Maybe I don't want to leave a 5-start review because then the secret is out…read more I'm searching for nice, quiet beaches around Blaine. I got tired of Anoka County Parks beaches with lifeguards because they tend to be overcrowded and loud. But that's a different post... Golden Beach was recommended to me a couple of years ago, and I finally took that advice. Easy access off of Lexington, down a quiet residential street. No wonder it's a hidden gem. I had no clue this was back here. A big parking lot right next to a playground. The lot was just re-tarred, but no lines were painted yet. The beach is not visible from the parking lot/playground due to a hill... added privacy. A slight walk to the beach made us pass a clean bathroom and pavilion. On the way back to the car, I noticed there was a concession stand open. Must be on the back side of the restroom building. There was another path leading into tree cover (away from beach path)...did not explore where that went. The beach is narrow and long. There was a retaining wall separating the sand from the grass. Prefect place for kids and adults to sit on while getting sunscreen put on or their swim shoes. Lots of grass to sunbathe in. Big mature trees to find shade under for those not wanting to fry as they watch the water. The swimming area is not roped off. To one side is high reeds. To the other is a fishing dock. Kid swimmers were either out in the open or towards the reeds. I dipped my toe in...87 degrees out and it was cold. There was staked signage that the water was treated with something (I can't remember what). It said the water was safe to swim in, but not to drink it (people and pets). The water didn't look clear, no algae. A very lovely beach. How no one reads this so that it stays that way!

Local Golden Lake Park is a public park on the lake. No outboard motors are allowed on this small…read morelake, so it's a quiet lake to enjoy. Fishing, swimming, hiking, canoe or kayak here. The playground equipment and picnic shelter are closed due to CV-19.

Favorite road bike trail! Long, straight and tree covered,…read moreyou won't get sunburned or blown away. This feels like a rural trail as you pass ponds, farm fields, cows and horse stables. Love that there are only two major street crossings. Two bridges and two tunnels keep you moving. From the parking lot at 694/36 it is 9 miles to the end if you go straight. (There is a horse trail that is next to the paved trail so keep your eye out. I rode my mountain bike on it for something different once. It was a killer 18 total miles though...Whew!) I love that they added an extension at mile 6 where you can go to the right at the split and bike all the way into Stillwater! There is plenty of bike parking so bring your lock and walk along the river or have lunch before heading back. The 5 mile ride from the split into Stillwater is a fast decline. That being said, you are going to have to work a little harder to get back to your car... It is so worth it! You follow a wooded creek and there are bench stops/ photo op's along the way. (This is 22 miles round trip, just so you know. I need a nap after. lol)

We enjoyed early spring on the trail with the frogs singing in the surrounding wetlands. We were…read moremostly shaded by trees which helped keep us cool.

A great park for a young family or seniors, with a variety activities. A ball park for coaches…read morepitch or soccer in the summer and fall, flag football, even rugby; a small covered picnic pavilion year round; a playground; paved trails and a woodland trail; basketball and tennis court; wood ducks, coyotes, rabbits, fox, birds and bees, etc.; and, yes, gardens with a variety of perennials and annuals layered for the seasons: spring, summer, and fall. And for a little longer hike, Floral trails connect to Cummings Park via a beautiful trail passing through a large pond, up a hill, around the fields and a view of Karth Lake to the east of Cummings.

20 acre park with a asphalt trail through it-which you can hike to the next park (Cummins Park)…read more The Woodland Trail was a nice diversion off the main trail. This park offers: a playground, soccer & ball fields, basketball & tennis courts. Near the power lines there is a Honeybee area. We saw cross country skiers in the park today-they were making their own trail.

Beautiful park with hiking trails. There's also a dog area so that's always a plus. The trails…read moreconnect to other regional trails so make sure you read the maps or bring your own so you don't get lost.

A great walking path if you don't mind a bug or two…read more Hike (or bike) along rice creek in several areas with plenty of newly remodeled benches to rest on. Many connections to other regional trails for the more adventurous. A small area park lies just over a foot bridge for the younger set.

Loved our weekend trip to this park! When we arrived, the parking lot was very busy and there were…read morevery few spots left, even though it's a pretty sizeable lot for a park. We quickly learned this was because there was a special event going on (the Sankofa celebration) inside the center, with vendor tables and a couple of food trucks and even some crafting activities. So we got to experience that on top of the rest of the park's great amenities! The center is sleek and modern inside. LOTS of toilets (single occupant, all-gender), lots of coat hangars, multiple water bottle refill stations. The ground level has some cool reptile/amphibians behind glass you can ogle, as well as interactive informational displays (great for kids and adults, imo). Downstairs they have the rental booth for gear and educational rooms (they had a falcon demo in one while we were there!). Beside the center is an awesome multilevel playground, very fun. As well as a splash pad (for non-winter months) and an elevated boardwalk. The most nearby attraction is obviously the dam, which has an impressive spillway that's mesmerizing to watch. You can even walk across it to go over the river to the park on the other side. Apparently this spot is popular with fishers (though I don't have much knowledge on that subject). There are also trails that can be explored. Paved routes good for all recreational uses, as well as further out hiking paths that are just dirt. It'd be great to come back out again sometime and explore more. Across the street it seemed there was even archery!

Love what Brooklyn Park has done with this area of the Mississippi River. Very nice indoor visitor…read morecenter/nature center, multiple playground options including a water play area, tree top boardwalk, multiple trails and a path leading the to coon rapids dam. So much to do on foot or bicycle. I highly recommend this park for kids and adults. I'm very proud to say this is in Brooklyn Park. What a nice addition! We'll be back.

We came to the park by the library. We were with our grandsons and daughter. It is a great size…read morepark for 3+ years old. Our grandson really enjoyed the park. We go to the library often for story time which he really enjoys.

Small, quiet playground in the park behind Circle Pines City Hall & just south of Centennial…read moreLibrary. Adaptive equipment on the playground, benches to sit on, a picnic table to eat nearby. Beyond this playground there are gravel hiking trails.

Hidden jem in the middle of oakdale. Highly recommend for a nice walk and bird watching. Bring your…read morekids bring your spouse, bring whoever wants to learn about nature. I particularly liked the info on the plant life. Plenty of fun birds to watch and just an overall peace visit. Only downside is there are no bike racks. Oh well.

My husband and I were looking for something to do close to home but also in nature and found this…read moreplace! The nature center building is closed on the weekend but the trails are open dawn to dusk. The trails were nice and secluded with so many native species of trees and flowers and animals. The trials aren't very well labeled as far as direction so taking a picture of the map was handy! The overall terrain was very easy and took us 30 minutes to walk the majority of the trail with frequent stops to read signs and watch birds. I would highly recommend and will be back again!

Wow! Mother Nature was showing off here today! We "hiked" for about 1.5 miles. It was an easy…read morewalk with not much elevation changes, but the trail is not paved, and covered with leaves and hay, so it could be slippery after a good rain. The trails are well marked and there was even a volunteer at the entrance telling us all about the flowers and birds we could expect to see during our visit. It was lovely and I'm already planning to bring my family back here soon.

Nature therapy at its finest! I felt so peaceful amongst all the beautiful greenery and with the…read moresounds of birds.

Enjoyed a beautiful Saturday afternoon at Palmer Lake Park to attend "Arts in Autumn" event. Fun…read moreart activities, flowers, and music hosted by Brooklyn Center Recreation. The park has the perfect space for this lovely event, and I had so much fun at this lovely park, I need to remember to visit here more often!