Thousands of green and blue acres are accessible without leaving Minneapolis or Saint Paul city limits. There are miles of lakeshore plus the Mighty Mississippi. Acres of parks and endless trails. A mile, a block or just a step takes you from pavement to grass.

 

Truth be told, Minneapolis and Saint Paul are located in a national park - Mississippi National River and Recreational Area. Residents and visitors alike can easily access hundreds of parks, to be exact there are 182 parks in Minneapolis and approximately 170 in Saint Paul.

 

Minneapolis boasts a scenic byway touring 50 miles of nature, lakes and stunning vistas. The Grand Rounds National Scenic Byways totaling 50 miles can be enjoyed by car, bike or foot. Don't forget your camera.

 

13.3 miles of the Grand Rounds circle Minneapolis city lakes - Cedar Lake, Lake of the Isles, Lake Calhoun and Lake Harriet. Traverse by foot, bike or canoe. Enjoy live music sounding from the Lake Harriet band shell, catch a bite to eat at Tin Fish, sail or windsurf by summer and snowshoe and skate by winter. This chain of lakes is an asset enjoyed by all, all year round.

 

Our history begins with the Mississippi. A 72-mile strech runs north from Dayton and south to Hastings. Today trails line the riverfront, concerts take place on the river banks and living opportunities offering river views abound. For birding, hiking, biking, canoeing or other recreational information, rangers staffing Mississippi River Visitor Center at the Science Museum of Minnesota will create a memorable experience for you and your family.

 

According to the National Park Service, the Mississippi River was used by Native Americans for trade, food, and water supply long before Europeans visited the “New World,” the Mississippi River and its watershed have shaped the continent and its cultures. Today, the "Father of Waters" is still a powerful force of nature. It is used by millions of people for drinking water, a playground, a shipping lane, and a political boundary. Although it is heavily influenced by human controls, it remains a haven for millions of plants, animals and other living things that thrive in its embrace.

 

Our behavior also is green. Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and Saint Paul Mayor Coleman both signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, committing to meet or beat Kyoto Protocol standards.

 

We have fleet of "green" buses. LEED^®-certified corporate offices and restaurants. We grow soybeans for biodiesel, participate in car sharing and bike commuting. Our state standard is 25/25. By 2025, 25% of our state's energy will come from renewable sources - the most aggressive initiative in the nation.