Took a nice walk around Thomas lake park and enjoyed the scenery. It has well paved paths that are…read morewide. There are many benches along the path, some overlooking the lake which make for a nice rest. There are ample parking spots available and a park pavilion down one of the paths. Only drawback was all of the poop that has been left behind by pet owners.

Pros- lots of green, clear trails for walking, running , lots of entrances and exits. Lots of…read morebenches and places to rest . I saw at least one large playground. Can't wait to bring the rest of my family. No cons.

I love this park and consider myself so lucky to live close by. The walking and biking trails…read morestretch for miles and seem almost endless. They also follow the Mississippi which makes for a truly calming and serene experience. The playground is huge! There are things for every age group. My only dislike is that it is a sand playground but the kids love it so I can't complain too much. There are picnic shelters and a lot of unsheltered grills with one picnic table which I don't believe require reservations. The interpretive center building is a great place for kids to play and explore. It has a little golf putting area, animal costumes and so much more. You could easily spend an hour in there and the staff are so nice. We're excited to try the wading pool this summer!

North Mississippi Park convinced me to live in North Minneapolis…read more I come here for the playground, which is a bit larger than your typical Minneapolis playground. It is rarely crowded, maybe bc not many people could walk here. I always bring my camera bc it is so freaking gorgeous by the river. The park get busier when the wading pool opens, but we have wading pools closer to our house. I also love taking my kids right down to the shore. Too bad I'm not any good at skipping stones. On the south side of the park is a great Nature Center. Kroening has some great programs and many of them are free! It also has a little history information on the neighborhood which is cool.

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!

This park continues to be my favorite go to in the area, just beautiful! It can get super muddy…read moreafter it rains and hard to walk on. Go on sunny days with clear skies and you'll benefit from some beautiful reflections :)

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!

Very, very late review of maybe my favorite of the chain of lakes…read more Even though it's connected to much busier lakes it seems more secluded and quieter than the others. It does have a smattering of large homes but much of the shoreline appears almost uninhabited despite being surrounded by the city. Walking along the lake shore can be a relaxing way to pass some time. Even driving by seems calm and peaceful if you're not in a rush. A bonus is my book is that the Lake is next to the Cedar Lake bicycle trail which skirts the North shore.

The lake offers ample shore fishing opportunities…read more Trail Pedestrian is almost 2.miles and the bike is around the same I believe You can grill, do cross country skiing when it's winter I heard. You need to paid for parking lot. Is connected to Lake of the Isles. I post a video of the lake.

The city revamped this beautiful park two years ago and it is one of the favorite destinations in…read moreEden Prairie. The Amphitheater seating is reflected in a smaller seating area surrounding a smaller, more flexible space for concerts and kid-friendly productions as well as private parties. The enormous playground is multi-level and has play structures for everyone from toddlers to teens. Today a group of tweens was climbing the web structure, laughing and playing and challenging each other to get to the top. The different playground levels are all accessible by slides and steps and ramps and the wood chip base is interspersed with flexible, bouncy "miracle turf," the springy rubber paths perfect for differently-abled children. There is a large swing with safety straps, spinners, acoustic drums, bells, and a rolling rain maker - thousands of BBs encased in plexiglass that shower endlessly with the turn of a wheel. My grandson calls this the Big Playground and spent well over an hour running and shrieking and playing on this gorgeous spring day. There are plentiful picnic tables, actual restrooms in the park building, lots of parking, and easy access to the trails to walk around Staring Lake. (Tip: it's pronounced "Starring," something residents know but newcomers may not. Don't ask me, I said "Staring" for years after moving here ...) Bring a snack or bring lunch and relax while your kids burn off all that energy!

