Photo courtesy of National Park Service
Minneapolis skyline with Mississippi River
Row, row, row yourself into killer views of the skyline with Mississippi River Paddle Share.
Step It Up
If that little buzz on your wrist letting you know you hit your steps goal defines your daily happiness (this is a judge-free zone, promise), get your cheerful on in the IDS Center and the Capella Tower—there are more than 1,200 stairs to work with in both skyscrapers. Or, take the scenic route down to the Mississippi’s edge via West River Parkway and the Stone Arch Bridge. Your Fitbit will applaud you.
Photo from capellatowerat225.com
Capella Tower
Bis and Tris
Tone up while you throw down . . . on the Ping-Pong tables in The Commons park. They’re part of the daily amenities available at the park, along with a playground for the kiddos, reading and game carts, and umbrellas for some post-match rest. We’re guessing it might take a couple (hundred) games before you’ve got that Olympic Pong–player arm definition, but you’ve gotta start somewhere.
Panoramic Paddling
New kids on the banks, the Mississippi River Paddle Share, have made it possible to rent and drop in kayaks along the river. Reserve your boat online (paddleshare.org), pick it up at the Lowry Avenue Bridge, and enjoy the 45-minute paddle down to Boom Island Park. The killer view of the Minneapolis skyline will make you forget all about your burning core muscles. Maybe.
Heart (Health) of a Viking
Are you a serious runner looking for a different kind of track? Buddy up with the Minnesota Distance Running Association—they get to run around the upper concourse at U.S. Bank Stadium! The honor to trot where the Vikings do is only offered during colder months (November to February) and doesn’t accommodate the casual walker.
Photo courtesy of Kurt Moses Photography
Fitness at Target Field Station
Fitness at Target Field Station
Seventh-Inning Stretches
Center yourself in center field during Yoga Night at Target Field. Your hour-long class on September 5 led by CorePower Yoga comes with tickets to an upcoming game and a special-edition Twins yoga mat to take home. Plus, enjoy Go Outside with Hennepin County’s fitness classes at Target Field Station August 6, 13, and 20.
Poses and Patios
This summer, we're fully tapping into our zen...and doing a little yoga, too, during our Summer Yoga Series. Stop by Finnegans Brewery & Taproom on August 16 for the best of both worlds: an hour-long yoga flow class taught by YogaFit, followed by a cold brewski or three on Finnegans' patio.
Wheel for Steel
Guide yourself on a two-wheel tour of local artist/blacksmith Lisa Elias’s 40-piece steel collection. Start at the northeast corner of Canadian Pacific Plaza and ride along Second Avenue South then back up Marquette Avenue to admire ornate tree corrals and the fanciest drinking fountain you ever did see near Campbell Mithun Tower. Pro tip: Stops along the way are encouraged—nine of her works double as bike racks!
Photo courtesy of breweryrunningseries.com/minnesota
the Brewery Running Series
Down a cold one at the finish line of the Brewery Running Series.
Running on Empty (Calories)
Nothing has us lacing up our sneaks faster than the promise of a tall cold one. Minnesota’s year-round Brewery Running Series gives local breweries the chance to tour you around their neighborhoods and spoil you with their brews. Join Fulton Brewery on October 27 for a running tour of the iconic North Loop, followed by seasonal sips back at its place—on the house. Everything’s good in moderation.
