Tag Archives: explore Minnesota

Bike Pic Nov 30, wacky Wednesday articulating Buyck, Minnesota

Ever wonder how to pronounce this wacky Minnesota community name? The little town called Buyck (pronounced bike), just east of Ore, in northern Minnesota, grew tired of people asking. So they made it easy for visitors to enunciate their town’s name. So grab your bike and head up to #BuyckMN!

So, get into the zone when continuing your time outdoors and your #NextBikeAdventure. View all the great ideas and bike destinations in the latest Iowa or Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide. Then plan your next outing with family and friends in one of Minnesota’s HaveFunBiking destinations. And now, check out more stories at Let’s Do MN.

Thanks for viewing our latest bike pic

Now rolling through our 18th year as a bike tourism media, enjoy! As we pedal forward, we aim to encourage more people to bike and have fun while highlighting all the unforgettable places you can ride. As we continue to showcase more places to have fun, we hope the photos we shoot are worth a grin. Enjoy the information and stories we have posted as you scroll through.

Do you have a fun bicycle-related photo of yourself or someone you may know we should post? If so, please send your picture(s) to [email protected]. Please Include a brief caption for the image, who shot it, and where. Photo(s) sent to us should be a minimum of 1,000 pixels wide to be considered. If we use your photo, you will receive photo credit and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.

As we continue encouraging more people to bike, please view our Destination section at HaveFunBiking.com for your #NextBikeAdventure. Also, check out the MN Bike Guide, now mobile-friendly, as we enter our 13th year of producing this handy information booklet full of maps.

Remember, bookmark HaveFunBiking.com on your cell phone and find your next adventure at your fingertips! Please share our pics with your friends, and don’t forget to smile. We may be around the corner with one of our cameras ready to document your next cameo appearance while you are riding and having fun. You could be in one of our next Pic of the Day.

Have a great day with a safe and memorable year ahead!

Bike pic Sept. 24, a fun ramble ride along the Minnesota River Trail

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In today’s bike pic, we look at the fun everyone is having now that fall is here. In this photo, we captured this biker family enjoying the Minnesota River Trail, a couple of years ago on the Makato River Ramble. What better way to continue your summer fun and your #NextBikeAdventure, see our latest article on destinations and peak color links.

Get into the zone when continuing your time outdoors and your #NextBikeAdventure. View all the great ideas and bike destinations in the latest Iowa or Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide. Then plan your next outing with family and friends in one of Minnesota’s HaveFunBiking destinations. And now, check out more stories at Let’s Do MN.

Thanks for viewing our latest bike pic

Do you have a fun bicycle-related photo of yourself or someone you may know we should post? If so, please send your picture(s) to [email protected]. Please Include a brief caption to the image, who shot it, and where. Photo(s) should be a minimum of 1,000 pixels wide or larger to be considered. You will receive photo credit and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram if we use your photo.

Have a great day with a safe and memorable year ahead!

Bike Pic Sept 23, take your selfie along the Root River Trail

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Take your picture along the Root River Trail for your own bike pic. This photo was shot in Rushford, on the east side of this 67-mile trail system, in Southeast Minnesota. Located downtown at Norsland Lefse, it’s just one of the fun things to do here. What better way to continue your summer fun and your #NextBikeAdventure, see our latest article on destinations and peak color links.

Thanks for viewing our latest bike pic

Have a great day with a safe and memorable year ahead!

Bike Pic Sept 21, last day of summer with fall on its way

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Here on this last day of summer bike pic, this photo above shows Marcus Lea out with friends enjoying a colorful day of mountain biking in Lebanon Hills Park, in Eagan, MN. What better way to continue your summer fun and your #NextBikeAdventure, see our latest article on destinations and peak color links.

Thanks for viewing our latest bike pic

Have a great day with a safe and memorable year ahead!

A bicycling staycation is a great overnight getaway option

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Traveling closer to home is the new norm for many of us, so that a bicycling staycation may open your eyes to new horizons with economic and environmental concerns. Using sustainable travel, like a bike, allows an adventurer to see points of interest and landscapes not commonly noticed when using other modes of transportation. Also, planning an overnight on your next staycation will make your bicycle ride there and back even more enjoyable. So, two questions you may want to ask yourself: How many miles can you comfortably ride in a given day? And, what town is 10 to 50 miles away that fits into your range, so your next adventure is memorable?

