Recreations & Leisure
Professional Sports
Minneapolis is home to two professional sports teams: the Minnesota Twins and the Minnesota Vikings. The Minnesota Twins is a Major League Baseball Club which plays at the Metrodome in their seasons which run from April through October. The Minnesota Vikings is a National Football League team which plays at the Metrodome in their seasons which run from August through January.
Minneapolis Parks and Recreation
The Minneapolis Park System consists of more than 170 parks playgrounds, golf courses, gardens, picnic areas, biking and walking paths, nature sanctuaries and a 55-mile parkway system. Together, these properties total nearly 6,400 acres of land and water for the outdoor fun of both visitors and residents of this city which lives outdoors.
In addition, many Minneapolis cultural and historic sites are found on park land or administered by the Park Board, such as: the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Fort Snelling, the Stevens House, the Godfrey House, the Longfellow House and the Grand Rounds National Scenic Highway.
Golfing
The Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board operates seven public golf courses for both visitors and residents. The 18-hole courses include Columbia, Gross, Hiawatha, Meadowbrook and Wirth while Fort Snelling and Wirth both have 9-hole courses. Golf Learning Centers can also be found at Hiawatha and Columbia for those who would like professional instruction.
Cross Country Skiing
For wintertime fun, the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board offers cross country skiing on its Cross Country Ski Trails located throughout the parks system including 7.25 miles at Wirth Winter Recreation Area alone. Wirth Winter also offers ski rentals, snowshoe rental and lessons for beginners or those who would like to perfect their skills.
Lake Calhoun and the Chain of Lakes
The Minneapolis Chain of Lakes offers back-to-nature peace and quiet close to downtown Minneapolis. Lake Calhoun, part of the chain of Lakes, is a popular location for fishing, windsurfing, swimming, sailing, canoeing, walking, jogging, biking and roller and in-line skating. The Chain of Lakes is second only to the Mall of America in Minneapolis attractions drawing nearly six million visitors each year.