The only thing that can keep Minnesotans out of a snowy park on a sunny day is a Polar Vortex wind chill of -65. Under any other circumstances (-20? NBD!), the 33.9 acres at lovely Loring Park in downtown Minneapolis—or any of the city’s 179 other public green spaces—would be teeming with fat bikers, ice skaters, joggers, dog walkers, cross-country skiers, and snowshoers. Things ramp up even more during the city’s annual Holidazzle festival, when the park’s snow-covered banks become a jumble of glittering Christmas lights, giant puppets, and excitable kiddos.
In the warmer months, the petite park offers an even broader array of diversions, including a fishing pier on the south side of the cattail-flush Loring Pond, a footbridge to the 11-acre Minneapolis Sculpture Garden at the Walker Art Center, basketball and tennis courts, a wading pool and playground, an off-leash dog park, and a Little Free Library.
Loring Park
1382 Willow St., Minneapolis, MN; 612-370-4929.