When I first visited Minnehaha Falls Park over 30 years ago we were still living in North Dakota. I remember being so amazed at driving through the busy Minneapolis streets and freeways to arrive at this natural oasis in the heart of the city. What that said about the Twin Cities was part of what made me fall in love with the area. It’s a wonderful blend of bustling metropolis and natural beauty…both of which are highly valued.
With 193 sprawling acres, the park features not only the popular groomed area around the famous 53-foot waterfall but also wonderful opportunities to hike through the natural wooded areas along the creek from the falls to the Mississippi River.
Before it became a park in 1889 Minnehaha was a busy train stop, its name taken from Longfellow’s poem “Song of Hiawatha” and commemorated in a statue of Hiawatha carrying Minnehaha across the creek.
Now it is a popular recreation area with trails, indoor and outdoor picnic areas, gifts, eats and colorful bike rentals. It also features several historic buildings, sculptures and the Longfellow Gardens. The bandstand features free concerts on weekday evenings throughout the summer.
I met some friends for a picnic at the Pavillion this week. We brought our own lunch, but as I was shivering in the breeze as the sun hid behind the clouds I was thinking it might have been a better idea to stop at the Sea Salt Eatery for fish tacos or other seafood!
Click to see Minnehaha homes for sale in the area between the park and Lake Nokomis and near the LRT (Light Rail Transit)…which follows a former Indian trail between downtown St. Anthony Falls and Minnehaha Falls.
RE/MAX Results HomesMSP Team – info@homesmsp.com