Sara’s bicycling staycation to Bloomington

Recently we helped Sara Lynch with an overnight staycation starting in Lakeville, MN. She and her husband rode to Bloomington and back, using the HaveFunBiking maps we publish in the Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide.

So precisely what is a bicycling staycation?

A staycation, according to Wikipedia, is a day trip with a distance from a person’s home to another location they would like to visit. Then, adding a bicycle or other mode of transportation or a combination of both (multimodal transport) to the adventure can expand the fun.

Sara’s staycation in the south Twin Cities Area may give you ideas.

Most of Sara and her husband’s bike adventures had been day trips until recently. Over the 4th of July weekend, they enjoyed their first bicycling staycation this year. According to Sara, in her blog, Planet with Sara, that all changed for this adventure. “We started in Lakeville and biked to Bloomington with many fun stops along the way.”

Sara, stopping on the historic Cedar Bridge.

After spending the night in Bloomington, we biked back via a different route with even more fun stops.” Read on here for their course, recommended stops, and helpful tips for creating your fun bicycling staycation.

Lakeville to Bloomington

On the southern edge of the Twin Cities attractions, Lakeville is a family-friendly mecca for bicycling. Offering miles of paved trails, Lakeville has three fun mountain bike areas in the area and several great road routes to enjoy. Both visitors and residents alike will find plenty of safe bike riding opportunities in this bike-friendly community. And when not riding, check out the many attractions here. See Destination Lakeville for more ideas and places to stay.

Riding to Bloomington uses paved bike/ped trails and quiet neighborhood streets; using the route, pedaling through the Minnesota River Valley is approximately 25 miles to the north.

Bloomington back to Lakeville

After a restful night, you will find many cycling opportunities in Bloomington. Located along the north bank of the Minnesota River, near the airport, you will find many bike-friendly attributes here to make it easy to get around. Thanks to the city’s paved trails and designated bike lanes. And mountain biking along the Minnesota River is a fun place to shred some trails for those looking for an off-road adventure. When not riding around this riverfront community, check out the world-renowned Mall of America and other points of interest while visiting. See Destination Bloomington for more ideas and places to stay.

Returning to Lakeville, Sara used a 26-mile western route on quiet neighborhood streets and paved bike/ped trails back.

Map and bike route

Thanks to Hiawatha Bicycling Club for access to their mobile map. Here are the turn-by-turn directions if you want to plan a bicycling staycation encompassing the Lakeville to Bloomington bicycling. Enjoy!

Alexandria, a bike-friendly getaway you can make on one tank

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By Russ Lowthian, HaveFunBiking

There is no shortage of fun in Minnesota, and looking at the latest MN Bike/Hike Guide, with all the maps, we wanted to see how Alex (Alexandria) fit as a one-tank, multi-modal, round-trip destination. With increased gas prices taking a bite out of every motorist’s wallet, we found the Alexandria Lakes Area fit the criteria well. The perfect place to visit, parking the car at the selected lodging and using a bicycle to get around. On this trip, we found the Cedar Rose Inn charming and a great place to relax. This allowed us to easily reach the local bike routes, trails, Alex’s historic downtown attractions, and several restaurants within easy walking distance.

The welcoming Cedar Rose Inn B & B

With the bikes loaded and gear packed, Alexandria is proximately 130 miles (about a two-hour drive) northwest of Minneapolis on I-94.

See a whole lot more biking in Alexandria

Using the Alexandria Bike Map, on pages 50-51 of the MN Bike Guide, you will find options for routes to ride comfortably around town and scenic loops that take you out and around many lakes in Douglas County. Looking at the map and planning your next visit, check out the Explore Alexandria website for many other fun outdoor activities the area offers.

