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Out & About Outdoors
Minnesota is a GREAT place to take children
"Out & About Outdoors"

 

Camp Guide 2006 - It's time to get your summer camp plans in place, Star Tribune.

Accessible Outdoors - Facilitating access to the outdoors for people of all abilities.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Check out the Minnesota DNR calendar of events to find fun and educational events outdoors!



  • Saint Paul - East Metro
  • Metropolitan Area
  • Greater Minnesota
  • Saint Paul - East Metro

    Saint Paul Parks & Recreation - Park Finder (scroll down to map)

    Lookout Park - At Summit Avenue and Ramsey Street.

    Mississippi Gorge Regional Park - Maintained by the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul

    Roseville Parks & Recreation - Offers year round recreation and youth sports.

    East Metro County Parks

    Ramsey County Parks & Recreation - Offers roughly 6,000 acres of parks, open space, trails and special use facilities.

    Find a Ramsey County Park - Search on key words such as ice arena, pool, beach, bike or picnic.  Useful site to find little known parks and trails, but provides limited information.  Maintained by the Friends of the Parks and Trails of St. Paul and Ramsey County.

    Dakota County Parks - Offers a wide variety of park areas, activities, programs and facilities.

    Washington County Parks - Offers 4 regional parks, 2 county parks, 1 regional trail, and an additional regional park which is in the "acquisition phase."

    East Metro State Parks - Operated by the DNR

    • Afton - A good mix of metro recreation and rugged outdoors.

    • Fort Snelling - Explore the exhibits at the Thomas C. Savage Visitor Center and then hike up to historic Fort Snelling.

    • William O'Brien - A convenient base camp to explore Taylor's Falls and the St. Croix River.

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    Metropolitan Area

    Minneapolis Park & Recreation - Explore the natural wonders of Minneapolis.

    • Lyndale Park Gardens - Visit these four distinctive gardens - the Rose Garden, the Perennial Garden, Peace (Rock) Garden and the Perennial Trial Garden. Immediately adjacent to the Peace Garden is the Thomas Sadler Roberts Bird Sanctuary. 3900 S Bryant Ave, Minneapolis

    • Minneapolis Sculpture Garden - Enjoy important works of art by leading American and international artists in an 11-acre garden setting of plazas, walkways, and plantings.  Located across from the Walker Art Center, 726 Vineland Place, Minneapolis

    • Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary - The oldest public wildflower garden in the nation.  Theodore Wirth Pkwy and Glenwood Ave, Minneapolis

    Three Rivers Park District - A natural resources-based park system located in Hennepin County that manages more than 27,000 acres of park reserves, regional parks, regional trails and special use facilities.

    Minnesota Landscape Arboretum - Features more than 1,000 acres of unique public gardens: spectacular annual and perennial display gardens, collections of plants developed for northern climates, natural and native areas, and demonstration gardens. Enjoy miles of hiking trails in summer and cross-country ski trails in winter through northern woodlands, native prairie, and natural marshes. Located 4 miles west of Chanhassen.

    Anoka County Department of Parks and Recreation - Seven regional parks, nine county parks, and one regional park reserve.

    Metropolitan Council Regional Parks Directory - Includes 43 parks and park reserves, 18 trails and four special recreation areas. Interesting sectional maps.

    West Metro State Parks - Operated by the DNR

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    Greater Minnesota

    American Trails in Minnesota - A national, nonprofit organization working on behalf of all trail interests, including hiking, bicycling, mountain biking, horseback riding, water trails, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, trail motorcycling, ATVs, snowmobiling and four-wheeling.

    Explore Minnesota - Offers a wealth of information about things to do outdoors. A great starting point for any family adventure.  Minnesota Office of Tourism.

    Minnesota Bed & Breakfast Inns - Easy to use online directory.

    Minnesota Historical Society - Come visit your place in history.  Historic sites across Minnesota.

    Minnesota NorthStar Mapper - Explore Minnesota with maps online.

    Minnesota Prehistory - Explore differing aspects and features of Minnesota Prehistory. Includes a listing of prehistoric archaeological and geology sites.

    Minnesota State Parks - Official Minnesota Department of Natural Resources State Parks Page

    National Forests in Minnesota - Managed by the USDA Forest Service

    National Park Service Recreation Sites - U.S. Department of  Interior

    National Scenic Byways in Minnesota - U.S. Department of Transportation.

    National Wildlife Refuges in Minnesota - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St. Paul District Recreation Sites

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    In This Section
  • Cave Tours
  • Environmental Education
  • Mining
  • Scenic Railways
  • Watersheds & Riverways
  • Where to Get Wet
  • Wildlife

  • National Park Service
    Cultural Resources Diversity Program - Discover historic places and cultural heritage that reflect multicultural America.