Sports and Recreation
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Professional Sports |
College Sports |
Golfing, Fishing, Hiking |
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Walking Tours |
Everything in Between |
Just for Kids |
Professional Sports
If you are looking for a game, you won't have to look far in the Twin Cities. The area offers 3 major sports facilities, the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, the Target Center, and the Xcel Energy Center. Locals can be fanatical when it comes to their favorite sports teams. With the Twins making a run for the World Series in 2006 and the Wild making a historic hockey comeback the last couple of years, new comers will quickly join the crowd, cheering on their favorite team. What sport do you enjoy? Most likely, Minnesota has it!
Baseball
The Minnesota Twins currently play in the Metrodome, but that will soon change. With the popularity of the game rising, the Twins will be getting a brand-new outdoor stadium, due for completion in 2010. The grass playing field will host on average about 80 games per year so there is plenty of opportunities to catch a game. It will also be located just north of the Target Center.
If you prefer the excitement of the minor league, check out the St. Paul Saints. Their games are played at the Municipal Stadium in St Paul's Midway. Kids love to attend as they provide great entertainment, including fat-suit races, a pig mascot, lots of giveaways, and affordable tickets, food, and drink.
Basketball
If you are in the mood for some hoops, the Target Center is host of the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves. The women's league, Minnesota Lynx, also plays at the Center
Football
You will soon learn once football season arrives, not to put down the Minnesota Vikings. Locals love their team and will defend them to the dire end. Just make sure you never mention that you are from Wisconsin or that you love the Green Bay Packers. There might be a little rumble over the "cheese heads" versus "viking horns".
Hockey
Hockey is so popular in the state of Minnesota I am devoting a separate page just on the sport. If you want to catch a NHL game, the Minnesota Wild drop the puck at the Xcel Center in downtown St Paul. The US Hockey Hall of Fame is also located in Eveleth, Minnesota.
Lacrosse and Soccer
Two other professional sports are available in the Twin Cities. They are the National Lacrosse League Minnesota Swarm,who play indoors at the Xcel Center December through April, and the Minnesota Thunder who play at James Griffin Stadium
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College Sports
By far the biggest draw for college entertainment is the Minnesota Golden Gophers.Hockey and basketball are the biggest draw as the football team has not had the best seasons these last few years. Actually, the 2007 season will see a new football coach. Time will tell if he is any good. Years ago the Gophers stadium was torn down and never rebuilt, so all games have been played in the Metrodome (except hockey). Finally, in 2009, Minnesota will once again have its own sports complex. Just make sure to bring your coat in the late fall or early spring as it will be an open stadium and sure to be a little chilly!
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Recreation for Everyone
Golfing in Minneapolis
The Minneapolis area is proud to boast more than 135 public and private golf courses in the local area. With 30% of the population playing golf, you will never have a hard time getting a tee time or finding a someone to play with. The city has diverse courses for all levels of play including the private Jack Nicklaus designed course at Bearpath in Eden Prairie to the championship public course, The Wilds in Prior Lake, designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish. Another recent addition in Blaine is the Deacon's Walk. It was designed by Arnold Palmer and it is owned and operated by the PGA Tour.
If you are staying in the immediate Minneapolis area and want to pick up a quick game, the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board operates seven golf courses for your enjoyment. 18-hole courses include Columbia, Gross, Hiawatha, Meadowbrook and Wirth. Fort Snellinghas a 9-hole course and Wirth has a 9 hole par 3-hole course.
Some good websites to visit for tee times and locations:
http://www.tpc.com/private/twin_cities/index.html
Believe is or not but you can also play snow golf in the winter, only in Minnesota. Contact the Breezy Point Resortnear Brainard for more information.
Fishing and Hunting
Welcome to the hunting and fishing capital of the world! Residents love the sports so much that they will drop everything to spend a day on a lake. Spring and fall opening day are like national holidays!
Ice Fishing - Winter fishing is truly a site to see. Fisherman drill holes into the ice, drop the special ice fishing rod line down, and wait. Once the lake ice becomes multiple inches thick, ice houses start to dot the landscape of most major lakes. An Ice House is a small building, usually outfitted with stoves, seating, and sometime sleeping quarters, and is used to protect a fisherman from the elements as he sits back and waits for the big bass to come along. Most ice houses are homemade and can be pulled behind a truck, but you can also purchase them for a "small" fee or rent them from various lakes. A couple places you can rent from are Pike Dreams and Lake Mille Lacs.
Fishing - As the state with 10,000 lakes, there is no lack of places to fish. Many lakes are stocked with walleye, bass, croppies, and bluegill. Some ideal locations are Lake Minnetonka, Lake Elmo, Lake Waconia, the Mississippi River. If you want to travel away from the Twin Cities, Lake of the Woods is called "Walleye Capital of the World".(Go to the DNR website for more information of water conditions, proper food consumption, and lake sites)
**Licensing is Required** -Don't forget that to participate in any fishing or hunting activity, you must purchase a license through the Department of Natural Resources(DNR). If you are not able to get online as you are heading out, there is the option of buying in person from a state licensing agent. They can be found in bait shops, marinas, sporting good stores, or visit the DNR online for a list of availabe agents in Minnesota.
