Como Park Everything happens here. Location of Hmong July 4 tournament every year. Only Como could contain the July Hmong tournament. 2nd largest in USA next to Fresno. For one location, this is pretty big. Hmong can do better. Hmong have money, they should buy and build a location like NC did. Highly recommended read more

See all

Ah such a lovely park in the heart of the city. A walking and biking trail around the entire lake, a zoo, golf course and a historic trolley station nearby are all available. The Pavilion, in it's current format is a wonderful space where musicians and more perform. I've even gone to a yoga class at one point that was a perfect stretching exercise. Both the Pavilion and the golf course offer food and drink. The golf course being off of everyone's radar because people think golf. But here too is a great balcony, overlooking the 9th hole. Super relaxing. read more

Como Park - Parks Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

My family and I went to Como Parks lakeside pavilion for a live Jazz concert. Como park is gorgeous! They have fantastic walking paths, a lake with paddle boats, a golf course, and a zoo and water park just around the corner. The night we went was beautiful and the pavilion where the band was playing protected us from the sun. There were probably +150 senior citizens packing out the benches in front of the stage. The benches were uncomfortable so I would bring your own lawn chairs. Stan Bann's Big Bone Band was fun to listen to and I only had one complaint. After every song Stan would make a few dad jokes and introduce some of the members of the band. They have a restaurant on the back of the pavilion which serves things like fish and chips. All that to say I love Como Park and enjoyed this different experience. read more

Gorgeous lake and park for a walk. Beautiful spring day today and took advantage for a walk. There were so many other walkers, joggers, and cyclists as well. Lovely. read more

Como Park Snowboard/Ski Lessons is only 10 minutes from our place. My kids had snowboard lessons here and we come here at least twice a week. It's a bit smaller than Buck Hilll but it iis great for kids who are just starting to learn the sport. The lift ticket ( tow rope only ) is only $12 at night. They also have a chalet with decent food and drinks. Instructors are also very friendly to the kids. My family and I love coming to Como Park. read more

See all

Walking and biking around the park complex is open; however, the playgrounds and bathroom buildings are currently closed due to the Corona Virus. There are signs for social distancing and staying safe. This is a great green spot in the middle of St. Paul. read more

See all

I absolutely love Como Park and the Lake, Conservatory, and Zoo nearby! On these (rare, but) lovely, sunny days, I frequent the lake very often for a run or leisurely walk. On the weekends the lake also offers rentals for kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding- all the good lake sports! There is also a restaurant overlooking the water, a walk-up snack bar, and restrooms. Parking can get hectic on busy event weekends, but I've never had a problem finding a parking spot. The Zoo is equally as great, and FREE! (They accept donations!) The zoo is huge and I was blown away at how many animals there were and how much there was to see, absolutely free of charge! The conservatory is attached to the zoo, and is a great spot to see beautiful nature, especially when the winter feels never-ending. There is also a (relatively) new Japanese Garden which is a must-see! All in all, Como Park is great. If you haven't been here yet, make a visit! read more

Como lake has to be one of the most beautiful lakes in the Twin Cities. I live right by here and I'm able to get down here quite often. The Lake itself is surrounded by a good sized footpath which can be used at most times during the year. The City does a great job at maintaining the paths which is excellent news for walkers, runners and everyone in between. The Lake also has a fantastic zoo nearby which is free to get in and has a bunch of cool animals (ok... sloths are cool right). The whole place is tally clean and picturesque - I couldn't want more from a park. read more

This is one of the coolest places we've been in a long time. We came into town to visit friends over the weekend and they suggested we take our little dudes here to check out some animals that you can actually see. Reminiscent of the zoos of yester-year where the animals were actually out and about, Como Park has some amazing spectacles to behold! The place is free ($2 suggested donation) to get into and in addition to the zoo, has plenty of carnival-esk rides and places for the chilluns to get their face painted. After the jaunt through the gaunlet of carnies and cotton candy, you enter the zoo and never look back. Seals, big cats (including a snow leopard - totally planet earth here!), bears, bison, zebras, monkeys and giraffes among other exhibits are all waiting for you to come say hello. The animals all have homes they can enter and exit at their leisure, but it seemed most were enjoying the nice weather while we were there. Lots of great photo ops and $1.50 coffee welcome you and the memories will certainly bring you back! read more

