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The metro's roomiest lake beach — a wide sand crescent with a beach house, a guarded swimming area, and paddleboard rentals a short walk down the shore.

The smaller, quieter beach at the north end of Lake Harriet, a short walk from the bandshell and the Rose Garden.

The wide southwest-shore beach on Bde Maka Ska, with grass to spread out on above the sand and the lake loop right behind you.

The main beach on Cedar Lake, a short walk from the parking — sand, calm water, and the least crowded of the chain most mornings.

A neighborhood lake beach off the Hiawatha parkway, with a guarded swimming area and the regional trail running past.

St. Paul's big guarded beach on Lake Phalen, with a sand swimming area, a splash pad next door, and free parking.

The east-side beach on Bde Maka Ska, closest to the Uptown end of the lake and the busiest on a hot afternoon.

The north-end beach on Bde Maka Ska, a short walk from the refectory and the sailboat docks.

The east-shore beach on Cedar Lake, backed by woods and reached off the Cedar Lake Trail.

The small south beach on Cedar Lake, shaded and quieter than the Point up the shore.

The southeast beach on Lake Harriet, near the bandshell and the streetcar line.

The smaller south-side beach on Lake Nokomis, quieter than the main beach up the shore.

The guarded beach at Theodore Wirth Park, the metro's largest regional park, with a beach house and the trails behind it.

A sand swimming beach on the north shore of Medicine Lake in Plymouth, part of Three Rivers' French Regional Park.

An unguarded sand beach on Bryant Lake in Eden Prairie, with a concession stand and the regional park's trails and picnic spots.

Three Rivers' chlorinated swim pond at Elm Creek Park Reserve in Maple Grove — filtered water, a sand beach, a changing shelter, and concessions. A daily or season wristband is required.

One of the state's most-visited beaches — a wide sand beach on Bush Lake in Bloomington's Hyland area, now run by Three Rivers, with a volleyball court and a concession stand.

A clean, shallow sand beach on Fish Lake in Maple Grove — gentle water that suits young kids, free and unguarded.

The swimming beach at Cleary Lake Regional Park in Prior Lake, part of a big park with a golf course, campground, and trails.

Two sand beaches on Lake Independence at Three Rivers' Baker Park Reserve in Maple Plain, with a creative play area a short walk off.

A chlorinated, sand-bottomed swim pond at Lake Minnetonka Regional Park in Minnetrista — lake-swimming feel with pool-clean water. A daily pass is required.

Ramsey County's only lifeguarded beach — Long Lake Regional Park in New Brighton, with guards on duty Thursday through Sunday afternoons in summer.

A Ramsey County sand beach on the big, boat-busy White Bear Lake — unguarded, open dawn to dusk through the summer.

The Lake Johanna beach at Tony Schmidt Regional Park in Arden Hills — a Ramsey County sand beach with trails and picnic spots around it.

A Ramsey County sand beach on Lake Josephine, on the Arden Hills–Roseville line — unguarded, open through the summer season.

Roseville's Lake McCarrons beach — a small, close-in Ramsey County sand beach just north of St. Paul.

A Ramsey County beach on Lake Owasso in Shoreview, with a playground and picnic area next to the sand.

A quiet Ramsey County sand beach on Turtle Lake in northern Shoreview — unguarded, open through the summer.

The Snail Lake beach at Vadnais-Snail Lakes Regional Park in Shoreview — a Ramsey County sand beach with trails around the lakes.

A small Ramsey County beach on Lake Gervais in Little Canada — unguarded, open dawn to dusk in summer.

An Anoka County sand beach on Coon Lake in Columbus, at the north edge of the metro — a vehicle permit gets you in.

Anoka County's Lake George Regional Park in Oak Grove — a sand swimming beach with a boat launch, picnic areas, and miles of trails.

A far-north Anoka County beach on Martin Lake in Linwood Township — a sand swimming area with picnic grounds and a boat launch.

The swimming beach at Anoka County's Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve in Lino Lakes, with camping and trails through the reserve.

The Schulze Lake beach at Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan — Dakota County's main swimming beach, with water tested weekly through the season.

Chanhassen's Lake Ann Park beach, with paddle-craft rentals, a fishing pier, ball fields, and concessions right by the sand.

A smaller, quieter Lake Ann beach in Chanhassen — Greenwood Shores, with a picnic area and trails and no boat launch crowd.

Carver County's Lake Minnewashta Regional Park in Chanhassen — a sand beach with paddle rentals, a fishing pier, and sand volleyball.

A neighborhood beach on Lake Minnewashta at Chanhassen's Roundhouse Park, with a playground, fishing pier, and restrooms.

A sand beach on big Lake Waconia at Carver County's regional park, with kayak and paddleboard rentals at the water's edge.

One of the metro's clearest swimming lakes — Washington County's Square Lake north of Stillwater, staffed with lifeguards on summer afternoons and popular with divers.

A wide sand beach on Big Marine Lake at Washington County's park reserve, open Memorial Day to Labor Day, with camping and trails nearby.

A chlorinated, sand-bottomed swim pond at Washington County's Lake Elmo Park Reserve — lake feel with pool-clean water and lifeguards. A daily pass is required.

A St. Croix River beach at the southern tip of Washington County, where the St. Croix meets the Mississippi — unguarded, open through the summer.

A river swimming beach on the St. Croix at Washington County's St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park, with a boat launch and wooded campground.

A free splash pad in Northeast, beside the ballfields and the rec center — good for cooling off after the playground.

The splash pad at Phelps Field in south Minneapolis, alongside the rec center, the playground, and the wading pool.

A free splash pad on the West Bank near the university, tucked among the towers of Cedar-Riverside.

A small neighborhood splash pad at Franklin Steele Square, a green block just east of downtown.

A free splash pad at Roy Wilkins (Lewis) Park in St. Paul's North End.

The splash pad at Conway Park on St. Paul's East Side, part of the rec center grounds.

A splash pad along Victory Memorial Drive in far north Minneapolis, opened in 2025 where the old wading pool stood.

A splash pad and play area at Parque Castillo on St. Paul's West Side, in the District del Sol.

The interactive fountain at Maple Grove's Central Park — dozens of jets on a plaza that becomes an LED light show after dark, with the playground and Arbor Lakes shops next door.

A free splash pad at the M Health Fairview Sports Center in Woodbury — press a button to restart the jets, with restrooms on site.

A splash pad at Apple Valley's Kelley Park, next to the amphitheater in the Central Village district.

A free splash pad at Round Lake Park in Eden Prairie, a short walk from the lake's swimming beach and the playground.

The splash pad at Lakeville's 68-acre Grand Prairie Park, alongside a big playground, ball fields, and pickleball courts.

St. Louis Park's splash pad at Oak Hill Park — bubbling hoses, nozzles, and sprinkler arches kids can set off themselves.

A free splash pad at Lions Park in Shakopee, next to the Fun For All accessible playground.

