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by Robin Sauerwein Walking is one of the most natural and healthy things to do. It increases energy, strengthens your body and relieves stress. Walking has been said to prevent type 2 diabetes. It strengthens your heart, is good for your brain and bones and alleviates depression. It can be done anywhere and the only thing you need is a comfortable pair of shoes. But who wants to just get on a treadmill when the Twin Cities has so many great places to walk? The metro area is bountiful with nature centers, city and state parks and neighborhoods with rivers that run through them. It isn’t hard to find a place to walk. Here are just a few wonderful places to explore on foot and some walking organizations that can get you up and moving around outside your own backyard. Trails in the City Como Park, St. Paul In 1873, the city of St. Paul acquired 300 acres on the shores of Lake Como for a new public park and today, visitors are glad they did. There is no better place to come year round and close to most anyone who lives in the Cities. Como Park is a St. Paul landmark that has renewed and improved itself over the years with a vast array of amenities such as golf, a zoo, botanical conservatory, and picnic grounds. Depending on the weather and your mood, you can walk inside or outside at various places in the park. If it is a nice day, take a short walk around Lake Como ( 1.67 miles). A nice café at Black Bear Crossings offers food, picturesque windows, and a wide veranda overlooking the lake with free concerts and plays in the summer. You can expand your walk by hitting a trail that will eventually wind its way through to the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory where you can stroll through the various gardens like: the Palm Dome with 150 tropical palms; the North Garden referred to as the conservatory’s “living grocery, pharmacy, and building supply store;” the Bonsai Room; or my favorite, the Sunken Garden. When I visited, my nose encountered dozens of stargazer lilies. The display in the garden changes seasonally and it is always a feast for the senses. The newest Tropical Encounters area opened in the visitor center in 2006 and features both numerous plants and 250 animals including a giant river turtle, free roaming birds and “Chloe” the sloth. Anytime is a good time to walk around the conservatory but it is a temporary antidote for anyone suffering from cabin fever in January. It’s like taking a mini-vacation. The colors and humidity will wake you right up from a winter’s sleep. You may want to stop at the café in the visitor center before tackling the zoo, located right next door. A map of Como grounds is available on their website: www.comozooconservatory.org. Hidden Falls Park, St. Paul If you do not live in the area, get in your car, turn on some classical music and take a pleasant drive down East River Road to Hidden Falls Park. On the way you can admire all the different types of houses on one side of the river road and all the different types of dogs walking with their owners on the other. The park entrance is located just south of the Ford Bridge on Mississippi Boulevard at Magoffin Avenue. Established in 1887, Hidden Falls is a perfect little place to escape from the busy River Road above. 6.7 miles of paved trails run through wooded areas and along the Mississippi River. Picnic areas abound. Eventually it connects to Mississippi River Boulevard Parkway. The falls are not really the attraction here since they are not much more than a trickle now. But what makes this area a great place to hike is that the trail runs south along the river from the park toward the intersection of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers. (The Hidden Falls-Crosby Farm Trail) From there it joins with yet another network of trails. I like the meandering trail along the river with its flux of wildlife and the relatively quiet from being down below and away from the river road. The movement of the river begs you to follow it. Whether you’re there in summer or winter, the area provides beauty, wildlife, and its own type of solitude even though you’ll still see plenty of boats, airplanes and people. Banfill Locke Center for the Arts and Manomin County Park Hidden back from the busy East River Road in Fridley, you’ll find Manomin County Park. Its ideal location at the convergence of Rice Creek and the Mississippi River, makes it a suitable home to an array of wildlife and birds like the gray heron. On 15 acres you will find amenities like a picnic gazebo, grills, an observation deck, two footbridges that cross Rice Creek and Mississippi River overlooks. The historic Banfill Tavern houses the Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts, a nonprofit community center that provides resources in the arts for all ages. Spend some time strolling through their latest exhibit. The center and the park are free and open to the public. This is a perfect way to get away from it all without leaving the metro area. Three