8 Ways To Play Outside This Spring in Saint Paul
And thoroughly enjoy one of our four beautiful seasons.
We love our snow-covered holidays in the wintertime and rising temps mid-year for lake days and hiking adventures.
However, the transition period from winter to spring is always a guessing game, and conversations spark between Minnesotans at every dinner table, in every backyard, at every lakeside stroll: when can we officially put the puffer jackets and snow boots away and break out the flip flops and patio furniture?
Though we get a handful of days that we can call shorts weather in April, early May is typically our window for blooming flowers, happy hours on patios and to partake in these 9 creative ways to get outside and Spring like a local in #MYSAINTPAUL
Sniff Flowers, Watch Monkeys
For the best of both worlds-- indoor and outdoor-- nature flourishes all around at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory. On a chilly day, get an intensely dazzling blast of the tropics inside the indoor gardens, featuring countless seasonal flowers and plants. The Spring Flower Show will showcase hundreds of white and purple tulips with daffodils, pansies viola and delphinium March 22 through April 28.
If the weather happens to be cooperative, outdoors find Japanese Gardens, Lily Ponds, opportunities for paddle boating, and more. Little ones will love the zoo, with monkeys, polar bears, green anaconda and many other species. Como also has an outdoor amusement park with rides and attractions opening in late May.
Kick Back & Go Fish
The fishing opener isn’t until May 11, but if you’re in Minnesota, you should really think about dropping a line-- it’s a bonafide state pastime. Just about every card-carrying Minnesotan has a pedigree of lake water and lake fish running through their veins and can likely bait a hook and take off what bites upon it.
To me, there’s no better bite of the “sea” than our freshwater sunfish, crappie, or walleye. But even if you catch and release, there’s hardly a better glimpse of our state than at the end of a dock somewhere. There are scores of fishing lakes in St. Paul, and fishing the river is also a thing. Borrow fishing equipment at the DNR.
Eat at a Food Truck
One of the best ways to get a taste of the city is to grab food from a food truck (or two, or three) and dine in a nearby park. Local spots for food truck gatherings include Lowertown’s Mears Park, St. Paul’s East Side, near the State Capitol building, and at many local breweries-- plenty of which also offer outdoor opportunities for sips and nibbles. Lunchtime is an ideal time to troll for trucks. Fave spots include BURNT CHKN, and Potter’s Pasties. Watch their Instagram pages for details on where they’ll be rolling.
Also: Seventh Street Truck Park is an indoor food truck experience (cold weather friendly!) where you can also grab a beer or a cocktail to go with those chicken and waffles, pizza, or taco.
Go The Fair(grounds)
While you’ll have to come back to visit us at the end of summer to attend “The Great Minnesota Get Together,” the country’s second-largest state fair, the State Fairgrounds do not go dormant the other 355 days of the year. Check out the Saint Paul Osman Shrine Circus (March 21-24), 66th Annual Rod & Custom Spectacular Car Show (April 6-7), Minnesota Horse Expo (April 26-27), Northland Vintage Toy, Train, Advertising & Pop Culture Show (May 5) and more.
Go to the Beach ... in The City
Beaches in the middle of the city are one of the Twin Cities’ calling cards, and Phalen Beach is Saint Paul’s gem. With a seasonal lifeguard on duty, changing rooms, restrooms, pavilions, and grills, it’s an ideal spot to get your spring/ summer barbeque on. Other Phalen attractions include an amphitheater, baseball field, volleyball courts, biking trails, boat launch, a beautiful Chinese Garden, golf courses, playground, and more. Check out the website for details on lessons and events.
Get Your Outdoor Groove on at Music in the Parks
Minnesotans love two things possibly more than anything else: getting outdoors and live music. Mash up the two for magical evenings. Jazz, salsa, blues--whatever your musical persuasion, a handful of different parks offer a rotating schedule of free concerts. Food trucks and drinks round out the experience, and of course, it's BYOB (bring your own blanket).
Get Rolling
Saint Paul is a world-class cycling city with about 180 miles of cycle-friendly paths and roads. It’s hands-down the best way to see our town for any reason, whether it be for exercise, bar hopping, or with kiddos in tow. Check out Bike Saint Paul for a complete list of ways, hows, and whys to bike and all the best places to bike the city. Or go inline or roller skating.
Our incredible bike trail system also offers the same opportunities to get wheels beneath you in the form of skates.
Buy Vegetables (and so much more)
St. Paul takes particular pride in its Farmer’s Market, where everything must be grown or produced within 50 miles of the city, guaranteeing local freshness. It’s almost asparagus season, but in the meantime, try countless prepared food items, which, by the way, make excellent gifts. Consider local Maple Syrup, cheeses, breads, candies, sauces, jams, honey, etc.
Go to the Islands
Our many lakes get so much play that sometimes it's easy to forget that we are a river town. Harriet Island offers an excellent opportunity to remember that, situated right on the riverbank of the Mississippi with lovely views of the downtown skyline. Paddleboats putter by and check out the nearby Covington Inn Floating Houseboat, where you can stay the night. Harriet Island Pavilion hosts many weddings and other special events--some open to the public--including walks, runs, fairs, movies and more.
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