We did the Annie Battle Lake hike which had about half of it in a paved path that you share with…read morebikes. We tried to do the Lake Emma Trail loop as well but the bugs completely overwhelmed us and we turned back. The path follows the lake but most of it is in the woods and the lake is not viewable. In the south side there are some nice lookout points. The park has a great rental shop. I wish we would have had more time to take a bike ride or rent a kayak. Lots of park/water toys to choose from.

This relatively new state park in Minnesota is a treasure -- a beautiful example of Minnesota lake…read morecountry with rolling hills, forests, creeks, trails and camping. I hiked a few miles towards the end of the day and saw an eagle swoop down to grab a fish out of the lake. I shot photos of birds that I had not seen before and a young buck hiding in the birch forest. A variety of wild flowers were in bloom. Be warned that you need to apply insect repellent since ticks abound. There are both paved and unpaved path, and it is obvious that the park was well-planned. There is even a cemetery for pets. It's a must visit if you are in the area.

World's largest pelican at the dam. It is behind the post office where there are two sets of…read morestairs to go down to stand next to it.

The Lion's Park is home to the world's largest turkey. They have a festival every year in July.read more

I love to stop and see these roadside oddities throughout the USA. Who can pass up a huge Otter…read morenext to a relaxing lake. We had to take a few selfies before some park visitors climbed on top of the Otter.

It's the world's largest otter - how can I not give it five stars? A great rest area to stretch…read moreyour legs as well.

Fort Abercrombie is nestled along the banks of the Red River, 20 miles south of Fargo, ND, and…read more7miles East of I-29 in the small town of Abercrombie, ND. It is a manned North Dakota State Historical Site, and a great North Dakota find. Ft. Abercrombie is the first Military Fort in North Dakota, with a great story behind it. I would recommend visiting the site, and paying the $8 fee (per adult) to visit the whole museum, to hear stories from Paul, the site Interpreter; and a walking tour with the Site supervisor, Lenny.

This Fort is a central piece in the early history of ND. Not much of it remains, but the guided…read moretour for $5 each is one of the best personalized tours I have found. our guide took the four of us on a golf cart around the whole property. his knowledge and stories were great!

Stonebridge (#1) is one of the best parks in Fargo, in my opinion. And no, I am not any part biased…read morebecause I live right along the park (is that telling too much? haha).. You can decide whether I'm bluffing or not. To clarify, I guess this is Stonebridge #1 Park, because there is also a Stonebridge #2 Park and for some reason they couldn't give them separate names? But this is an extremely popular park, so it's not just me glamorizing it. If you go to the park or drive past on any remotely nice day past 4pm, you will see DOZENS of people there. Just on the basketball court alone there are so many people hooping it, sometimes it stills boggles my mind because it doesn't seem like the park should be able to fit that many people. A few years ago Stonebridge #1's playground was completely torn out and renovated, and it is way awesomer now (it's a word don't even question it). Super clean equipment and fun stuff for all ages! Even as a fully grown adult I can't help but love their zipline ride or the swing sets. The regular swings are quite high up too, so you get a better swing once you get going, and there's even a double swing. Not only can you play around at the park, but there's also a nice gazebo and lots of picnic tables spread out around the grass, with built in grills nearby most of them. Tons of families go there in the evenings and have meals, and even family reunions. It's really sweet. And connected to the playground, basketball court and grill out areas is a ginormous field- there are soccer goals, a running path along the side, and all the room to do whatever your heart contents outside. There's often soccer practices held there, family and friends playing a game of football, people working out or other. My high school even hosts their annual Powderpuff football games on the field. Stonebridge #1 is a fantastic park, and don't you forget it (or get it mixed up with Stonebridge #2)!

Fargo Park District! It is wonderfully well kept and beautiful! It is clean and never crowded! Lots…read moreof walking area! Great place to be socially distant!

We always loved this place for the ducks and geese when we would visit in the summer…read more After moving here we learned that it's even better in the winter when it's an ice skating park. Our guests this summer loved it because it has a whole bunch of Pokemon stops and stuff.

The campsite was rather congested with not a large amount of privacy. The hiking itself was fairly…read moremild as we bounced along these glacial lakes and valleys. We brought our pup with us and she enjoyed it too. A great place for a more mild hiking experience, still with nice views.

What a gem! Tented here for two chilly fall nights. There is a nice lake with canoe and kayak…read morerentals, and a nice beach. Trails go around the lake, through the woods, and into the gorgeous rolling prairie hills. The campground isn't huge, which means the park never feels too crowded. I hope to visit again sometime in the summer when I can take better advantage of the lake. It's also only ~2.5 hrs from the Cities, so would also make a nice day destination for some hiking if camping isn't your thing.

In my tour of state parks this will be another spot that ranks high on my list. Historic in the…read moresense as it's a good example of how the glacier affected Minnesota topography, as we usually see more examples of the ice age draw back in Wisconsin. There are some quiet scenic campsites and various hiking trails, some open all year, some for horses. The hiking trails are mostly easy with packed down grass and a few rough areas on the hill climbs. From the scenic hills you will see what's left of the Minnesota prairie with wildflowers. The highest elevation is 1352' which in Mn is almost considered a mountain.

For a smaller Minnesota state park, this is a pretty great stop for anyone looking to get out to a…read morepark! While there aren't a million miles of hiking, this park does offer some tremendous lookouts, lots of bird watching, the option to get into the water, and plenty of education on the geography of this place! The rangers were very friendly and we were able to get firewood. Bathrooms were decent and the campsite was splendid. The campsite isn't as secluded or covered as other parks, so be aware that your neighbors will be staring right at ya. Overall, super great park. Easy access to trails and lots to look at and learn. Bring sunglasses and a hat! Not a ton of shade.