The 8-mile Historic Alexandria Route

Big Ole, at the Central Lakes Trailhead in Alexandria, MN

From the Central Lakes Trail, north of the downtown area, the scenic Alex Loop uses the quiet north/south neighborhood streets that parallel the main highway or Broadway Street from 30th Avenue. If you start at the trailhead, take a selfie with Big Ole, then visit the Runestone Museum, Fort Alexandria, and the Legacy of the Lakes Museum & Gardens. Further along this loop, the route passes the Douglas County Historical Society and several parks where ducks, geese, and pelicans are close by to view.

The 22-mile loop to Garfield returning on the Central Lakes Trail

Touring the scenic bike-friendly roads in the Alexandria Lakes Area

The Garfield Loop uses a series of streets and county roads around a couple of lakes up to the town of Garfield. Here you will find the Central Lake Trail to return to Alex.

The 35-mile North Lakes Loop

This route winds around the picturesque lakes north of Alex, offering wide paved shoulders on the designated bike-friendly routes. As you ride your bike past the lakefront communities, options for stops include Carlos Creek Winery, the 23 Northman Brewery, or several eating establishments along the way.

Prefer staying on the Central Lakes Trail?

From Big Ole, head east to Osakis or west on the Central Lakes Trail to the many towns before Fergus Falls.

To the east, Osakis is 11 miles and connects to the Wobegon Trail. To the northwest, Garfield is 8 miles, Brandon is 14 miles, and Fergus Fall, at the far end, is 44 miles.

Mountain biking in the Alexandria Area

Prefer to bring your mountain bike on your next visit to Alex? Mountain biking is a growing sport in the Alexandria Area, and you can find great riding out at Kensington Runestone County Park and Lake Brophy County Park.

Mountain Biking the forest trail

Runestone Park is near Kensington, and the mountain bike trails here are tons of fun with easy-to-follow signs and many add-on loops to make a ride a little longer if you want. See map and further details here.

Mountain Biking on the prairie single-track trail

Lake Brophy Park is a relatively new multi-use trail system wandering through the upland prairie fields that take you to some of the best views in the county. A highlight of the park is that using the main trail gets you to the high point. At the top of the hill, 140 feet above Lake Brophy, you can choose from the easy, medium, and challenging trails to descend for an adrenalin fun experience. See map and further details here.

Where to stay

We stayed at the Cedar Rose Inn Bed & Breakfast for this trip to Alexandria. It is located at 422 7th Ave. West and Cedar St. is a very charming B & B, and the delicious breakfast Brenda serves each morning makes your visit to Alexandria even more special.

A blueberry brioche with maple syrup drizzled over

For more places to stay and things to do, see Explore Alexandria.

The Minnesota Scoop, a tasty tour across the state with extra rewards

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Each time you ride your bike, stop for some ice cream and get rewarded by having your Minnesota Scoop punch card. Eating ice cream is so delicious, and enjoying well-crafted ice cream is its own reward, but the Minnesota Office of Tourism has sweetened the pot. If you are looking at adding some tasty fun to your next bike or outdoor adventure this summer and love ice cream this reward is for you.

On this bike pic Sunday we found this biker chick enjoying a tasty treat.

Once you’ve completed your Minnesota Scoop punch card, submit your entry below for a free Minnesota Scoop t-shirt. Plus, you can register for a chance to win grand prize travel packages all across the state. Prizes available include weekend hotel stays across the state, museum tickets, and restaurant gift cards. You could wrap up your summer enjoying a weekend away that’s uniquely Minnesota.

This Bike Pic, Ice Cream Smiles Sunday, enjoy a sweet treat with friends – before, during or after your #NextBike Adventure.

Participating Minnesota Scoop Shops

You’ll find some funky flavors from participating ice cream shops across the state. Nearly 100 shops in Minnesota are participating, each creating a special #OnlyinMN creation. Here are a few of the special treats we have discovered along the trail while exploring the maps in the Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide:

At Two Scoops in Anoka, try the Fat Elvis.

Blast Softserve on Rose St. in Owatonna, pairs Costas Candies, with a special blend of their ice cream to create a #OnlyinMN treat. The combination of Costas’ Maple Buttercreme and creamy vanilla soft serve is worth a visit here to Owatonna.

CannonBelles in Cannon Falls, also offers some of the exotic, like Big Muddy and Black Licorice.