Still awesome! It was hotter than the devil's toenails outside, but that's where the water park and snow cones come into play. I felt like a little kid coming back here again ;) I was able to get gorgeous pictures too! read more

See all

Newbys to the Cities seem to find Como Park in their first month of residence but tend to get lost between the Zoo and the Lake and the winding roads which have recently changed names again. I currently use the walking path around the lake. 1.6 miles is a near perfect walk to keep up the pace and be done in less than twenty minutes. This is a maintenance walking path for those of us who have been walking for years and built a tolerance. The views are beautiful with various wildlife flying and floating as we won't even get to some of the human characters that may hang around the outer walks. There is a historic building on the way to the lake that housed streetcars which I believe were dismantled around 1954. Golf Course, Clubhouse, Pavilion, Como Dockside, The Conservatory, Carousel. There is a huge picnic area which can fill up quickly on weekend mornings in the summer. I have heard of family groups almost getting into fights for hogging tables. Como Ave is solid once again replacing a portion that for years was Horton Ave and Van Slyke is still around but the section near the lake is named Nagasaki Blvd for St.Paul's sister city in Japan. There is also a small parking lot on this side of the lake. read more

See all

Como Park, I thought, what a perfect place to enjoy this fine March afternoon. I was newish to the Cities and had survived my first winter. It was a beautiful Sunday in late March and I should have known that everyone else would have the same idea. Because it was PACKED. With babies and dogs and yelling kids. Which I didn't really mind because who can begrudge anyone the first day of spring, even if it's a pack of crying ankle-biters. Not me. But keep this in mind if you're looking to enjoy some nature, because Como Park likely won't be peaceful. You also will not be able to park your car...at the park. Because everyone drives there. So consider your bike, even though it may not have left your garage since the past October. Then, check out the Japanese garden, which has never been too crowded in my experience and is obviously doing something right because it's a genuinely peaceful place. And the koi in the ponds are really cool. The conservatory smells delicious and is full of beautiful plants and flowers that could never grow here even in summer. But it's also usually full of people and strollers. Consider coming back when there's not a crowd, like in the middle of a weekday when you're playing hookey with your honey. The zoo is a depressing place. More so than some, because it's really small. I actively avoid zoos because they make me sad. I've been in this one, because it was free and I couldn't figure out how to get out, and the animals don't seem very happy. But kids love it, so if you have kids, definitely check it out. That said, it's FULL of kids, so if that's not your scene, then maybe take a walk in the park itself. Bring your bocce set and your buddies and set up camp. Remember, you can legally drink 3.2 beer in Como Park if it's between 8am and 8pm. read more

Como Park - Parks Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

I like the lake. I don't like walking in the goose poop, but I wanted to see that compass/sundial thing. It seems like everyone gets fairly good use out of this place. While I usually prefer to take puccini to an off leash park, sometimes it is good to train your quadruped on a leader. I go in the middle of the day on week day time, so it didn't seem terribly crowded. Whether or not it gets insane on the weekends, I've yet to see. City livin' aint too shabby. read more

Como Park - Parks Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

We love this place. The park is large and beautiful. We've had picnics here, we've ate ice cream here, and we've rented a single surrey bicycle twice. My children love riding the surrey as my wife and I pedal. The bicycle trail is nice and it's 1.6 miles around the lake. If you've never rode a surrey bicycle, I highly encourage to go for the single if you can. The single surrey bicycle is heavy enough and can be really tough going up hill. The ice cream is located right by the docks and was great. My children loved it. Come to this park to relax and have a good time. read more

Como Park - Chillin' on a park bench at Como. It's really beautiful here. - Parks Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

See all

We had such a wonderful time taking canoes out on the lake! It was relatively inexpensive and easy to reserve boats. There were multiple options for boats including canoes and paddle boats. We had to wait for people to come in from the water in order to have enough boats for our group of four, but the wait wasn't too long. We even had a discount from our hotel. The staff was super helpful and kind! read more

See all

There are parks... and then there are PARKS. Como Park deserves the all-caps. I know there are a lot of great parks in Minneapolis, but I'm pretty sure this St. Paul park trumps them all in basically every way. It has every amenity you could ever want in a park: a lake, a gazebo, walking paths, a conservatory, a Japanese rock garden, a tilt-a-whirl, groomed and well-lit cross-country ski trails, golf, picnic areas with built-in grills, free concerts, a cafe, a giant playground, tons of green space to play Red Rover on your elementary school field trips... etc., etc., etc. times a million. Also, a zoo! They aren't monkeying around at Como Park. (Yep, I just said that... and more accurately they ARE monkeying around, but not when it comes to being an amazing park.) Notes: Parking on nice summer weekends is pretty bad, but otherwise I can't think of a single other negative thing about this place. read more