Jets in the plaza at Nicollet Commons Park in downtown Burnsville — press the button to turn them on.

Bloomington's splash pad at Cedarcrest Park, with a playground, ball fields, and seasonal restrooms.

A free splash pad at Boulevard Plaza on the Coon Rapids Ice Center grounds, with a play area and restrooms.

The splash pad at Cliff Fen Park in Burnsville, open late into the evening through the summer.

A free splash pad right at Phalen Beach — cool off in the sprays without getting in the lake, with restrooms and picnic spots close by.

Ground sprays, overhead fountains, and dump buckets at Eagan's Central Park, with a sun shelter and picnic tables alongside.

A big rain-deck splash pad in Rosemount with a 'Water Journey' maze of ground nozzles, plus a covered shelter and drinking fountain.

Inver Grove Heights' inclusive splash pad — ground sprays and bucket dumps under a shade shelter, next to an accessible playground.

West St. Paul's touch-activated spray park: 25-plus features on four-minute cycles, a playground next door, and shade trees over the benches.

One of Eden Prairie's four splash pads — push-button sprays beside a sand-and-water play area and an accessible playground.

An Eden Prairie splash pad with a playground and picnic shelter a few steps away, off Homeward Hills Road.

A quieter neighborhood splash pad next to the Nesbitt Preserve playground in Eden Prairie.

Button-activated ground jets in downtown Wayzata's lakefront plaza — a quick cool-off steps from Lake Minnetonka.

An accessible splash pad beside the Lions Park playground in New Brighton, with restrooms and shade close by.

'Splash Down' at City Hall Park in Mounds View — sprays beside the playground, with shaded pavilions you can rent.

The splash pad on Chanhassen's downtown Civic Campus, rebuilt and reopened in 2026, next to the playground, skate park, and amphitheater.

A free interactive water fountain by the shelter at Chaska's Firemen's Park, steps from the Clayhole swimming beach and the playground.

A zero-depth splash pad with button-timed spray zones in downtown Cologne's City Square Park — it shuts off below 70 degrees.

Three Rivers' free 'Mini-Mississippi' water-play area at Mississippi Gateway — shallow splashing beside the Hillside play area and the Treetop Trail.

Hopkins' button-activated splash pad at Burnes Park, with a playground, picnic shelters, and restrooms alongside.

Richfield's nature-themed splash pad, new in 2026, right beside the outdoor pool with restrooms at the pool complex.

A free splash pad next to the beach and playground at Blaine's Lakeside Commons, with restrooms in the beach house.

Fridley's splash pad at Commons Park, new in 2026, beside an inclusive playground with a shaded picnic pavilion.

Ramsey's 12,000-square-foot splash pad — 80-plus jets and a calmer toddler area, with shaded Adirondack seating; opened summer 2026.

Columbia Heights' Huset Park splash pad — 40-plus sprayers under a triple-sail shade system, next to the playground.

Crystal's splash pad sits at the center of the rebuilt, inclusive Becker Park playground, with the community center and restrooms next door.

Buckets and fountains at Robbinsdale's Manor Park, with a playground, picnic shelter, and a tennis court alongside.

Champlin's Andrews Park splash pad, with a snack shack, playgrounds, ballfields, and sand volleyball around it.

A small touch-activated splash pad on Champlin's riverfront at Mississippi Crossings, by the event-center concession and the playground.

Brooklyn Park's splash pad at the Zanewood Recreation Center, home to the city's free Summer Splash days.

Cottage Grove's zero-depth splash pad at Highlands Park — pillars, mushroom fountains, and touch-activated geysers, with a playground next door.

Jordan's colorful splash pad at Lagoon Park, beside the Mill Pond swimming beach, a big playground, and the Sand Creek waterfall.

Little Canada's Pioneer Park has button-activated fountains that spill into a man-made stream, next to an all-inclusive playground.

Shoreview Commons' destination playground has spray features built in — kids get soaked all summer — with the community center and restrooms right there.

North Minneapolis's chemical-free natural swimming pool — the first of its kind in North America, cleaned by plants in an adjacent pond, and free to swim.

Bloomington's outdoor aquatic center off 90th — a zero-depth entry, waterslides, and shade for a reliable July afternoon.

Eagan's outdoor water park by the Civic Arena, with tube slides and a zero-depth pool — a full-day summer stop.

The indoor pool at the Chaska Community Center — a lap pool, two slides, a rope swing, and a diving platform, open year-round.

St. Paul's outdoor pool at Como Regional Park, an easy pairing with the zoo and conservatory next door. Open mid-June to late August.

Edina's long-running outdoor aquatic center off 66th, with waterslides, a zero-depth pool, and a diving well.

St. Paul's indoor water park inside the Oxford Community Center — a lap pool, two slides, and a kids' area. It runs the off-season: closed for summer, back in September.

New Hope's outdoor aquatic park — an eight-lane, 50-meter pool, diving boards, a drop slide, and a zero-depth rec area with a current channel.

Apple Valley's neighborhood outdoor pool at Redwood Park — a zero-depth entry, a climbing wall, and a diving board.

Richfield's outdoor pool off 66th — a 50-meter main pool, a double waterslide, a diving board, and a zero-depth wading area.

St. Louis Park's outdoor aquatic park off Monterey, with slides and a zero-depth pool, open early June into late August.

The indoor Tropics water park at the Shoreview Community Center — a four-story slide, a lazy river, and a zero-depth area, open year-round.

Minnesota's largest outdoor water park, in Coon Rapids' Bunker Hills — a wave pool, multi-story slides, a lazy river, and a rock wall you climb over the water. (A park vehicle permit is required on top of admission.)

Crystal's outdoor aquatic center on Douglas Drive — slides, a zero-depth pool, and a July-afternoon crowd from the northwest suburbs.

St. Paul's outdoor aquatic center on Edgcumbe, with a zero-depth entry and a waterslide, open early June through Labor Day.

The indoor water park at the Maple Grove Community Center — a 130-foot slide, a zero-depth beach area, and lap lanes, open year-round.

The year-round indoor pool at the Eagan Community Center — an easy winter fallback when Cascade Bay is closed.

MPRB's north-side water park — loop slides, a zero-depth pool, and a water playground off Golden Valley Road. Kids under 18 swim free.

An MPRB water park in Northeast — three big slides, a log walk, spray features, and lap lanes with a zero-depth end for easy access.

Shakopee's sand-ringed chlorinated water park at Lions Park — a pool-meets-beach hybrid with two drop slides and a 300-foot waterslide.

Anoka's outdoor aquatic center — a 12-foot climbing wall, a 200-foot slide, a diving board, and zero-depth entry; open Memorial Day to late August.

Apple Valley's Family Aquatic Center — Splash Valley — with waterslides, a zero-depth entry, and a sprayground in one paid outdoor complex.

Hastings' outdoor family aquatic center — zero-depth entry, a 201-foot waterslide and a drop slide, a log crossing, and a rock wall.