Hiking
As soon as the snow melts the state turns the brightest shade of green. People immediately inundate the local parks for hiking and walking. Nearly a third of the northern state is state parks or national forests. Minneapolis and St. Paul are not without their own trails though. For local hiking clubs, visit the Minnehikers or the St Paul Hiking Club.
Chain of Lakes
The Chain of Lakes consists of a number of parks along a chain of connecting lakes in Minneapolis. A 13.3 mile biking/walking/jogging path encircles the entire Chain, providing a beautiful setting for activity.
- Enjoy lakeside paths for exercise and relaxation
- Canoe for nearly two miles from Lake Calhoun to Brownie Lake
- Step back 50 years in time and ride the Como-Harriet Streetcar Line
The Grand Rounds
The Grand Rounds is a system of beautiful trails, paths, and roadways tucked away in an urban setting. Composed of seven districts, it creates a loop over 50 miles long around the City, offering an unsurpassed view of Minneapolis by bike, foot, or vehicle.
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Walking Tours
Take the following tours to not only get some excercise, but learn something about these beautiful places.
- F. Scott Fitzgerald Walking Tour of St Paul - this is a do-it-yourself walk in which you can travel the same path Fitzgerald did so many years ago, not to mention see the homes he use to reside in. Click here for a printable map of the complete tour.
- Historical Walking Tours - offered by the Minnesota Historical Society, these tours are offered year round at many famous historical sites. Make sure to visit the James Hill house and take the Summit Avenue Tour to see some beautiful mansions.
- Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary - Opened in 1907, it is the oldest public wildflower garden in the nation and will be 100 years old in 2007. The park is open from April - October and boasts some of the most beautiful wildlife you will ever see!
- Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge - offers many guided tours for bird watching, full moon hikes, wildlife, summer sostice, and more. Walks begin in Bloomington. Check the calendar for dates and times available before heading out.
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Everything in Between
Bowling - Interested in picking up the old sport? Well, there's hope! Two locations are sure to fulfill your needs. Check out the Bryant Lake Bowl and Elsies's Bowling Center.
Curling- You most certainly learned about this sport during the last Winter Olympics and sat for hours watching, in utter amazement at the existence of such a sport. Well, in Minnesota it is a fun past time and can be found at the St Paul Curling Club.
Gardening- If you love to get your hands dirty, then there is opportunities abound to enjoy the local gardening scene. Minnesota is in zone 4a, minimum temp of minus 30 degrees fahrenheit. We have an Arboretumjust outside Chanhassen that features over 1000 acres of natural gardens and native areas. If you have just moved to the area and are curious on what to plant, check out the Master Gardners List. If you are into Bonsai, there is a local bonsai society that I belong to, that offers sessions for beginners in June and September.
Health Clubs - One thing the Twin Cites don't lack is access to health clubs and gyms. Minnesota is very health conscious so if you are looking for ways to "work out" check out the following facilities:
- Bally Total Fitness- Eagan, St Louis Park, Bloomington, St Paul, Richfield, Fridley
- Life Time Fitness- numerous locations throughout the Twin Cities
- Northwest Athletic Clubs- Bloomington, Brooklyn Center, Burnsville, Eden Prairie, Edina, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, just to name a few.
- YMCA & YWCA - have many sites across the metro area and in Wisconsin.
Horseback Riding- Keeping horses today must now be done further out from town. Areas like Lakeville allow horses through friendly zoning but you must have the acerage to support them. If you are looking for a ride, Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve in Savage has 14 miles of trails. Also, the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge allows riding on 13 miles of its trails.
For a complete list of available stables and boarding facilities in Minnesota visit the PoloCenter.com
Don't want a ride, but like to watch?! Check out Canterbury Park in Shakopee. They run thoroughbred and quarterhorse races throughout the summer.
Tennis & Raquetball - most facilites under Health Clubs offer either of these sports, but also check out these facilites for daily rates: Nicollet Tennis Center, Ft. Snelling Tennis Center, Daytona Club.
Sailing - How could we not offer sailing and water sports when we have so many lakes? Some of the best yacht clubs and sailing schools can be found on Lake Minnetonka, White Bear Lake, and Lake Calhoun. If you want to drive to Northern Minnesota, Lake Superior is noted as one of the finest sailing grounds in the world. At some of the parks you can even rent sailboats or canoes for the day.
If you have a boat or are thinking of purchasing one, make sure to get your license through the DNR. The license is good for three years and costs vary by type/size of the craft. At their website you can also find a printable booklet called the Minnesota Boating Guide that summarizes Minnesota's boating laws and regulations.
Snow Skiing - When I moved to Minneapolis, I was amazed by the hilly terrain. One benefit is it allows for numerous locations for downhill skiing and snowboarding. Check out the Minnesota Skiing Guide for areas to ski, cross country ski, showshoe, dogsled, etc. One of easiest locations to drive to is Buck Hill in Burnsville, just 10 minutes south of the Twin Cities.
Snowmobiling - Look around at the side of the roads as soon as it snows and you will see tracks all over the place. Minnesotans love the snowmobile so much in winter that there are over 20,000 miles available for riding. If you plan on using state trails, you must purchase a Minnesota Snowmobile State Trail Sticker from the Department of National Resourses. Those planning on using just on private land or on lakes are not required to purchase a sticker.
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