Photographs by Caitlin Abrams
Minnehaha falls
Going to the Twin Cities’ wildly popular urban waterfall (and the wildly popular seafood joint adjacent to it) isn’t as hard as lots of folks seem to think it is. Here’s what you need to know in order to do Minnehaha Falls on even the busiest day—and still maintain your sanity.
See the Parking Matrix
Minnehaha Falls is a popular spot, but that’s usually not a problem, because it’s a huge place. The parking lots, on the other hand, are not so huge. But that doesn’t mean you have to succumb to the “one car in, one car out” scenario any sort of a nice day or evening will surely bring; you just need to outsmart it. One option is to park somewhere along the light rail’s Blue Line and ride to the 50th Street/Minnehaha Park stop. From there, it’s just a short walk to the park. Not into trains? Another option is to park in a nearby neighborhood, like Highland Park in St. Paul or Minnehaha in Minneapolis, and either bike or walk from there.
So Much to Do, So Little Time
Hiking around Minnehaha Falls and the creek below it, catching a concert at the band shell, and eating your weight in calamari at Sea Salt are all worthy endeavors that you should definitely do, but they’re far from all you can do in and around Minnehaha Regional Park. East of the falls, on the other side of 46th Avenue South, is the Wabun Picnic Area, which has a monster playground, a splash pad, and the Ford Parkway Disc Golf Course. Just to the west sit the Longfellow House (a 2/3-scale replica of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s Cambridge, Massachusetts, home) and the tranquil Longfellow Gardens that are worth a walk through.
Don’t Forget the Dog
If you have a dog, you’ll want to bring it. That’s because about eight blocks south of Minnehaha Falls sits the most epic dog park in the Twin Cities. Situated just downriver from where Minnehaha Creek flows into the Mississippi River, Minnehaha Dog Park is 6.6 acres of wooded Mississippi waterfront where dogs can roam the myriad wooded trails or frolic and swim on the sandy beaches of this slow-flowing piece of Minnesota’s most famous river.
Sea Salt restaurant
Lines Schmines
Sea Salt is notorious for its long lines. But locals know that even when the line wraps out the door and to the end of the pavilion (as it is wont to do), it’s more bark than bite. Grab beers while you wait, send the kids off to nab a table, and you’ll be ordering before you know it. And once you do order, good news: The food typically comes out to your table astonishingly quickly. Lots of folks think that a beautiful weekend day—and the crowds it attracts—makes devouring a crawfish po’boy at Sea Salt impossible. Not so! You just have to think outside the traditional dining times. Our favorite? Getting there at 3:30 pm–ish for linner. By the time the real lines form, you’ll be down by the falls digesting and selfie-ing it up.
Hidden falls
Three More for the Road
Have an hour to kill? You don’t have to drive far to see these other notable Twin Cities waterfalls.
1) Hidden Falls
These spring-fed falls near the Mississippi in Hidden Falls Regional Park (above) aren’t the largest on our list—but what the babbling brooks and trickling falls lack in size, they make up for in charm. Founded in the 1880s by legendary landscape architect and creator of the Grand Rounds Horace Cleveland, the park is an aptly named hidden gem in St. Paul. 1313 Hidden Falls Dr., St. Paul
2) St. Anthony Falls
St. Anthony Falls, near the Guthrie in Minneapolis, may be one of the city’s most crucial historical sites. Known to the Dakota people as owahmenah (falling waters) or mnirara (curling waters), the area was originally a place of spiritual significance—and, later, industrial significance, as settlers dammed the formerly natural falls and used them to power flour and lumber mills. Take a National Park Service tour to learn more. 1 Portland Ave., Mpls.
3) Shadow Falls
Shadow Falls Park, near the University of St. Thomas, is a jungly oasis just off Mississippi River Boulevard. Starting near the overlook, traverse down the hill until you find the falls. If you’re daring—and careful—you can walk right underneath the flowing water. 30 Mississippi River Blvd. N., St. Paul —Madison Bloomquist