The Grove at Inver Grove Heights' Veterans Memorial Community Center — an indoor waterpark plus a lap pool and dive well, open year-round.

The deep one — three to twelve feet, with a diving board, a climbing wall and basketball hoops over the water.

The little-kid counterpart to Northview: a big interactive play structure, zero-depth entry on two sides, and deck space to sit on. Closed for the 2026 season.

Brooklyn Center's community center pool — an indoor 50-meter pool with a 150-foot waterslide and a zero-depth wading area, open year-round.

The 53-foot falls, the limestone bluffs, and the Sea Salt line out the door in July — one of the metro's oldest and most-loved parks, on the Mississippi at the mouth of Minnehaha Creek.

The metro's biggest city park — mountain-bike singletrack, a wildflower garden, a swimming beach, and the Loppet's Trailhead for winter skiing, all a few minutes from downtown.

The free zoo, the glass conservatory that stays 75 degrees in February, the lakeside pavilion, and a whole day's worth of paths around Como Lake.

Dakota County's biggest park — nearly 2,000 acres of trails, lakes, a swimming beach at Schulze Lake, canoe routes, and camping on the metro's south edge.

Bloomington's big Three Rivers reserve — the award-winning Chutes and Ladders playground, a visitor center, prairie-and-woods trails, and a chairlift-served tubing hill in winter.

The largest park in the Three Rivers district — 5,300 acres of trails, a swim pond, a nature center, and a tubing-and-ski hill, on the metro's northwest edge.

A Three Rivers park built around art and nature on Silver Lake — a gallery and café in the visitor center, restored prairie and oak woods, and classes year-round.

The University of Minnesota's 1,200-acre arboretum in Chaska — display gardens, a three-mile drive, miles of trails, and a giant model-train garden, open 363 days a year. Admission for adults; kids free.

A big east-metro Ramsey County park — paved and mountain-bike trails, a dog park, and the seasonal Battle Creek Waterworks splash park for the under-10 crowd.

The spiral-mound park behind the Guthrie in Downtown East — climb the 32-foot mound for a river-and-skyline view, best at dusk. Privately built, always free.

Anoka County's 1,700-acre park in Coon Rapids — 10-plus miles of trails, archery, camping, and Bunker Beach water park in summer. (A vehicle permit is required to enter.)

A riverfront park on the Mississippi in Northeast — a little lighthouse, a paddleboat dock, a playground, and the Nicollet Island footbridge into the old milling district.

St. Paul's largest natural park — nearly seven miles of paved trail through floodplain forest along the Mississippi and around Crosby Lake, below the Highland bluff.

The award-winning 16,000-square-foot creative play structure at Hyland Lake Park Reserve — ramps, towers, and slides that draw families from across the metro.

Woodbury's fully inclusive playground on the M Health Fairview Sports Center campus — shaded decks, sensory play, and wheelchair ramps, built for kids of every ability.

Minneapolis's first fully inclusive playground, tucked in the Wabun area of Minnehaha Park — a summer-camp-styled natural play space with a spraying-rock water feature.

The big destination playground at Maple Grove's Central Park, steps from the interactive fountain and the Arbor Lakes shops.

The playground and bike park at Cottage Grove's Hamlet Park, the east metro's go-to for a long afternoon with ball fields, trails, and shelters alongside.

Three Rivers' inclusive playground at French Regional Park in Plymouth, built around a three-story fire tower with slides on every level, plus zip lines and see-saws.

Roseville's Central Park inclusive playground (Victoria West) — a We-Go-Round, a zip line, bucket swings, and ramps so kids of every ability play side by side.

Eden Prairie's fire-tower playground at Staring Lake — a three-story metal tower with slides, a telescope and old radio, a log prairie house, and a hollow tree to climb.

Stillwater's downtown Teddy Bear Park — a giant granite bear, a treehouse with a log slide, and a Lift Bridge climber, all geared to the seven-and-under crowd.

Crystal's Becker Park — a fully inclusive, ramped playground rebuilt in 2020 with poured-in-place surfacing, wrapped around the splash pad and community center.

One of Minnesota's largest playgrounds — Three Rivers' Elm Creek Play Area in Maple Grove, with two three-story slide towers, a climbable fossil, and a spinning web.

Waconia's Waterford Park — a big, bright inclusive playground built so kids of all abilities can play together, out at the western edge of the metro.

Shoreview Commons' destination playground — a big nature-themed structure with built-in water-spray play, right by the community center.

The world's largest outdoor refrigerated skating surface, in Roseville — a 400-meter speed track wrapping a hockey sheet, lit and open November into March.

Skate a groomed quarter-mile of winding canals across three ponds at Centennial Lakes in Edina — free with your own skates, with rentals and a warming pavilion.

St. Paul's outdoor skating hub off St. Clair — five rinks (hockey, pond hockey, an oval, and open skating), a warming house, and free skate rentals seven days a week.

The city's indoor rinks off Kenwood Parkway, with open skate year-round when the outdoor ice is gone — three sheets, cheap admission, skate rental on site.

One of the metro's few refrigerated outdoor rinks — a skating loop through Maple Grove's Central Park, free with your own skates and rentals on site.

St. Louis Park's Recreation Outdoor Center — a covered, refrigerated outdoor rink that opens in late fall and skates well past the thaw.

Edina's Braemar Arena — a big multi-sheet indoor rink with regular public open skate; the ice is in most of the year.

Bloomington's indoor ice arena (BIG) — three sheets and regular public open-skate sessions through the season.

The metro's marquee sledding hill, just north of the Wirth Chalet — long runs with a warming chalet steps away, open 7 am to 9 pm all winter.

One of the steepest hills in Minneapolis, on the edge of the Columbia golf course in Northeast — not for the timid, and free.

The west slope above Powderhorn Lake in south Minneapolis — a friendly neighborhood hill, and home each January to the gloriously absurd Art Sled Rally.

A big, fast sledding hill in Battle Creek Regional Park on the east side — one of the metro's best, with a warming shelter and parking right there.

The gentle hill by the Como golf course — an easy, kid-friendly sled next to the zoo and conservatory.

St. Paul's fan-favorite hill at Highland Park — the city rates it 'steep,' so it's a fast one; free and open all winter.

An easy east-side sledding hill at St. Paul's Margaret Park — gentle enough for the little ones, free all winter.

A friendly neighborhood sledding hill at Merriam Park in St. Paul, next to the rec center off St. Anthony Avenue.

A fast, steep sledding hill at Bloomington's Running Park, over on the Mall of America side of town.

Eden Prairie's 700-foot mega hill at Staring Lake — one of the metro's longest sled runs, with parking and the amphitheater nearby.

The sledding hill on the west side of Roseville's Central Park, just north of the Victoria West playground — an easy family hill.

The free sledding hill in the Winter Recreation Area, up from the swim pond parking lot. The lighted tubing hill next door has lifts and snowmaking, but that one is ticketed and worth reserving ahead.

