The Theodore Wirth Regional Park
Declared the best-designed, best-financed, and best-maintained in America, it wouldn’t be amiss to give a Minneapolis park a visit whilst you’re there. The Theodore Wirth Regional Park, the largest park in the Minneapolis park system with over 740 acres of land, has lots to do in both summer and winter. This scenic park is filled with trails for you to walk, bike and dog walk across the land. Picnic by a lake or dabble in some archery-its up to you. When the snow falls is when this park really comes alive: the walking trails are turned into cross-country ski trails, so grab some gear and take on more than 20 miles of excellent ski trails. Still want to bring your furry friend along? Try skijoring—a winter sport in which your dog assists you while you cross-country ski (try at your own risk). Or simply bring your sled, snow tube, toboggan or snowboard and hit the slopes. There is plenty of equipment to rent from park officials if you don’t have your own!
St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam
This section of the Mississippi river is what made Minneapolis the place it is today. As well as appreciating the marriage of nature and human architecture, the public can access the 178-foot cantilever (known as the “Endless Bridge”) for exceptional photo opportunities. The St. Anthony Falls Visitor Centre is open to the public, providing exhibits that tell the story of the falls and its place in Minnesota history. Rangers will lead short tours from the visitor centre twice a day out onto the lock walls and explain how the falls relate to the history and economy of the area. This site is further surrounded my many more historical buildings for you to explore.