Where do some 45 parks, a thriving love of the sporting life, and unbeatable scenic beauty all come together? If you guessed Woodbry, Minnesota, you’d be on the right track! We love living and working in this bustling suburb of the Twin Cities, where we get to enjoy the parks of big-city living alongside quieter and more reflective pleasures.
Where do you begin? To help you choose, we’ve put together a list of our favorite things to do in Woodbury, spanning the breadth of the many activities on offer here. Try them all, and let us know which ones you loved the most!
Green Goods’ Dispensary’s Favorite Things to Do in Woodbury, MN
Edgewater Park
3100 Edgewater Dr
Woodbury, MN 55125
(651) 714-3500
Offering a relaxing 2.5-mile loop around Colby Lake, this beloved urban park is like a little oasis. It’s particularly beautiful around sunset, when the mature trees surrounding the lake are bathed in golden light. Kids and adults alike love the play structures, hiking and biking trails, fishing piers, and water access points for canoes, kayaks, and other small watercraft.
Lookout Ridge Indoor Playground
8595 Central Park Pl
Woodbury, MN 55125
(651) 714-3799
The perfect kid-friendly option when the weather’s not so hot, this fun-filled indoor area is popular with the 1 – 12-year-old set. Features include a 30-foot slide, foam “forests†and climbing structures, even a child-sized cave. Note that reservations and a non-refundable deposit are required for guests; visit the website linked above for more details.
Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
120 W Kellogg Blvd
St. Paul, MN 55102
(651) 293-0200
Though located in neighboring St. Paul, this sprawling natural area is a must-visit attraction when it comes to things to do in Woodbury. With some 72 miles of riverfront, canoe and riverboat trips, and outstanding opportunities for hiking, biking, birdwatching, and fishing, this complex is one of the standout attractions when it comes to life in and around the Twin Cities.
Powers Lake Park
10000 Brookview Rd
Woodbury, MN 55129
(651) 714-3583
While on paper it offers many of the same features as Edgewater Park (see above), this 58-acre lake is especially beloved by freshwater anglers, who throng its fishing pier in search of bass, Northern pike, and even the occasional walleye. But if fishing’s not quite your thing, you can—and should!—take in the hiking path that offers spectacular year-round viewing of the lake. If you visit one Woodbury watering hole this year, Powers Lake should be on your shortlist.
SEA LIFE at Mall of America
One, Mall of America
120 East Broadway East Side, Level
Bloomington, MN 55425
(952) 883-0202
Located only a 20-minute hop from Woodbury, this fantastic exhibit is one of the centerpieces of the cavernous Mall of America. A frankly awe-inspiring exhibit designed to give you a very up-close and personal experience with various sea creatures, it features as a main attraction a 300-foot glassed-in tunnel where you’ll be surrounded by literally thousands of tropical fish, sharks, and stingrays gliding all around you. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a glimpse of Duke and Duchess, a pair of 14 foot-long sawfish, the only such residents in the state. Elsewhere, you can pet sea anemones, meet rescued sea turtles, and be transfixed by floating jellyfish.
Indian Mounds Regional Park
10 Mounds Blvd
St Paul, MN 55106
(651) 266-6400
This historic park really is a hallowed burial ground! Six mounds believed to date from 1,500 – 2,000 years ago sit on ancient limestone and sandstone bluffs, offering unparalleled views of St. Paul and the Mississippi River below. But if you’re not in a historic view, the modern play structures, grills, and park shelters make this unusual natural attraction a great place to commune with friends and family in an unforgettable setting.
And of course, don’t forget to swing by your favorite Woodbury dispensary while you’re out and about.