First off, in the summer, it's difficult to find parking. That said, this park is the BEST. Beautiful lake with footpaths, bike/rollerblade path, lakeside pavilion which offers free concerts all summer, cafe/ice cream shop, modern restrooms, beautiful waterfall, golf course, ponds, picnic area, tons of green space, Japanese garden, conservatory, a Tilt-a-Whril, even a zoo. Pretty much all of it is free, or very cheap. The lakeside pavilion also offers peddle boat/canoe/kayak rentals. Como Park is the best park in the Twin Cities, hands down. There's other beautiful parks (lots of them, actually), but for amenities, activities, recreation, and relaxation, Como Park is tops. read more

My review for Como Park: The Lake... Two times around is a 5K, so that's cool. It's pretty safe, populated but not crowded, has a sweet pavilion that hosts bands on the weekends and a cafe/coffeeshop. Across the lake from the pavilion, if it's been a fairly dry summer, you can walk out a peninsula and check out the compass that is usually submerged. Really, it's St. Paul's answer to Lake Harriet. read more

For my 100th review, I've chosen a place I've been to at least that many times. I went to the zoo at Como Park the other day with Lisa and her sister/nieces. Yes, the MN zoo in Apple Valley is bigger and probably better in terms of animal habitats, but there is something to be said for a huge park, in the middle of the city, with a free zoo, conservatory, Japanese garden, amusement park, picnic grounds, paddle boats on its own lake, golf course, and countless tons of wooded paths to hike around on. I used to skip high school to drive down here for picnics. I used to bike down to this park in my undergrad years. Walking around the lake is a great summer evening, watching the Shakespeare in the Park at the pavilion from across the water. I'm old enough to remember when they actually housed animals in the creepy cage building. God bless them for keeping it around as a reminder of our less enlightened days. While I miss the old fern room at the conservatory, I love the new visitor center and "indoor jungle" exhibit they have in front. Como Park is well over a hundred years old, I've been there well over a hundred times, and for my hundredth review I say I hope it's around for at least another century. read more

See all

I only knew this place thru old family photographs of me sucking my thumb, up until last month when the folks and I embarked on a little family nostalgia tour through the midwest where we lived when I was a baby, awww. This place is so family friendly it makes me want to scream. wow if my parents had kept living around here beyond my baby years maybe i wouldn't be as socially stilted as I am now. Beautifully kept, free/cheap admission to the conservatory, gardens, zoo. Water, grass, hills, golf. By the way, how much chem lawn do they use here? every bit of the park that I saw was amazing green grass, not just little splotches here and there like parks in other cities. read more

After recently being in Central Park, the motha of all parks, in New York, I have a new appreciation for Como Park. Central Park was everything I expected from the first city in America--the scale, the variety of terrain (you can boulder there, which is cool, and there are more unpaved paths than I would expect) and the feeling that you almost can escape from the city. But St. Paul is not Manhattan, and should not be expected to live up to those standards, and still it stacks up pretty well with Como Park. Of course I'm biased since it's a mile from my house, so it's easy to walk to. Como Park is big on attractions. They have many of the same things they have in Central Park like a carousel, conservatory, lake, picnic grounds, loads of playgrounds, etc. Como also has a zoo and a conservatory. The conservatory is one of the gems of the city. On a cold winter day, nothing beats walking around in the hot steamy tropical encounter or just hanging out in the sunken garden. As others have said, the park can be crazy crowded especially on a nice week-end day. I agree that the conservatory is best enjoyed mid-week, but most folks don't have that option. My kid loves this place. He fell in love with a turtle there and we couldn't get him to leave for the longest time. The Zoo is pretty decent for a it's size. They have a greater number of more natural habitat displays, etc. I know some people who get really depressed if an animal doesn't have a huge habitat and acres to roam, but I can't get too worked up about it. The animals seem like all zoo animals. Sometimes they are just chillin and lazy, other times they are active and seem to be enjoying themselves. The zoo has pretty strong program of breeding their animals so they must be doing something right. Also, from a purely selfish point of view the smaller scale of the exhibits means that you can actually see the animals. Cause that's sorta the point of going to the zoo. On a day when it snows you are pretty much guaranteed an awesome show from the polar bears. Outside the zoo, there is a little amusement park called "Como Town" which will keep anyone under 14 in thrills. This is the park that my kid will grow up with and I feel good about it. There may be better zoos, lakes, playgrounds, etc. in Minnesota, but they all come together here. Como Park is the closest thing we have to a Central Park, although we really need to get that rubberized play ground material they have out there. That stuff is awesome. read more

