5 Beautiful Twin Cities Parks to Visit This Spring

Fridays are fun! So this Friday calls for an invitation to get outdoors and explore all that Minnesota parks have to offer this time of year. If you need some inspiration, this short list of beautiful parks to visit in spring will set you in the right direction.

Lyndale Park Gardens

This 61 acre park has 4 different gardens and a bird sanctuary. May is an excellent time to visit as the flowers have begun to bloom and the migratory birds are passing through. The Rose Gardens located here are the 2nd oldest rose gardens in the United States. Stunning fountains and public art pieces can also be seen at Lyndale Park Gardens.

Minnehaha Falls Regional Park

Visited by more than 850,000 people each year, Minnehaha Falls Regional Park is one of the most popular in the state. Who wouldn’t want to watch a 53-foot waterfall rolling over the limestone bluffs while enjoying fried seafood from the Sea Salt Eatery? Take time to photograph the falls or check out the trails.

Theodore Wirth Regional Park

It’s hard to top Theodore Wirth Regional Park’s 843 acres of hiking, biking, fishing and general nature exploration. Voted for the best nature in the city time and time again, the Quaking Bog trail brings you on a short hike atop a floating boardwalk. The park also features a swimming beach, playground, golf course, wildflower sanctuary, and so much more.

Fort Snelling State Park

This park offers some of the best spring hiking trails in Minnesota. Choose from a one-, two- or three-mile loop around Pike Island with views of both the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers. Fort Snelling State Park's centrally located bike trails connect to the 53-mile long Grand Rounds Scenic Bikeway at Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis and the Dakota County Big Rivers Regional Trail.

Afton State Park

You may not get down to Hastings as often as you’d like, but Afton State Park has 20 miles of hiking trails through prairies, ravines and bluffs overlooking the scenic St. Croix River. Make a day trip out of it and be sure to bring a picnic lunch - you won’t regret it.