Lighted and groomed, next to the visitor centre — so it stays good after dark. Non-rail sleds only. Nearly six miles of lit ski trail run from the same car park.

Free sledding in the shadow of the Hyland ski hill, with the chalet and nine and a half miles of groomed ski trail on the same site.

The Park Board's flagship 18, par 72, in Theodore Wirth Park on the Minneapolis–Golden Valley line — a separate par-3 short course sits just across the parkway.

The Park Board's 9-hole par-3 in Wirth Park — a quick, walkable round and a good place to learn.

A Park Board 18 in Northeast, par 71, on the ground it has occupied since 1919 — rolling, tree-lined, and close in.

The Park Board's Gross course, par 71, laid along St. Anthony Boulevard in Northeast — a long-standing muni favorite.

The Park Board's par-73 course on Lake Hiawatha in south Minneapolis — its long-term future is under review over groundwater and flooding, but it plays on.

A Park Board 9-hole, par 35, out in the Fort Snelling area — flat, quick, and cheap.

A Minneapolis Park Board 18 from 1926, on Excelsior Boulevard straddling Hopkins and St. Louis Park — classic parkland golf that occasionally floods.

St. Paul's par-70 muni in Como Park, hilly and tucked among the trees near the zoo and conservatory.

St. Paul's championship muni, par 72, in Highland Park — a well-kept 18 with a 9-hole companion course next door.

The 9-hole companion to Highland National in St. Paul — a shorter, quicker round on the same hillside.

St. Paul's par-70 muni on Lake Phalen — an approachable, scenic 18 on the east side.

Edina's rebuilt muni — an 18-hole championship course plus the 9-hole par-3 Academy course, an indoor-outdoor practice center, and a restaurant.

Golden Valley's muni — an 18-hole regulation course with a 9-hole par-3 and a driving range, all at the Brookview community hub.

Three Rivers' 18-hole championship course inside Baker Park Reserve in Medina, with the 9-hole Evergreen executive course alongside.

Three Rivers' 9-hole executive course in Minnetonka, par 31, with a practice center — a friendly, walkable loop.

Three Rivers' youth-focused golf center in Plymouth — a 9-hole par-31, a lighted par-27 pitch-and-putt, and a lighted range.

Three Rivers' 9-hole par-3 in Bloomington, par 27, paired with a big driving range and short-game learning center.

Bloomington's par-68 muni, executive-length and walkable, on land donated by Dr. Paul Dwan and open since 1970.

Chaska's city-owned Arthur Hills design over 285 acres — consistently rated one of the best public courses in the Twin Cities.

An 18-hole daily-fee course near Highway 212 on the Chaska–Chanhassen edge.

An 18-hole, par-72 course west of Chaska, open to daily-fee public play since 1969.

An 18-hole public championship course in Victoria, with a driving range on site.

An 18-hole semi-private course in Waconia that keeps a dedicated open-play tee sheet for the public.

A 9-hole executive/par-3 in Chanhassen, par 29, with a big driving range and practice area.

An 18-hole public course in western Carver County, about 6,600 yards from the tips.

An 18-hole public course on a scenic 200-acre site in Maple Plain, with five tee sets.

The north metro's flagship muni in Bunker Hills Regional Park — 27 championship holes plus a 9-hole executive, on Anoka County land.

An Anoka County par-72 in the Rice Creek Chain of Lakes reserve, with water in play on seven holes.

An 18-hole daily-fee course and wedding venue in far-north Anoka County.

A par-71 daily-fee course in Ramsey, built in 1988, with a driving range.

A Scottish links-style par-72 in Ramsey, a Joel Goldstrand design open since 1992.

A big public facility in Ham Lake — two 18-hole championship courses plus a 9-hole executive.

The City of Anoka's par-71 muni, open since 1923, with a banquet center on site.

Brooklyn Park's Robert Trent Jones Jr. muni, par 72, famous for its island-fairway 17th — one of the metro's showpiece public 18s.

Brooklyn Park's 9-hole par-30 executive course — six par-3s and three par-4s, open since 1960.

Brooklyn Center's 9-hole par-3 on 28 acres along Highway 100 — a quick, affordable round.

A public links-style course at Blaine's National Sports Center, a PGA Tour Design Services layout open since 2003.

A 27-hole public facility in East Bethel — an 18-hole par-72 plus a 9-hole executive.

An upscale public daily-fee in Maple Grove, par 72, that has hosted LPGA events — a Fought/Cupp design from 1996.

A 9-hole public course, par 35, on the Maple Grove–Dayton edge, with bowling and a grill in the same complex.

A scenic 9-hole executive course in Shoreview with a learning center and driving range.

New Brighton's 9-hole executive muni, par 30, open since 1969 — a tidy, quick loop.

A par-71 daily-fee course in Rogers, at the northwest edge of Hennepin County, built in 1987.

Apple Valley's city-owned 18, par 71, with a driving range and a bar-and-grill.

Inver Grove Heights' city-owned 27 holes — an 18-hole championship course plus a 9-hole executive on the same wooded property.

A 9-hole public par-3 in Inver Grove Heights — a short, walkable round.

A public par-71 on the Burnsville–Lakeville line near Crystal Lake.

A public 18-hole championship course, par 71, in Lakeville.

A public 27-hole facility in Rosemount — three nines (Red, White, Blue) played as 18-hole combinations.

A public par-72 in Farmington, open since 1978.

A public par-71 between Rosemount and Farmington.

Burnsville's city-owned 9-hole par-27 executive course — a quick, easy walk.

A public 18-hole executive course in Eagan, par 63, with a driving range — open since 1969.

A public par-72 built into a wooded state game refuge near Hastings.

A public par-73 on 200-plus acres of state game refuge near Hastings.

A public 36-hole facility near Hastings — two 18-hole championship courses, Gold and Silver.

Mendota Heights' city-owned 9-hole par-27 community course, built in 1961.

A public 18 in Shakopee, open since 1988, with a ferry ride across Lake O'Dowd mid-round.

A public par-72 at the Mystic Lake resort in Prior Lake, opened in 2005.

A public par-72 in Prior Lake, a Weiskopf/Morrish design open since 1995.

A public par-72 on the Lakeville–Prior Lake line — a former National Golf Course of the Year.

Three Rivers' 9-hole course inside Cleary Lake Regional Park, home to a First Tee program.

A public par-72 in Jordan, opened in 2000.

A public par-71 in Belle Plaine, at the southwest edge of the metro, built in 1991.

A municipal daily-fee 18, par 72, running in New Prague since 1931.

A public 18-hole championship course near New Prague, a Joel Goldstrand design with a 1940s barn clubhouse.

A par-72 championship course in Woodbury, privately owned but open to the public.

The City of Woodbury's par-72 muni, open since 1998.

A 9-hole public par-3 in Woodbury — a fast, easy round for all ages.

Cottage Grove's city-owned par-71, a Don Herfort design along the river.

A short, executive-style 18, par 62, set in an old apple orchard near Stillwater.