This place is so cute for kids between the ages of 1-9. It's free to park your car, get in, and you just buy tickets to ride the rides and play the games. Each ride costs from 1-4 tickets--most in the 3-4 range. They offer a variety of choices as far as purchasing tickets (single tickets at 75cents and unlimited for $16.95), which is great because you can control how much money you spend. There are plenty of eating areas at the amusement park and across the way at the park. You can picnic or purchase food there. It's attached to the Como Zoo, also free--they have giraffes!!! Best to go mid-week if possible, otherwise, I would imagine it is very crowded. read more

Great place to come when you are suffering from the winter blues. come in, get your glasses all fogged up walk around and listen to the birds and the greens and the leaves! Such a nice break in the heart of winter. Then in the summer come and see the bonzai! Something for everybody. Hiking, snow shoeing, you name it. Even a lake. and a zoo. What's NOT to love? read more

For a girl without wheels, any city seems sprawling, even one as small as Minneapolis. Her Twin, St. Paul, however, is hella sprawling in every real sense. This vast landscape, however, does allow St. Paul to have a park as immense and beautiful as Como Park. I've been here several times in the past few years, mostly around the zoo and conservatory area, and I've had a wonderful visit every time. I love that aforementioned zoo and conservatory are free, and have impressive flora and fauna to show. Definitely a lovely place for a picnic, a stroll, a family outing, a proposal, what-have-you. read more

I cannot think of a better way to spend a day with a kid than visit the Como Zoo. It's in the middle of the town and surrounded by other attractions like the conservatory. It's free, although that makes me definitely want to donate the suggested amount of $2/person. The outdoorsy feel with people and kids all around helps me forget the long winter months of MN. The WILD CATS exhibit had quite a few varieties . On a recent visit, a pelt - donated by another zoo - felt bristly and rough to the touch. It was an endless opportunity to watch the changes in peopl'e's expressions as they approached the pelt - haltingly or boldly - and then relaxed to break into a smile as they stroked it. Seeing gorillas in their very constricted cages makes me question the whole concept of exhibiting animals in captivity for the convenience of homo sapiens who have proven to be not as smart as they think. The info by the flamingo exhibit states that flamingos are social creatures who like to live in flocks of thousands and then you look at a flock of less than 2 dozen in a tiny area. I understand that being an urban zoo prevents more sizable enclosures and that the focus is more on recreation than conservation. But I wish it didn't have to be this way. read more

(This is aimed more for the Pavillion): I honestly used to love it but I recently discovered that, from new ownership, they won't be putting on the wonderful little plays and musicals done by Highland's Hillcrest Theater they had been doing for years at this location and that was really the only reason why I would go (inside). Otherwise there isn't really a reason to go (in) because their food is overpriced and reheated, not made fresh (unless new ownership will change that, but doubtful). I don't really see much purpose in visiting the pavillion, unless you're renting a bike or boat from them, which is fun, but I can always do that at a bigger and nicer lake. I don't think I'll be going back. Otherwise, I love the park and it's a great place to read, bike or walk. read more

Great place to walk, picnic, run and cycle. 3200 steps around Lake Como. Restaurant and restrooms nearby. read more

See all

This park is a safe place. You will see a lot of families out during the day. Great place to go for a run, bike, or jog. Also, Como Zoo is right there too. You won't find a lot of hot bodies there, you will have to go to Calhoun Lake :) read more

This is my first summer living in Roseville and I love living so close to Como Park. The park has a great path around the lake that is perfect for running or biking. I also love the area near the conservatory for a picnic lunch. There's a quiet area by a stream with a perfect view of the conservatory. I can't wait to check out their golf course before the season ends! In the winter, the park is a great place to go cross-country skiing or snow shoeing. read more

