Last-Minute Minneapolis Adventures To Go On Before School

By Elana Goodwin on August 28, 2016

WaHu is proud to partner with the Salvation Army to collect clothing, furniture, household goods, and appliances for donation to benefit our community. All proceeds are used to fund the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Centers.

If your school hasn’t started its fall semester yet, it’s about to — but it’s not too late to have a last-minute adventure or two before summer is over!

If you’re a student in Minneapolis or close by, I’ve compiled a list of adventures for you, from art museums to water fun and beyond.

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1. Head to the lake. Which lake, you might ask? Well, there’s plenty to choose from when you’re in Minneapolis. You can visit Lake Calhoun, Lake Harriet, Lake of the Isles, or Cedar Lake, which make up much of the Chain of Lakes district and boasts beaches, swimming, fishing, parks, and running and biking trails.

Lake Calhoun and Cedar Lake are popular for canoeing, kayaking, and windsurfing, and you can swim at one of each of their three beaches. Have a dog or just love canines? Make sure to stop by the Lake of the Isles dog park to enjoy some furry, four-legged fun on your way to the water.

Other great lakes to add to your Minneapolis adventure list are Lake Nokomis, which offers fishing and sailing, and Lake Hiawatha, which has a fishing dock and wading pool. Of course, if you’re not a big swimmer and don’t want to head onto the water, you can simply pack a picnic or good book and head to a nearby lake for a picturesque and tranquil adventure before school starts.

2. Take in a waterfall. Speaking of tranquility, another great and more low-key adventure to embark on before Fall semester is stopping by the local and nearby waterfalls. You can start your waterfall tour by checking out Saint Anthony Falls, which is an impressive part of the downtown landscape and is a pretty cool major waterfall on the Mississippi River.

After Saint Anthony Falls, head to Minnehaha Park to take in the Minnehaha Falls, which is probably the best known waterfall within Minneapolis. The Minnehaha Falls drop into the Minnehaha Creek, which flows into the Mississippi River.

If you’re willing to drive a bit beyond Minneapolis, travel about 40 minutes to Hastings to see their 35-foot waterfall, Vermillion Falls, or drive a little less than 1.5 hours to Minneopa State Park near Mankato to see the beautiful Minneopa Falls, which flow over an 8-foot cliff and then drop nearly 40 feet into the creek below.

Depending on when school starts, if you’re headed to Mankato to see the Minneopa Falls, consider staying a day or two to take advantage of the many camping and hiking opportunities along the Minnesota River.

3. Check out a museum. If you want to stay indoors for some last-minute fun, Minneapolis has a long list of artsy and museum adventures you may want to explore. Take in some contemporary visual and performing arts exhibits at the Walker Art Center or check out the Mill City Museum, which is built into the ruins of what once was the world’s largest flour mill.

If you’re into other cultures, consider getting historical and Swedish at the American Swedish Institute or visiting the Museum of Russian Art, which holds a collection of 20th century Russian art.

For a museum that boasts a 5,000-year span of everything from mummies to Monet, you’ll want to go MIA (missing in action) at the MIA (Minneapolis Institute of Art). You can also stop by the Bell Museum of Natural History, which has lots of wildlife exhibits and a planetarium, or the Weisman Art Museum, a modern and artsy building which houses a collection of paintings, ceramics, and more.

Want to head to a museum that’s more singularly focused? Then check out the Bakken Museum, which educates visitors about the history of electricity and magnetism.

4. Chill at a park. Simply hanging out with friends or enjoying the great outdoors can be an adventure in and of itself — so pick a park to go to on a fun outing. As far as park options go, there are lots of parks around Minneapolis — and many of them surround lakes so you can actually both relax and enjoy a park and lake during your adventure.

Head to Minneapolis Chain of Lakes Regional Park, which encompasses Cedar Lake Park, Lake Calhoun Park, Lake Harriet Park, Lake of the Isles Park, Lyndale Park, William Berry Park, Brownie Lake Park, Dean Parkway, and Beard’s Plaisance. It’s your destination for everything from beaches to walking or biking trails to boating to various sport courts and a picnic area, making it perfect for your last-minute Minneapolis adventure.

You can also head to Gold Medal Park, Theodore Wirth Park, Minnehaha Park, or Loring Park. If you’re into biking, many of these parks have great trails within them, but you may also want to check out the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway, the River Road Trail, or Midtown Greenway for even better bike paths.

So students in Minneapolis, get out there and have a last-minute adventure before school starts — because once it does, you won’t have as much time to take advantage of all the cool opportunities Minneapolis has to offer.

WaHu [phone: 952-777-2083is proud to partner with the Salvation Army to collect clothing, furniture, household goods, and appliances for donation to benefit our community. All proceeds are used to fund the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Centers, where beneficiaries find help, hope, and a second chance at life through work therapy, education, counseling and spiritual development. 

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