Lots to do at Staring Lake. There's also three unique entrances with their own parking lots, one at…read morethe south end, one at the north end, and one on the west side. Depending on where you enter from, you can enjoy different activities. The south entrance has a very extensive playground, as well as basketball courts, bocce ball courts, a volleyball court, and disc golf. There's lots of benches and tables to sit at or eat at, as well as a full amphitheater. There is a building with indoor restrooms (well kept), a water fountain and water bottle refill station, and a couple of rentable rooms and a rentable gazebo with BBQs, as well as an office (though that was closed when I was there midday on a Monday). There's plenty of parking spaces at this entrance. The north entrance has a smaller playground as well as a garden, a couple of cabins that serve as a place for community events, a firepit, canoe rentals, a pier, a red tail hawk enclosure, an observation station (for their stargazing activities), a minimal wildlife blind, and a nature trail. There is limited parking at this entrance. The west entrance was lamest by far. It had a sizeable parking lot, but the only amenities were a port-a-potty, a pier, and access to the paved trail that goes all the way around Staring Lake. Speaking of the trail, which is what I hiked while exploring here, it is entirely paved and has a line down the middle to delineate directionality. The east side is quite lovely, taking you through shaded secluded-feeling forest; the west side is not as nice, with less shade and a loud road right next to the trail as well as lots of residential housing. Yuck. It also connects with the nearby lake north of it, Purgatory Creek Wildlife Area.

This Thank You Thursday, I'm popping in with an updated review - and more love - for Wirth Lake…read more Last year, I added Wirth Lake on Yelp and was SHOCKED that its listing hadn't been on here yet. The Theodore Wirth Park system is so vast, but it still feels highly underrated, unknown, and a true hidden gem in the heart of the city (5 minutes from downtown/North Loop!). After more than a year living within walking distance of this park and lake, I can safely say this is a highlight of my life here in Minnesota. How lucky are we to have stunning, protected, cherished green spaces that are so well-kept? Wirth Lake has it all: - A lovely paved walking path around the lake - Stunning views from the over-water bridge - A beach (YES!!) with shade, seating, and and over-water floating bridge - Sand volleyball courts (sign up for a league!) - Restrooms and facilities (weather-dependent, closed for winter) - Adirondack chairs under shade - Huge playground system - Basketball court Need I say more? With its connected access to the rest of the parkway walking and biking trails, close distance to Quaking Bog and Elise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary, this is a highlight of the Bryn Mawr neighborhood. I love enjoying the lake in all seasons - and I must say, I've seen some of the best sunsets in MN right here. I'm so thankful to have this protected space as part of our Minneapolis Parks system!

Last month, I visited Wirth Lake for the first time. Minnesota is known for having at least 10,000…read morelakes. So, there's plenty of them for me to discover. Wirth Lake is a part of Theodore Wirth Park, which the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board manages. I learned that it's actually situated in Golden Valley. Well, it's thankfully managed well. I went on a Saturday. It was 2°C. With the windchill, it felt more like -6°C. I should return when it's warmer. I look forward to ditching the toque and mitts. It has a nice beach. I actually walked along a path with the lake on either side of me. It was enjoyable as someone who grew up in the Beaches and gravitates towards lakes without much thought. Despite the winds, it felt nice watching the ripples in the water as I walked. I saw some volleyball courts. Summer can't come any sooner! You can fish in this lake. Largemouth bass, northern pike, and walleye are some fish that are present. There are some nice paths to walk and enjoy. The trees are majestic and likely provide some nice shake when it's hot. I especially loved the signs detailing the history of Wirth Lake. It used to be the site of the Aqua Follies, an aquatic extravaganza between 1941 and 1964. There was a 6,000-seat grandstand and an Olympic-sized pool. The shows featured high divers and synchronized swimmers. Eventually, the aging structure was torn down. There's nothing left of it. It's kind of sad, but I'm glad that I learned about these aquatic shows. I had no problem finding parking in front of the pavilion. The park is rather large, so you either have small lots scattered everywhere or you can park on the street. I enjoyed my time here, despite it being a bit nippy for April. I'd love to return when it's t-shirt and shorts weather and stay longer. (124)