Did you know that the Minneapolis park system has been hailed the country’s best for four years running? It should be no surprise. The City of Lakes boasts 200 parks and outdoor attractions spread out across the city. Residents are always just six blocks away from jogging and bike trails, picnic spots, or even a live music event.
From among hundreds, here are our picks for some of the city’s best parks and outdoor venues. :
- Minneapolis Sculpture GardenThe 11-acre Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is the first major urban sculpture park in the United States. It features nearly 60 outdoor sculptures, including 18 new artworks debuting this summer. This park is a great site for day-long relaxation and is just across the street from the renowned Walker Art Center.
- Stone Arch BridgeMinneapolis’s Stone Arch Bridge is a historic site maintained by the city’s parks board, commemorating the legacy of railroad tycoon and visionary James J. Hill. This living artifact is a former railroad bridge that dates back to 1883, used as part of the defunct Great Northern Railway. Today, the landmark is accessible to pedestrians and cyclists.
- Gooseberry Falls State ParkA top destination for outdoor recreation, this state park is popular among landscape photographers. Discover its scenic trails, breathtaking waterfalls, and the North Shore of Lake Superior. Wildlife lovers and birdwatchers are in for a treat in this natural habitat for various mammalian and bird species.
- Fort Snelling State ParkNamed after a National Historic Landmark which dates back to 1825, Fort Snelling State Park is Minnesota’s most visited park. It measures nearly 3,000 acres wide and has nearly 40 miles of combined ski trails and hiking trails. Its five-mile bike trail connects to two other notable destinations, Minnehaha Park and the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge.
- Minnehaha Falls Region ParkThis city park is home to Minnehaha Falls and the lower portions of Minnehaha Creek. Located on the banks of the Mississippi River, it is often the venue of choice for weddings. This park is also the site of the first universally accessible playground across the city, catering to the needs and safety of disabled children.
- Mill Ruins ParkMill Ruins Park takes every member of the family back in time. The entire area today is a mere shadow of what it once was – a flour mill that used to be the largest direct-drive, water-powered facility in the world. However, its historic significance as one of the main drivers of the city’s growth makes it a huge draw among tourists and residents alike.
- The Chain of LakesMinneapolis is not called the City of Lakes for anything. It even has an entire district called the Chain of Lakes, a series of parks that wraps around Minneapolis “like a necklace of diamond in settings of emerald,” as a 19th-century journal so elegantly put it. The Chain of Lakes is part of an even larger network of parks, known as the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway.
Is your love for the great outdoors calling you to move to Minneapolis? Call Scott Haubrich at (612) 298-5400 or send an email to scott(at)buyrentsell(dotted)com.