A semi-private 18 near Stillwater that keeps public tee times — book ahead.

A public 27 near Stillwater — an 18-hole championship course plus a par-29 executive 9.

A public 18 near Stillwater that stretches to about 7,300 yards from the tips.

A Bobby Weed design open since 2000, often ranked the top public-access course in the Twin Cities.

A public par-70 on City of Oakdale land, privately operated — marshy, wooded, and close in.

A pitch-and-putt par-3 golf park in Lake Elmo, with a driving range — good for beginners.

A public par-71 in Forest Lake, a Tentis/Baldwin design open since 2000.

The City of Forest Lake's 9-hole regulation muni, par 36 — locals call it 'The Rock.'

A public 18 in Hugo, just north of White Bear Lake — privately owned, open to all.

Ramsey County's historic 18 from 1929, fully renovated in 2014 — a former host of PGA and LPGA events.

A Ramsey County par-70 in Maplewood, built in 1957 — flat, walkable, and affordable.

A Ramsey County 9-hole, par 35, with a lighted driving range near Battle Creek.

A Ramsey County-owned 18, par 71, in White Bear Lake — open since 1927, privately operated.

The City of Roseville's 9-hole par-3 — a quick, close-in round off Hamline Avenue.

The metro's flagship market since 1937 — open sheds on Lyndale, Wednesday through Sunday mornings, with a reduced indoor market in the off-season. Takes SNAP/EBT.

A riverfront Saturday market by the Mill City Museum and Guthrie — organic-leaning, with an indoor winter market too. Takes SNAP/EBT and Market Bucks.

The Corcoran neighborhood's market near Hi-Lake — Saturday mornings and Tuesday afternoons. Takes SNAP/EBT and Market Bucks.

A Sunday-morning market at MLK Park in Kingfield, run by Neighborhood Roots. Takes SNAP/EBT and Market Bucks.

The Saturday market at 50th & Knox (Mount Olivet's lot), which took over from the old Fulton market in 2025. Neighborhood Roots; takes SNAP/EBT.

A Wednesday afternoon-into-evening market in south Minneapolis, run by Neighborhood Roots. Takes SNAP/EBT.

A Saturday market in the St. Boniface lot in Northeast, with a third-Sunday indoor winter market at the Solar Arts Building. Takes SNAP/EBT.

A Thursday-afternoon market in the Webber-Camden neighborhood, taking SNAP/EBT, WIC, and senior nutrition vouchers.

A Thursday-evening market on the MoZaic plaza in Uptown, roughly June through September.

An Indigenous-focused Thursday market in the American Indian Cultural Corridor, run by NACDI — SNAP/EBT with a $10 match, plus Market Bucks.

A Sunday-morning market in the Linden Hills business district, run by Neighborhood Roots.

A Sunday riverfront market at St. Anthony Main, roughly June through September.

The Lowertown flagship since 1854 — Saturday and Sunday mornings, growers-only, with an indoor winter market on Prince Street. Takes SNAP/EBT.

A Thursday-afternoon market in the Como neighborhood, run by the St. Paul Growers' Association. Takes SNAP/EBT.

A Friday-afternoon market on Summit Hill, at House of Hope Presbyterian Church.

A Saturday community market on St. Paul's West Side, run by the West Side Community Organization. Takes SNAP/EBT.

A Saturday-morning market in the St. Luke Church lot in Highland Park.

A large outdoor Hmong-grower produce market attached to the year-round HmongTown Marketplace — open most days in season.

A Thursday-afternoon market at the Maple Grove Community Center.

A Wednesday-afternoon riverfront market at Anoka's Memorial Park, alongside the Rockin' on the Rum concerts.

A Wednesday market at the Coon Rapids Ice Center, run by the Anoka County Growers Association.

A Saturday-morning market at St. Timothy's, run by the Anoka County Growers Association. Takes SNAP/EBT.

The Tuesday-afternoon session of Blaine's market at St. Timothy's, Anoka County Growers Association.

A Saturday market at Riverdale Church in Andover, taking EBT and Market Bucks.

A Tuesday-afternoon market by The Draw amphitheater in Ramsey.

A Tuesday-afternoon market at Champlin's Andrews Park, its new permanent home.

A Tuesday-afternoon market by Boerboom Veterans Park in downtown Osseo.

A Wednesday market (with a September Saturday run) at Mickman Brothers Garden Center — around 30 vendors and food trucks.

A Wednesday market at North Hennepin Community College, with Market Bucks matching SNAP/EBT 2-to-1.

A Thursday market hosted by CAPI and the city, off Brooklyn Boulevard.

A Saturday-morning market in Fridley. Takes SNAP/EBT.

A short-season summer market at Immaculate Conception (40th & Jackson), paired with a summer-meals program.

A Wednesday market at the New Brighton Community Center — around 35 vendors and food trucks, plus a monthly winter market.

A Tuesday market at the Shoreview Community Center, with an indoor winter market January through April.

A Tuesday-morning market at Corpus Christi Church, run by the St. Paul Growers' Association.

A Wednesday-morning market at Aldrich Arena, run by the St. Paul Growers' Association.

A Monday-afternoon market in a Rice Street lot in Little Canada.

A Friday-morning downtown market running since the 1970s — 50-plus vendors on Clark Avenue.

A Saturday-morning market at Veterans Memorial (Triangle) Park in Mahtomedi.

A small Thursday-afternoon branch of the St. Paul Farmers' Market, on Highway 61 in Hugo.

A Saturday-morning market at Forest Lake City Hall.

A Wednesday-afternoon market at Richard Walton Memorial Park in Oakdale.

A Sunday market at Red Rock Elementary, run by the St. Paul Growers' Association.

A Saturday-morning market at Lake Elmo Elementary.

A Saturday-morning market in the Riverview lot by the historic courthouse in Stillwater.

A Thursday-afternoon market at Edina's Centennial Lakes Park, with live music and an Art Cart.

A Saturday-morning market in downtown Hopkins. Takes SNAP/EBT.

A Tuesday-afternoon market in the Marsh lot on Minnetonka Boulevard. Takes EBT.

A Saturday market at Civic Plaza, with a midweek summer session and a February indoor winter market.

A Saturday-morning market under the pavilion at Veterans Memorial Park in Richfield — rain or shine.

A Thursday-afternoon market at the Promenade of Wayzata, near Lake Minnetonka.

A Tuesday-afternoon market by Excelsior Elementary, near Lake Minnetonka.

A Saturday market at Chanhassen's City Center Park, off Kerber Boulevard.

A Thursday-evening market in downtown Chaska, by Red Bench Bakery.

A Thursday-evening market in downtown Waconia.

A Thursday-evening market at OMNI Brewing in Victoria.

A Tuesday-afternoon community market in Carver.

A Tuesday-midday market run by the Shakopee Chamber.

A Sunday market near the Dan Patch depot in Savage. Takes EBT and Market Bucks.

A Saturday-morning market in downtown Prior Lake.

