read moreand for good reason. The panoramics along the lake are postcard worthy. There is an honest to goodness Beach here, and I barely even explored what looked like a dense wooded trail network.