Posted: 5/16/2008 1:57:19 AM EDT
| I'm currently working/living in the cites but am from Central MN originally. I'm looking for any suggestions for some outdoor type hikes or day trips I can make that would be 2hrs of drivetime or less from Minneapolis. I'm want to explore MN a little bit this summer, lets hear your thoughts, where should I go to get away from the city? |
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Might be more than two hours, but the North Shore is nice. Red Wing has a very nice park that has a lot of interesting mountain bike track and a few obstacles that are quite fun. I think it's called Bluff Memorial Park... I was in an MNSCS race there in 05 and I had a blast. I post again as I think of more places... |
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Wolfglock: Here are a few I have frequented many times: Obrien State Park outside Taylors Falls Interstate Park outside Taylors Falls Wild River State Park about 1 hour north off Hwy 35 St. Croix State Park North of the cities about an hour White Water State Park south on 61 south of Hasting (about 1.5 hours from cities) Itasca State Park about 2.5 hours north of the cities. And one state park sticker will get you into all these. They have miles of hiking trails, some paved, some not and lots of wildlife. For a quick afternoon trip there is Tamarack nature Center in White Bear Township and another up by centerville on CO Rd. 14 but the name escapes me now (Warble or Warner or some such thing) at least a half a dozen more within 15-20 minutes of where you live. There are also may Wildlife Management areas like Carlos Avery north of Forest Lake and numerous state forests, all of which have trails (of sorts) thru them. Make sure to wear good boots and check to ticks when you get back cause they are out hot and heavy already.... Enjoy the summer.... DonT |
If you are from Central MN, then you should know where Sibley state park is. That's a good place to hike. Of course, there are a ton of places in and about the city as well. Theodore Wirth bird and wildflower sanctuary is like being in the middle of nowhere. (except for the occasional dead hooker)
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More than 2 hours, but the Soudan mine and physics lab in Tower is pretty cool. The active open pit mine in Hibbing is also good. Try to call in advance to see when they are doing explosives. Tubing on the Apple River Rent a Jet Ski Take a paddle wheel ride on the Mississippi Check out the Ford Lock and Damn. Drive the Great River Road Take a Defensive Edge class Minnesota Zoo |
So it's you! Cannon falls is a nice area. Lots of bike paths linked between the various cities with bike rentals. Then you have the SW with Niagra caves which is very cool (huge cave systen with giant waterfall inside). Found by some lost pigs. There is also a flooded cave system near there where you can canoe through it. How about Duluth? They have an IMAX and also the Great Lakes Aquarium. The Iron range. New Ulm for the Schell brewery tour! |