A Saturday market at the Diamondhead Education Center, run by the St. Paul Farmers' Market. Takes EBT.

A Thursday-midday market at Mary, Mother of the Church, run by the St. Paul Farmers' Market. Takes EBT.

A Wednesday market at the Apple Valley Municipal Center, run by the St. Paul Farmers' Market.

A Wednesday and Saturday market at the Lakeville Area Arts Center, run by the St. Paul Farmers' Market.

A Wednesday-evening city market at the Eagan Festival Grounds, with live music and food. Takes SNAP/EBT.

A Tuesday-afternoon market at the Rosemount Community Center, run by the St. Paul Farmers' Market. Takes EBT.

A Thursday-afternoon market in downtown Farmington, with a separate Saturday growers market at the visitor center.

A Tuesday and Saturday market at the Westview Shopping Center in Hastings.

A Sunday market at the Veterans Memorial Community Center, run by the St. Paul Farmers' Market. Takes EBT.

A Wednesday-afternoon market behind Wakota Federal Credit Union, run by the St. Paul Farmers' Market.

A Friday-morning market at Signal Hills, run by the St. Paul Farmers' Market.

A Saturday-morning market at the Highway 282 and 21 corner in Jordan.

Six-plus acres along the Mississippi in Minnehaha Park — only partly fenced, so it's for dogs with a solid recall. River access on the far side. MPRB permit, annual or daily.

A fully fenced 1.87-acre run on the southwest lakes, with a separate pen for small dogs. MPRB permit, annual or daily.

A fenced 1.37-acre run in the Mississippi Gorge, with entrances off Franklin Terrace and West River Parkway. MPRB permit required.

A fenced 2.62-acre run on the North Side, with walking paths and prairie views. MPRB permit, annual or daily.

A small fenced run in Downtown West — 0.3 acres, handy if you live in the towers. MPRB permit required.

A fenced 2.17-acre run along the parkway with Mississippi River views, across from the Columbia golf learning center. MPRB permit required.

Tiny — 0.08 acres — but fenced and stocked with agility equipment, tucked by Dinkytown. MPRB permit required.

A fenced quarter-acre in the north corner of Loring Park, an easy stop from downtown. Metered street parking. MPRB permit required.

A fenced 0.62-acre run behind the Lyndale Farmstead, surfaced in crushed granite because it doubles as stormwater storage. MPRB permit required.

9.3 fenced acres in Eden Prairie with a small-dog section, double-gated entry, and water access. Three Rivers dog pass, annual or daily.

Twenty-seven fully fenced acres in Carver Park Reserve, with a small/frail-dog section and dog-walking trails. Three Rivers pass required.

Twenty-eight fenced acres around a wetland pond in Cleary Lake Regional Park. Three Rivers pass, annual or daily.

The district's biggest — 40 unfenced acres of open prairie in Crow-Hassan Park Reserve, for dogs that stay close. Three Rivers pass required.

Twenty-nine fenced acres in Elm Creek Park Reserve, with a fenced wetland pond for swimming and a small-dog section. Three Rivers pass required.

A fenced 6.7-acre run in Fish Lake Regional Park, Maple Grove. Three Rivers pass, annual or daily.

About thirty fenced acres near Lake Rebecca, out in Rockford, with occasional Wednesday-morning maintenance closures. Three Rivers pass required.

Six fully fenced acres by the river in Brooklyn Park, split into small, all-dog, and rugged sections, with rinse stations. Three Rivers pass required.

A fenced three-acre run in Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve, Savage. Three Rivers pass, annual or daily.

Ten fenced acres in Prior Lake — nine for big dogs and one for small, with a watering station. Three Rivers pass required.

Nearly five acres of wooded trails and an open bowl on the East Side, gated at the park perimeter rather than fully fenced. No on-site water. Free.

Seven fully fenced acres on a cleaned-up former power-plant lot on the West Side. No on-site water. Free.

A riverfront run with an actual dog beach beside the old Meeker Island lock and dam. Not fenced, and it can close in high water. Free.

A fully fenced run near CHS Field in Lowertown, rebuilt when the ballpark went up. Free.

Opened in 2022 in Lilydale Regional Park, with separate fenced large- and small-dog areas. Park in the boat-launch lot. Free.

In the Highland Bridge development, two fenced areas — one for high-energy dogs, one calmer with a picnic shelter. Free.

Ramsey County's biggest — 35 fenced acres in Maplewood with trails, natural swamp, and a section for dogs under 30 pounds. Free, 6am–10pm.

About thirteen fenced acres along the Rice Creek trail in Shoreview, with prairie paths, water access, and a small-dog area. Free.

About ten wooded acres in Bald Eagle–Otter Lakes Regional Park, with a footpath, water access, and a small-dog section. Free.

The Woodview Open Space run in Roseville — wooded trails, an accessible area, and a small-dog section. Free.

Twenty-five acres at Nesbitt and 111th with hills, trees, a separate fenced section, and a pond. Free, but bring proof of a current dog license and rabies shot.

A year-round fenced run in Eden Prairie with a separate pen for small or fragile dogs. Free, but an Eden Prairie dog license is required.

5.7 fenced acres of woods and paths in Eden Prairie — but it closes for winter, when the trail turns Nordic. Free; an Eden Prairie license is required.

Plymouth's largest — fully fenced with a small-dog area and a dog swimming area. Free.

A fenced run at Plymouth Playfield, open year-round. Free.

Fully fenced in Brooklyn Park with separate big- and small-dog areas and a double-gated entrance. Free.

Fenced runs for large and small dogs in Blaine, with a heated shelter and drinking fountains. Free.

A 6.5-acre fully fenced off-leash park near the Bunker Hills compost site, with separate big- and small-dog runs, an open play area, and a short trail. A joint Coon Rapids/Andover facility in Anoka County. Free; dogs licensed and vaccinated, three per handler.

A grassy, shaded run in Crystal with a separate pen for small or shy dogs and a water spigot. Free; two dogs per handler.

A grassy off-leash enclosure with a wooded nature strip in New Hope. Seasonal, April–October, daylight hours. Free.

A fenced run inside the outdoor hockey-rink enclosure in New Hope. Seasonal, April–October. Free.

Set up in the outdoor hockey rink spring through fall, then closed when the ice goes in. Golden Valley; pets licensed and vaccinated. Free.

The Louisiana Avenue hockey rink becomes an off-leash area spring through fall in Golden Valley. Free; pets licensed and vaccinated.

Just over an acre in St. Louis Park, fully fenced with a double-gated entry and separate big- and small-dog areas. City license or off-leash permit required.

A fully fenced Edina run with a small/large separation, a water fountain, and shaded seating. Off-leash permit and collar required.

Richfield's first dog park (2020), fully fenced with separate small and large areas, grooming stations, and lights. Free; a city license is required.

An enclosed seven-acre run shared by Burnsville and Apple Valley, with separate large- and small-dog sections. Free; an optional $25 membership funds upkeep.