Rivers Park District The Three Rivers Park District encompasses 27,000 acres of park reserves, regional parks and trails located in the suburban Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Over 200 miles of paved and unpaved trails are found here. Regional trails connect many parks to each other and to the neighborhood trails. You can explore these parks on your own–trail maps can be found on their website–or you can participate in one of the many programs they offer at their various locations. A few to consider: Trails…at Your Pace - These short, gentle trails, found in many of the Three Rivers Parks, are designed to make it easier for people of all ages and abilities to begin a walking program. They feature well-marked trails that are usually a mile or less of flat or gentle terrain. They also offer rest stops every quarter mile, free nearby parking, convenient access to drinking water and close proximity to staffed park facilities. Look for “Trails... At Your Pace” signs in the parking lot and follow the yellow arrows indicating recommended direction. Walk When the Moon in Full - Discover the wonder of nature after sunset on a naturalist-guided walk. A tradition of the park since 1983. For more information call, 763-559-6700. Outdoor Active Adults - Nature and Recreation Programs - Includes hiking and other programs for all ages and abilities. Various programs like “Birds on the River” and “Spring Flowers” will get you out walking in nature and learning about it all at the same time. Sign up by yourself, bring a buddy or your entire social club. Call or check the website for current programs or to be placed on the mailing list. Hiking and Walking Clubs If you need companionship or perhaps just a little reward for walking, why not attend a volkssport event. Volkssport originated in southern Germany during the early 1960’s. Its original competiveness lost its appeal and now it has been transformed into a noncompetitive organization that promotes sports events. Today there are events held in all 50 states and 33 countries of the world. A volksmarch event usually covers a distance of 10 kilometers or 6.2 miles. Participants walk, jog or run at their own pace over a marked route. It is geared for both individuals and families and for people of all ages and abilities. Volksmarches are held in a variety of locations. The Northstar Trail Travelers is a group that concentrates solely on the state parks while the Twin Cities’ Volkssports club covers the Twin Cities area. Most events offer event awards for instant gratification and a memory of the event. Donna Seline, president of the Northstar Trail Travelers, has been involved with volkssporting for 36 years. The Northstar Trail Travelers club was originally sponsored by the DNR but when participant numbers dropped, the DNR could no longer support the program and the volunteers stepped in to keep it going. 19 years later, the club has brought 23,000 participants into its parks. “The DNR is very supportive of us,” Seline said. The club also changed the term “volksmarch” to “folkswalk” to reflect a more American vernacular. “This is a walking club,” Seline said, although noting that occasionally they do bike, snowshoe and swim events. The Northstar Trail Travelers will be celebrating their 10th anniversary this year. Their upcoming trips include a trip to Banning State Park in July. In September they will head up to Bear Head Lake State Park. Following the event, a hobo soup supper is planned. On Sunday they will take a tour of the Soudan Underground Mine. After all their events the club offers socializing and sightseeing opportunities. “It is a big part to see the area and spend time in the community having a good time,” she said. These events are open to the public. You don’t have to be a member to participate. You pay only for the event fee and the cost for entry into the State Park. Between 80 - 85% of participants are seniors yet families participate as well. Often families with small children will be active for a while and then will return once their children are adults. The premise is that walking is good exercise and for those who would like to participate but are not interested in competitions, folkswalking provides a needed push for some by offering “awards” for completing the event. The reward systems attract people to the events. And you don’t have to walk 10k to get an award. It is a perfect program for seniors because of its non competitive nature. Flexible start times allow you to begin the trail at your convenience. “We’re park lovers and we love to walk,” Seline said. For more information on Volkssporting events contact one of the clubs below: NorthStar Trail Travelers Twin Cities’ Volkssports (TCV) Mall Walking Call locations to check participation and hours. Brookdale Center Burnsville Center Eden Prairie Center Knollwood Mall Mall of America* Maplewood Mall* Northtown Mall Ridgedale Center Rosedale Center Southdale Center Further Resources: www.mnrovers.org
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Walking