Como park features a nice lake that is great to walk around in the spring and early summer, but usually becomes a kind of smelly cesspool in the fall. There is also larger grassy areas to play and picnic, and BBQ areas. Sledding on the golf course in the winter is also pretty fun. The nearby flower conservatory and zoo are also nice to visit. High school fornicators beware. The park is regularly patrolled after dark. read more

Wonderful Park to run/walk around. Will say I've had some weird encounters with ornery bikers in the past yelling at the other people to stay in their "lane". But I suppose if you stay in the walling lane you won't have any issues. The park is a beautiful scene and isn't every overly crowded, which I enjoy. The cafe at the pavilion is amazing as well! Must stop in there if you go for a walk. read more

I can't even count how many times I've been here in my life, and I swear that this park-- and all its attractions-- is one of the best, free, year-round family attractions in the entire Twin Cities. I went on innumerable field trips here as a kid. Como Park was "the" standard late-spring field trip destination for the St. Paul Schools when I was a kid in the 1970s. I can only hope this is still true for kids going to St. Paul schools today. Grown-ups in particular will appreciate the McNeely Conservatory. Its high-domed glass main buildings are of a delightful early-20th century character, and its gorgeous resident temperate-to-tropical botanical displays offer a wonderful respite from our long winters. Beyond the conservatory and zoo, there is an amusement park, a swimming pool... many baseball and sport fields... picnic grounds... paddle boats for rent on Como Lake... concerts at the pavilion... seems like small-town fare, but this awesome family playground is located smack-dab in the middle of a large metropolitan area. There's nothing else like it in the Twin Cities. Como Park is a must-do venue if you are visiting St. Paul, and a must-do-many-times venue if you live in the Twin Cities. read more

BUILD A PARKING RAMP. I want to go to the zoo, but there is never any parking, because Como Zoo is awesome and everyone wants to go there. So many fond childhood memories here. And teenage, make out in the park memories. Medallion hunting memories. Sparky the seal memories (RIP Old Sparky) My absolute favorite thing to do at the zoo is watching the polar bears. I used to love to sit and watch them swim round and round in their little tank, doing the backstroke with their paws against the glass. It's the tops. read more

This is a great park! Located in a nice neighborhood near the Como Park Zoo with a good foot and bike trail going around a lovely lake. I've been coming here to relax, study, run, or all of the above for the past 2 years and I absolutely love it here. Most people you encounter are very nice and if you love dogs there are always people walking their K9 friends around the lake. I have also gone on their paddle boats before and they're fun especially with a friend. I can't wait for this place to be in full bloom so I can enjoy the beautiful setting again during my jogs. read more

how can you not appreciate this lovely green area right in the middle of a large city. Walk around the lake, check out the critters, I really love it in the early fall when the leaves are turning and there is a little smell of winter soon approaching.....ahhhhhhhh......I miss this... read more

The Park is great they just can't figure out how to give a quality product for food at the Pavillon. Over priced gas station Hot Dogs and half filled cups for soda that cost 4 dollars is way worse than the high priced good food that used to be there read more

Quick update to my previous review: During the summer from May til September they have FREE concerts at the Blackbear Crossing Pavilion on the lake Sunday-Thursday @ 7 p.m. and an additional one on Sundays @ 3 p.m.! Super cool. Plus, when isn't adorable to see older couples come out and cuddle up on a park bench to listen to good music? Definitely check it out. read more

Como Park: Of course I've been here to visit the zoo and see the wild animals but after I saw what a great park they had here I just had to come back with my own wild animals. My dogs are friendly but they don't like other dogs and they "go off" on passing K9's with a vengeance. Como park was the perfect place for us because there never seems to be too many dogs there. I don't know why there aren't more dogs there since the grounds are expansive and the trails are very nice. We've been there a few times now and still have not seen it all. Although the Burr's or hitchhikers or whatever you call those poky things that get stuck in their fur are quite bad here so stick to the trails. Also to note the restrooms are closed during the winter months but you can always stop by the zoo and use the one in there. Our dogs just love to spend the afternoon here wandering about and we can finally have a walk in peace without our wild beasts lashing out every five minutes. read more

What a great park and facilities - zoo, observatory, etc. A nice way to spend a day with kids.

Oh Como park is one of my favorite things to do when I have nothing else to do! Even though I haven't really been back there in a really long time, probably too long, I still heart this place a lot! It really is one of the best places to spend a free afternoon! It is free too, other than the donation, that I feel is always necessary, so it just makes everything that much better! WEEEEEEEEE... I love IT! read more