Seventy acres of mowed trails in Woodbury with a watering station — big and open, and not fully fenced. Free; a current dog license is required.

Fourteen fully fenced acres in Cottage Grove with separate big- and small-dog sections and a double gate. Free; a city license is required.

Fully fenced down to the lakeshore in Eagan, with a small-dog area and seasonal water and restrooms. Free; an Eagan dog license is required.

About five fenced acres near the Ritter Farm entrance in Lakeville, with large- and small-breed sections and a water station. Free, year-round.

Two fenced areas in Chaska — a small-dog area with a shelter, and a four-acre wooded run — with drinking and wash stations. Free.

A ten-acre all-breed run plus a half-acre small-dog area in Shakopee, with a water station and trails. Free; a Shakopee dog license is required.

Over two fenced acres in Savage with separate small- and large-dog areas and running water in warm months. No lights. Free.

Eleven fenced acres in Inver Grove Heights with small-breed and all-breed areas, open 6am–10pm. A Dog Park Pass and rabies proof are required.

4.6 enclosed acres in Oakdale with four-foot fencing, a double-gate transition, wooded trails, and a pond. Free.

A fenced off-leash park on Stillwater city parkland, run with the Friends of Stillwater Area Dog Park since 2014. Open 8am to sunset. Free.

5.5 fenced acres in Hastings, open 6am–10pm, three dogs per person. Free; dogs licensed and vaccinated.

A 6.3-acre fenced run along the Mississippi in South St. Paul, with a small/timid-dog area and nearly two miles of paved trails. A permit is required.

Nine free holes on flat, tree-lined ground at the Wabun picnic area in Minnehaha Park — short (57–83 yards), concrete tees, an easy first course. Sunrise to sunset.

The Park Board's 18-hole par-3 course alongside the Wirth par-3 golf — 46 to 156 yards, beginner and intermediate tees, sunrise to sunset. A small fee to play.

St. Paul's full 18, free and open sunrise to sunset off Montreal Avenue in Highland — the city's go-to public course.

An 18-hole, par-59 course winding through oak, pine, and grassland at Bunker Hills Regional Park — open and narrow fairways with gentle elevation. A county vehicle permit is required ($7 daily / $30 annual).

Thirteen holes with two tee pads each along the Mississippi at Riverfront Regional Park in Anoka. A county vehicle permit is required ($7 daily / $30 annual).

Nine free holes at Lochness Park off Lexington, with green, red, and blue tees running from an easy 2,665 feet out to a long 4,468. A good skills-builder.

A free nine-hole course at Northview Park in Eagan, friendly to any skill level. Sunrise to sunset.

Eighteen holes from the chalet along the cross-country ski trails and over the tubing hill, with two par-4s and championship-caliber holes. Three Rivers pass required ($10 daily / $59 annual).

An 18-hole championship course with big elevation changes climbing and dropping the ski slopes, and a Twin Cities view. Three Rivers pass required.

Eighteen holes with short and long tees and lake views; the infamous #17 throws off a cliff to the basket. Three Rivers pass required.

A free, well-liked 18 at Oakwood Park in Cottage Grove — a solid all-skill course you can just walk on.

Burnsville's scenic wooded course at Red Oak Park, with multiple tees and pins set up to play 20 holes. Free, during regular park hours.

Disc golf at Kenneth Rosland Park in Edina, sharing the 22-acre park with tennis courts, ballfields, and a fishing pier. Free.

Nine free holes at Garlough Park in West St. Paul — a short, wooded neighborhood course.

Ten free holes at Brockway Park in Rosemount, an easy walk-on course on the city's south side.

One of the metro's biggest — 26 baskets and over 9,000 feet across two linked courses at Kaposia Park in South St. Paul. A daily or season pass is required.

An 18-hole course at North Valley Park in Inver Grove Heights. A pass is required May through September ($6 daily, season passes available); free the rest of the year.

A free nine-hole course at Staring Lake Park in Eden Prairie — park in the east lot and follow the trail to the first tee. Open year-round, 6am to 10pm.

Nine free holes at Bandimere Heights Park in Chanhassen — a good mix of open and wooded, with dual tees and some elevation.

A free full-length 18 at Lions Park in Shakopee, off Adams Street on the south side — no fee, walk right on.

Eighteen free holes at the 90-acre Ham Lake Park, sharing the shoreline with a fishing pier, boat launch, and playground. Open until 10pm.

A free nine-hole course at Silver View Park in Mounds View — an easy, walkable neighborhood layout.

New Brighton's free 18 at Hansen Park, a full-length course on the city's north side.

Nine free holes at Donie Galloway Riverside Park in Champlin, along the Mississippi on Dayton River Road.

Nine free holes threading through Central Park. Discs and refreshments are sold at the Brookland Golf Park clubhouse next door, so you can turn up without gear.

One of Plymouth's two free municipal courses, wooded with concrete tees. The city closes it for mowing on some weekday mornings — check the parks page before driving out.

Nine free holes with concrete tees and tee signs. The first four are tight and wooded under the water tower; the rest open out, with a pond in play on five.

Nine holes in the forested southern end of Tamarack Nature Preserve, kept clear of the natural-resources easement. Gravel tee pads, Chainstar baskets.

Twenty-one holes running through Wintercrest and Woodcrest parks, dropping to eighteen for the winter. Built with the Coon Rapids Disc Golf Club.

Eighteen holes redesigned in 2015, with baskets left up year-round — rolling grass on one half, wooded finesse on the other.

Twelve holes in eighty-five wooded acres on Alimagnet Lake. Restrooms, water and a canoe launch on site, which is more than most courses offer.

Eighteen holes over 5,000 feet, rebuilt in 2023 with concrete tee pads and Prodigy T2 baskets throughout. Open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The Park Board's interpretive center at North Mississippi Regional Park, right on the river — exhibits inside, trails and river access out back. Free.

A nonprofit preserve in West St. Paul with a working farm, prairie, and woodland trails. The trails are free to walk; the farm animals are the draw for kids.

A 127-acre Fridley preserve with three-plus miles of trails through woods and wetland, plus an interpretive building and boardwalks. Free.

160 acres of prairie, forest, and marsh in St. Louis Park, with three miles of trail — paved, boardwalk, and wood-chip — and a modern net-zero interpretive center. Free.

A 320-acre Ramsey County preserve in White Bear Township, with trails, a discovery hollow, and a big natural play area. Free; donations welcome.

Richfield's 150-acre marsh preserve, with a floating boardwalk out over the water and an interpretive building. Free.

The Three Rivers nature center at Elm Creek Park Reserve in Dayton — trails through prairie and big woods, with exhibits and naturalist programs. Free.

The Three Rivers nature center at Hyland Lake Park Reserve in Bloomington, known for its raptors and restored prairie. Trails and exhibits, free.

The first public nature center built in the Twin Cities, at Carver Park Reserve in Victoria — trails, exhibits, and a spring maple-syrup season. Free.

