Secrets of the City » outdoors

Camping Minnesota

Max Sparber — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:24:50 +0000

Emily Says So recounts her disasterous camping experiences at St. Croix State Park, which included rain and pinkeye. Share some of your camping stories — both good and bad. Where do you go to get away from it all?

Should we bring back Mississippi’s roaring white-water rapids?

noodleman — Tue, 26 May 2009 15:27:24 +0000

via MinnPost: [L]ately a small but growing band of restoration advocates see that two key events — the prospective closing of the Upper Harbor Terminal in Minneapolis and impending shutdown of the Ford Plant in St. Paul — are giving hope that the rapids may one day roar again.

A white-water run has been proposed before; IIRC, around St. Anthony Falls. Nothing came of that but maybe something will come of this? I’m not a hard-core kayak enthusiast — just someone who enjoys the occassional, mellow kayaking jaunt — but I would definitely enjoy trying my luck with some white-water river kayaking.

Surf Lake Superior

Max Sparber — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 06:15:20 +0000

Years ago the Raybeats did a song called “Calhoun Surf,” perhaps as a satire of all the surf-themes garage music that once came out of Minneapolis. But midwesterners do surf, and, on top of that, we do it in the bitter cold.

It’s time for MINI GOLF!

Max Sparber — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 07:00:02 +0000

METRO shows us where. (Via.)

Go Left, now GO RIGHT!

Kal — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 07:00:07 +0000

Minnesota man becomes a momentary internet celebrity for taking pictures of black birds hitching a ride on a hawk.

State Park Getaways

Jerad — Thu, 01 May 2008 07:00:07 +0000

May is here and the camping bug is biting. Last year on one month’s notice I was able to get a late July weekend with friends at a group site in St. Croix State Park, awesome for its swimming and miles of trails. Which state parks do you recommend for a good weekend in a tent or under the skies?

(Here’s a map to jog your memory of places you may have been. (Wisconsin referrals may also be acceptable.)

16,000 of your dead local friends.

andyst — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 07:00:05 +0000

South Minneapolis’ premiere destination for faintly morbid Norwegian-infused outdoor picnics, the Minneapolis Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery, will be re-opening on April 15 at the corner of Lake and Cedar. Enjoy the quiet and peace of our oldest urban cemetery! Weep at the tragic tales of early Minneapolitan heroism, loss and death! Admire the modest, lovely grave markers! Read the outrage of the Minneapolis Journal as controvery flares in our community!

What are your other favorite oddball urban summer picnic destinations?

When you wish upon a star

Max Sparber — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 08:00:06 +0000

Head out before 10 pm local time; Bring a lawn chair or sleeping bag; Dress warmly. A thermos of hot chocolate is optional, but highly recommended; Get away from city lights. There are going to be a lot of meteors this week, and the Science Buzz Blog has more tips.

Who loves the outdoors?

Max Sparber — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 08:00:06 +0000

Our kids, that’s who.

Loud and Proud

josie — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 07:00:07 +0000

It’s Twin Cities Pride this weekend! Fun for gays, lesbians, transgender, bisexuals, and boring old heterosexuals alike. Who’s going this year? I’ll definitely be at the parade with my gay boyfriend Sunday ogling unattainable hotties.