An extremely popular spot for group activities. It's not unusual to various nature curious groups…read moreand school and preschool students exploring the exhibits. There is a large fire pit in a meeting area near the headquarters. Hit the trails and take a gander at the map provided to prepare for how long of a hike you want. All the trails loop around and come back but you may end up out longer than anticipated as the only problem there are few trail markers along the way, not like the state park system. The park system is connected and you could cross into another territory. Look for the various ponds and lakes nestled in valleys and thickly wooded areas. Trails are always in good shape and there are steep hills. There is no charge to enter the park and plenty of parking.

The Richardson Nature Center is a part of the greater Hyland Lake Park Reserve, situated at the…read morenorth end. It includes a large indoor community space building, an outdoor nature playspace for kids, as well as a mile or so double-loop around three lakes. The southern loop goes through wooded area, whereas the northern loop will take you through the prairie. Both are gorgeous in their own right/ways. Along the loops you will find benches to take a breather, as well as occasional docks to admire aquatic life. These trails also connect with longer trails that continue further into Hyland, if you're looking for a longer adventure. Inside the nature center building are interactive exhibits for youngsters, activity rooms, pamphlets on monthly events that utilize said rooms, and even a small gift shop with toys/books for kids and snacks. I bought a cute little plush fox to accompany on my hike and support the park. Additional facilities include restrooms, water fountain/water bottle refill station, trash/recycling, and picnic tables if you care to relax and have lunch (which I also did). The hours of operation for the nature center are 9am-5pm Mon through Sat and noon to five on Sun. The restrooms are open the same hours the park is, which is 5am-10pm. The natural play area seemed quite popular while I was visiting on a Thursday late morning; lots of families had brought their small children to run, jump, and climb around. Even so, you likely won't ever have to worry about finding a place to park, as the lot (which is free) boasts approximately 120 spots. I really enjoyed my time here. The place is well cared for and a resource for the community to connect with nature.

A lovely, adorable little spot near downtown Minneapolis, away from the city hubbub. At 15-acres,…read moreit's by no means a sprawling adventure, but it's incredibly peaceful and teaming with life. There's a one way road leading to the entrance, with a small standard parking lot (including a couple of handicap spots), but additional parallel parking available as overflow for busy days as well. There is also a walking path that can be followed to the sanctuary's entrance as well, as it is fully gated, and the entrance is down the steps from the parking lot. There is a volunteer booth just outside of it where you can grab a map if desired, as well as additional pamphlets with info about events taking place, charitable donations to the garden, etc. Depending on the hour, there may be a helpful volunteer there to answer any questions you may have. Once you step inside you'll be greeted by a path to the left and a path to the right. Immediately to the right are some privies (fairly primitive, but there is running water for the sink to wash your hands), which are all-gender. There are also benches here, as well as throughout the trails at quite regular intervals. This place is meant less for extensive hiking and more for soaking up nature (I recommend bringing a book, journal, or plan to meditate). The trails loop, with various off-shoots you can explore. The terrain has some mid-level elevation changes, and the paths are either a soft mulch or wooden boardwalk, which make for very pleasant walking on the feet. In particular, my favorite section was the sunnier wildflower segment, which had many pollinators (mostly bees) flying about. It was great for photos. Also neat is the nature center, which is a repurposed old house. Inside is a crafting table for kids to color, as well as additional info on the sanctuary and the kinds of birds and plants you'll encounter there. We encountered a number of volunteers/employees while there who were busy working to beautify the space or providing info to guests. Our visit only took around an hour, but I'm already planning to visit again, most likely in the fall when the leaves begin to change color. I'm certain it'll be even more gorgeous then!

Such a cute day trip to this location! We enjoyed the grounds so much, they have plenty of parking…read morealong the street and a parking lot up the hill! The area is well mulched, so I'd recommend closed toed shoes to keep it out. There is a nice volunteer who welcomes you to the garden -- admission is free. There's plenty of maps and trails to explore, and so many flowers. Absolutely gorgeous time here enjoying nature. They have a visitor center as well which has lots of information and activities to do! They have weekly bird watching as well. Super fun experience!

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.

This is a small pocket park that sits adjacent to the Smith Avenue Bridge high atop the bluffs. It…read moregets its name for its view that its visitors get of the Minnesota State Capitol. It also provides stunning views of the Cathedral of Saint Paul, the Mississippi River, and downtown Saint Paul. There is free street parking in front of it and within a reasonable walking distance. This park is not for those with a fear of heights because you are high above the water. I have seen this park spelled with an "a" and with an "o". The correct spelling is Capitol, with an "o", as in the Minnesota State Capitol. Outside of the breathtaking view the park does not have much to offer. There are some benches in the area to sit on. There are however, some shady characters that hang around the area and use a little opening on the side of the overlook to walk underneath the bridge. This is a nice spot that overlooks downtown St Paul and the Mississippi River. You can get some good pictures from here. It is in relatively decent shape, even though it is in an area that seems to be neglected. This place is definitely worth a peek if you are in the area. I would not make a special trip for it or anything.

It's not much in the way of a park, small and without grass. However, it delivers what it promises…read morein the name. You do get great panoramas of St. Paul. There is also a car/pedestrian bridge directly next to it, so you can add depth and variety to your photos of the skyline.

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 :)

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.

Need a quick but close-by getaway and one with lots of wildlife? I highly recommend this one,…read moreespecially with the little humans as the trail is super easy but still is dirt so feels more like in nature. The highlight was going on the bridge and seeing swans, ducks, turtles, & egrets! Not too busy right now with the center under reconstruction. Just park on the street and walk in.

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.

There are some nearly hidden trails off the paved path in this quiet park. A few picnic benches…read moreand play area, the rest is multi-purpose trials. The paved trail seems to lead into private property. The hiked over trails through the woods can lead to various streams. The area has some thick forest golf course green lawns with new trees planted. There is no central building but there is a portable potty on the grounds.

Loved this park! Nicely nestled away in between a small neighborhood…read more Parking can be tricky but it's worth it. Very clean and lots of inner trails that offer a unique scenery. Watching the ducks was a very healing experience coupled with the great weather!

Arden Park is a nice neighborhood park. There is a creek meandering through it. There is a…read moreplayground and hockey rink for the winter. There is no parking lot for Arden Park but there is plenty of free street parking in the neighborhood surrounding.