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.

We had a great time walking thru the historic mill district and over the Mississippi River. It's a…read morenice place to get exercise as well. The views of the city especially at night will last a lifetime

Flour Power…read more Located alongside the Mississippi River across the riverbank from Downtown Minneapolis is a 1.4 acre park that celebrates water power and the historic flour mills. It is the Water Power Park. Situated on Father Hennepin Island, this is a gift from Xcel Energy, the primary energy company in the Twin Cities. As part of a deal to renew Xcel Energy as the primary source they were mandated to create a park overlooking Upper St. Anthony Falls. The upshot is that the tallest flora are powerlines that tower above the park and a transistor station at the Gateway to the park at Main Street. Although I relished spending time in the home of the current largest mall in America (Mall of America), I was truly at home alongside the Mississippi River. This is my latest review sharing the parks and trails alongside the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. With that said, when I explored Water Power Park, it was one of a series of parks and trails alongside the Mississippi from the Plymouth Avenue Bridge at the north to the Old Stone Bridge at the south. Just like a member in a legendary band, Water Power Park would be part of a whole that would make the Mississippi River Band awesome. It was our last day in Minneapolis that my brother and I explored Water Power Park. We had just walked through Boom Island to the north and were bound for the Old Stone Bridge. Ideally this park goes great with the far more natural Hennipen Bluffs Park at the south. The reason why I did not explore this park earlier in the vacation when I did Hennipen Bluffs Park was that it gave a poor first impression. From Main Street the transformer station dominates the entrance. This is the main sight walking north. Walking south is a different story. From northbound Main Street, we turned onto a trail that reminds me of a dock. The beginning is a slight downhill elevation with ramps. On our left was the Xcel Energy transformer station that brought to life the power lines marching alongside and over the Mississippi River. It was at the end of the primary trail that overlooks the source of the power. If I was interested in the vast information explaining Upper St. Anthony Falls role in providing power there were several kiosks alongside the trail. In all honesty I'd leave the teaching to Google later on. I was interested in taking pictures. Making my way through a flat topography where interspersed trees shared the land with powerlines poles, I walked what was now an smooth unpaved trail to the edge of the Mississippi River. It was at the Mississippi River where I took in spectacular view of the Upper St. Anthony Falls under the Third Avenue Bridge. This is the closest spot to the Upper St. Anthony Falls which is the only water falls on the Mississippi River. There were two prime spots to capture the falls. They were here at the conclusion of the main trail and where the intersection of the main and spur trail. The intersection view provides a close up perpendicular view of one of the falls. It was a neat sight watching a close up water fall at a perpendicular angle. Especially when it is a view of the Mississippi River with the historic flour and lumber mills with the Minneapolis skyline. Heading back towards Main Street I enjoyed a nice vista of grass reaching towards the Historic Pillsbury "A" Mill rising above the transformer station. Instead of seeing the Pillsbury Doughboy, we'd take a short trip on the short dead-end spur trail. This leads to a view of Hennipen Bluffs Park and the Stone Arch Bridge. The later serves as a very popular St. Anthony Falls overlook. There you have it. This review is a representation of first hand experience in a park showcasing water power and flour mills. Hopefully this review has provided knowledge on the Water Power Park. Because when it comes to power, "Knowledge is power."

Great park and trail system on the Mississippi River. There's two sides one in Brooklyn park and…read moreother in coon rapids. You cross the river walking the dam. Theres endless places to fish and lots of trails. Renovated visitor centers and playgrounds.

Oh my gosh it was so beautiful and peaceful with many walking trails and such. A breathtaking view…read moreI could have stayed all day. Excellent for a walk or bike ride. Check out Thursday evenings during the summer for great free music...and free parking! My friends and I enjoyed the amazing Minnesota band, The Power of 10 and danced to it all night long!

A Gem: Fort Snelling State Park…read more Rating: I visited Fort Snelling State Park on Memorial Day and I was blown away. Not what you'd expect from the name I know, but this is no ordinary park - it's better. From the moment I walked in I was struck by the natural beauty of the park. If you love the outdoors this is the place for you with plenty of hiking and exploring to be had. The staff do a great job of keeping the park clean and up to date. One of the highlights of my visit was the bike trail. I brought my bike and it was a great decision. The trail is well maintained and has great views of the surrounding area. Plus the park is close to several other trails so it's a great place to start a longer ride. I'm already planning on coming back to use this park as my starting point for future bike adventures. Overall I highly recommend Fort Snelling State Park to anyone looking for a beautiful outdoor experience. Whether you're a seasoned hiker, casual biker or just someone who loves the great outdoors this park has something for everyone. From the natural beauty to the location and trails Fort Snelling State Park is a gem that needs to be found.

Nice park near the cities! I stopped in after some rain so it was a little wet and muddy out as…read moremany of the paths are dirt, which is nice when it's dry. There are a lot of different places to explore, including the historic fort, at different experience levels so it's a great spot for families of all abilities. Their visitor center is also nice and informative!

As the name implies, it is a minimalist sort of park, unspoiled for the most part. You can get some…read moreunique perspectives of St. Paul from here. Even the street has an interesting name, 'Positively Fourth St.'

Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary is an oasis of nature, steps from Lowertown…read more A beautiful mixture of wetlands, grasslands and forest, regrown over a former rail yard. I love the nice hiking trails and ponds, it's fun to see wildlife like deer, ducks, turtles, redwing blackbirds, and other birds as you walk among oaks, poplars, fruiting shrubs and native grasses. Occasionally I bring my pup along and he gets a kick out of pretending he'll chase the other animals while he trots along beside me, happily taking in the tranquil view just like I do.

This is a nice green space that bumps up against cycling and pedestrian paths along the river. You…read morecan really feel some Minneapolis history when walking around here, as you're surrounded by beautiful buildings from a time when milling was (seemingly) the biggest industry around. Speaking of milling around, I was coming out of a meeting and had a gap between calls, so this was my chance to steal a little time in this fine city and see what the energy is like. I tell you on a late May day with full sunshine and temperatures locked in around 70 degrees, the energy is pretty damn perfect. This only added to my already high appreciation of this city. So you can kind of tell I'm lumping the surrounding area in here, not just the acreage of grass and signs that make up Gold Medal Park. You're also just steps away from some coffee shops, businesses, a liquor store, and even the Vikings stadium. It's great how nestled away it seems despite being integrated into the fabric of downtown. Overall this is a great space and if I stay in the area again, I'll probably try to find the time to explore the paths and surrounds further.

Spend some time in the Guthrie and then came outside to enjoy the the un-conditioned air :)…read more The park is a beautiful open space. The hill gives you are great view of the entire surrounding area. Lovely :)

Rice park is an adorable spot right in the heart of the city. Featuring the peanuts characters,…read moreplenty of benches and lights, it is a breath of fresh air! Very well decorated and a popular spot for events. Currently hosting the Ice Hockey World Junior Championship events including s'more's, plenty of hockey games, and more family fun in the park.

Rice Park has a beautiful water fountain, plenty of seating and shade under the large trees. Events…read moreare often hosted here on the weekends and throughout the summer. In the winter there are ice sculptures and displays.

Fantastic park that's a bit hidden which makes it less busy. Large playground area, many benches…read morefor picnics, walking/biking trail and baseball fields. Lots of parking too. We are glad that we found this park that is close to us!