Spread across about 500 acres, natural habitat is the emphasis in this vast zoo. The animals are here but they often have wide-open spaces in which to roam, so be patient when looking for them. To aid in the spotting of animals, visitors may ride an overhead monorail. Five themed trails lead visitors around. The Minnesota Trail focuses on animals native to the state while the Tropics Trail includes encounters with Komodo dragons, leopards and gibbons. The Northern Trail features wolves, moose, musk oxen, Siberian Tigers and wild Asian horses. An IMAX theater is also on site.
The history of this area dates back 2000 years. The park offers a great panoramic view of the Mississippi River and downtown St. Paul. Enclosed by metal rail fences, six ancient Indian burial mounds rest within the rich soil of the park. An old reconstructed aerial beacon, used for many years by aircraft approaching the Holman Field airport across the river, stands near the mounds. In 1776, a man named Jonathon Carver discovered what is now known as Carver's Cave. Inside the cave, he found ancient artifacts and hieroglyphics. Plaques posted nearby tell the detailed stories of these historical landmarks. This popular park is open to everyone, including families, skateboarders, hikers, bikers, and groups of friends. CallSend SMSAdd to SkypeYou'll need Skype CreditFree via Skype
Afton State Park lies along the bluffs of the picturesque St. Croix River Valley. Visitors will find 1,600 acres (647 hectares) of near-primitive grasslands and dense forests. High vantage points provide stunning views of the river and surrounding areas. Badgers, red fox, and deer thrive in this magnificent reserve, while hawks and eagles soar above. The Visitors Center provides interpretive exhibits and necessary information about the park. Fishing is allowed from shore or canoe and the swimming beach is well maintained. There are several miles of horseback riding trails, paved trails for biking, and well-groomed cross-country skiing trails along with well-marked hiking trails.
Connected by a channel to the Lake of the Isles, Bde Maka Ska is the largest of the five lakes comprising Minneapolis Chain of Lakes. The lake attracts a younger crowd to the sandy beaches for volleyball, sunbathing and picnics. Walkers, in-line skaters and bikers proliferate on the three miles of paved paths circling the lake. Windsurfers, canoeists, kayakers and sailors fill the lake during the warmer months while ice fishing houses dot its frozen waters during the winter.
Closely tied to the adjoining St. Paul, Minneapolis is a seamless amalgam of natural wonders and touristy delights. Its vibrant topography sliced by the meandering Mississippi River, Minneapolis is not only soaked in exuberance but also a certain kind of quintessential American allure. The city is an expansive mosaic of laid-back coffee shops lining paved yet wind-beaten alleys, eateries offering scrumptious local fare and almost as many theaters as New York. However, the history of this city and its home state go far beyond imagination, the very history which has helped it acquire its present-day dynamic tenor. Minnesota was primarily inhabited by Dakota Sioux - with the occasional incursion from French explorers - until the United States built a fort nearby in 1819. Saint Anthony Falls, central to Minneapolis, proved revolutionary in powering the city initially through its use for grist mills and later for its hydroelectric potential. General Mills founder Cadwallader C. Washburn patented his roller technology in this city, allowing pure white flour to be made much more efficiently than before. The city hosts a menagerie of lakes, parks, and gardens, while its flourishing cultural scene is framed by the Walker Art Center and the Mill City Museum. A massive shelter of landmarks, monuments, and contemporary high-rises, this city, although having adopted a progressive stride, remains rooted in its very core.
Opened in 2001, Lakefront Park is a 130 acre community park an amphitheatre, an extensive three-mile-plus trail system, floating boardwalk and fishing pier, Watzl's Beach, a pavilion and two park shelters. This is thoroughly a fun-filled park with a range of amenities including a large playground area, a skate park, two full-sized hockey rinks, a full-sized soccer field, a baseball diamond, tennis courts, a basketball court, a winter sliding hill, a sand volleyball court and capacity for more than 200 cars. The pavilion is used throughout the year for public events and rented for weddings, receptions, reunions, parties and business meetings from March to November.