A nonprofit nature center on the St. Croix river bluffs in Hastings, with valley trails, raptor programs, and an apple orchard. Free; donations welcome.

St. Paul's glass conservatory at Como Park — a domed palm house and sunken garden that bloom all winter, next door to the free zoo. Free; a donation is suggested.

The country's oldest wildflower garden — 18 acres of woodland, meadow, and wetland in Theodore Wirth Park. Gated and open April through October. Free.

The gardens above Lake Harriet — the nation's second-oldest public rose garden, plus a peace garden and perennial beds. Free, year-round.

A former Lake Minnetonka estate garden on Crystal Bay, known for its daylilies and formal beds. Open the warm months, May through October. Free.

A two-acre Japanese garden on the Normandale college campus in Bloomington — koi ponds, bridges, and clipped pines. Free; open spring through fall.

A formal 13-acre garden by Minnehaha Falls, built around a central arbor with a downtown skyline view. Free.

The metro's biggest ski area — 300-plus acres of runs on the St. Croix bluffs, with 18 lifts, terrain parks, and night skiing. Vail-owned; a lift ticket or Epic Pass gets you on.

Burnsville's storied training hill — where Lindsey Vonn learned to race — with runs, rails, and a race program. A lift ticket to ski or ride.

Three Rivers' downhill area in Bloomington, five minutes from the Mall of America — a big terrain park, a chalet, and rentals, floodlit for night skiing. Lift ticket required.

Three Rivers' beginner-friendly hill in Maple Grove — a lift-served downhill run and a lighted tubing hill with snowmaking, plus cross-country trails. Lift or tubing ticket required.

St. Paul's own little downhill hill by Como Lake — two rope tows, 150 feet of vertical, and cheap first-timer lessons. A $15 tow ticket, rentals on site; the city runs it into mid-February.

A snow-tubing hill in Lake Elmo — one open hill, no lanes, with a tow rope to haul you back up. Around $22 a person; you must be 42 inches to ride solo, and weekends fill, so reserve. December into March, snow permitting.

The biggest true ski resort near the metro — 60-plus runs and terrain parks in the Cannon River valley, with night skiing into the evening. About 50 minutes southeast; a day ticket or a season pass to ride.

The big one on the St. Paul riverfront — dinosaurs, an Omnitheater dome, the anatomy hall, and a Mississippi overlook. Paid; timed tickets on busy weekends.

Encyclopedic art from five millennia — a Rembrandt, the jade mountain, the period rooms — and general admission is always free. One of the country's great museums, in Whittier.

Contemporary art beside the Sculpture Garden and its Spoonbridge and Cherry. Galleries are paid — free Thursday evenings and the first Saturday each month; the Sculpture Garden is always free.

The state's story, told well — hands-on history, the WWII and weather exhibits, and a research library. Paid; free Tuesday evenings.

The U's natural history museum on the St. Paul campus — the famous wildlife dioramas, a Touch and See lab, and a digital planetarium. Paid; free on Sundays.

Frank Gehry's rippling steel building over the river on the U of M campus, with a sharp modern and contemporary collection. Always free.

A quirky museum of electricity and magnetism in a lakeside mansion on Bde Maka Ska — a Frankenstein's lab, invention benches, and Earl Bakken's pacemaker story. Paid.

The only North American museum devoted to Russian art, in a former Spanish-style church in south Minneapolis. Paid; rotating exhibitions.

Built into the ruins of the Washburn A Mill on the riverfront — the Flour Tower ride, the baking lab, and a rooftop river view. Paid (Minnesota Historical Society).

Nordic art and culture in the 1908 Turnblad Mansion, with a châteauesque interior, rotating exhibits, and the FIKA café. Paid.

Four floors of hands-on play for little kids in downtown St. Paul — the climbing Scramble, art studios, and water tables. Paid.

The state art museum's downtown St. Paul galleries, focused on Minnesota and regional artists. Free.

A neighborhood-scale look at Minneapolis and Hennepin County history, in a 1919 mansion near Mia. Suggested donation.

A Stillwater apple farm with pick-your-own rows, an Apple Barn bakery, free petting goats, and the Honeycrisp Express train. Free to visit; pay for what you pick.

190 sprawling acres near Afton — pick-your-own apples, pumpkins, and raspberries, a corn maze, tube slides, and a petting farm. Per-person admission on fall weekends.

A White Bear Lake classic — pick-your-own apples and pumpkins, a corn maze, wagon rides, and a bakery famous for its pies. Free to enter; pay by the bag.

A Delano fall farm built for kids — pick-your-own apples and pumpkins plus a Fun Farm of slides, animals, and hayrides. Admission to the Fun Farm ($10 weekdays / $20 weekends).

A Waconia orchard and vineyard — pick-your-own apples, a pumpkin patch, hayrides, and hard cider and wine for the grown-ups. Free to wander; pay for the picking.

Shakopee's big fall festival — a 14-acre corn maze, ten acres of pick-your-own pumpkins, jumping pillows, a corn pit, and a small wildlife park. Ticketed admission (about $19 and up).

The old Minnesota Harvest in the Jordan river valley, under new owners. A wagon runs out to the blufftop trees; there's a corn maze, a corn pit, an apple cannon and a cider bar. Admission covers the orchard — the store and bakery are free to walk into.

One of the few pick-your-own orchards in Dakota County, out past the edge of Lakeville. Opens for the season in early September.

The shop for the University's fruit-breeding program — Honeycrisp, SweeTango and Zestar were all bred a mile and a half up the road. Apples, pumpkins and cider donuts daily until 5 November, then it turns into a holiday shop. Free to enter and to park.

Where the Minnesota and Mississippi meet — Pike Island trails, a swimming lake, and the old fort on the bluff above. A state-park vehicle permit gets you in.

Rugged St. Croix bluff country in Afton — 20 miles of hiking and ski trails climbing the river ravines, plus a swimming beach. A state-park permit is required.

A gentle family state park on the St. Croix near Marine — river paddling, sandy swimming, and rolling trails. A state-park permit is required.

A 14,000-acre river-valley refuge along the Minnesota, with a Bloomington visitor center, boardwalks, and miles of trails right by the airport. Free.

Three Rivers' riverfront park in Brooklyn Park (formerly Coon Rapids Dam) — walk across the dam, watch for eagles, and hit the trails and interpretive center. Free.

A big south-Minneapolis lake with two swimming beaches, a paved loop for walking and biking, sailboats, and a summer concert stage. Free.

St. Paul's East Side lake park — a swimming beach, a golf course, a paved loop, and a Chinese garden on the island. Free.

River-bluff trails and fossil-hunting flats along the Mississippi below the West Side — quiet, wild, and minutes from downtown St. Paul. Free.

A Three Rivers reserve near Lake Independence in Maple Plain — a sand swimming beach, a golf course, a campground, and trails. Free day use.

Shakopee's fully inclusive playground at Lions Park — ramped, sensory-rich structures built so kids of every ability play together. Free.