It’s always fun when riding in the Twin Cities Gateway to stop for ice cream.

How to get a punch card to get rewarded

When you enter a participating ice cream shop, pick up a punch card and get it stamped. Once you’ve visited one of the 100 shops five times (and yes, you can repeat the same shop), upload an image of your completed punch card here.

When out riding, with friends, stopping for a sweet treat!

After completing the punch card, you’ll get a free Minnesota Scoop t-shirt (they’re truly pretty fashionable). The T-shirts are limited to the first 500 claimants, so start your adventure ASAP!

In addition, you’ll be entered into the sweepstakes to win a grand travel package and other weekly giveaways. For example, you could win a hotel stay in the Twins Cities or the Iron Range, museum tickets, or restaurant gift cards. The sweepstakes entry period ends August 1.

Remember to eat ice cream while enjoying your favorite Minnesota outdoor activity, and get rewarded!

On this bike pic Sunday, we found this biker chick enjoying a tasty treat with her daughter.

Also, check back to HaveFunBiking.com each week for our Ice Cream Smiles Sunday Pic of Day. You may notice a smiling face and we invite you to submit your photo’s to [email protected].

Have Fun!

Eagle watch bike tour makes it easy to view along the Mississippi River

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Keep an eye out for the eagles and their nests on the inaugural Eagle Watch Bike Tour on Saturday, May 8, 2021. It’s a family-friendly bike event exploring the Point Douglas Trail between Hastings, MN, and Prescott, WI. Enjoy biking this 5.5-mile trail (11 miles round trip), spotting eagles, and exploring two historic downtowns.

Here is what you need to know about the Eagle Watch Bike Tour

There are trial options for all skill levels. Check out the bike map posted in the comments to decide what trail you would like to explore. Keep an eye out for the eagle nests!

Register for one of the four-time slots from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Then on the day of the event, check-in at either the Prescott, WI location (The Clocktower – 23 Broad St) or the Hastings, MN (The Confluence Deck – 200 2nd St W) location.

Both starting points will have local organizations that can provide additional information about the area, additional trail riding opportunities, and the natural habitat along the way.

This event is hosted by The Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce & The Prescott Area Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Carpenter Nature Center, The City of Hastings, and Great River Road Visitors and Learning Center at Freedom Park.

Eagle Watch Bike Tour Shirts can be purchased now through April 22nd on the Nine Eagles promotions website at https://eaglewatch2021.itemorder.com/. Choose from a variety of colors and sizes. Once ordered, select to have your shirt(s) shipped to you or pick them up before the ride. Questions? Contact Nine Eagles Promotions in Hastings at (651) 437-5077

Get outdoors this spring and enjoy two river towns at the confluence of the Mississippi and St. Croix River!

Bike Pic March 17, wheelie Wednesday may help you into your sweet spot

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A bike pic to remember! This wheelie Wednesday or Hump Day, take a chance. If life were a fat bike trail a wheelie could help smooth out your day-to-day ride or aid you in dropping into your sweet spot. Why not review the following tips to make your week an adrenaline high?

This photo was taken a couple of years ago in the Minnesota River Bottoms, in Bloomington, MN.

Get into the zone when continuing your time outdoors and your #NextBikeAdventure. View all the great ideas and bike destinations in the latest Iowa or Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide. Then plan your next outing with family and friends in one of Minnesota’s HaveFunBiking Destinations. An now, check out more stories at Let’s Do MN.

Thanks for viewing today’s bike pic

Now rolling through our 16th year as a bike tourism media, enjoy! As we pedal forward, our goal is to encourage more people to bike and have fun while highlighting all the unforgettable places for you to ride. As we continue to showcase more places to have fun, we hope the photos we shoot are worth a grin. Enjoy the information and stories we have posted as you scroll through.

Do you have a fun bicycle-related photo of yourself or someone you may know we should post? If so, please send your picture(s) to [email protected]. Include a brief caption (for each) of who is in the photo (if you know) and where the pic was taken. Photo(s) should be a minimum of 1,000 pixels wide or larger to be considered. If we use your photo, you will receive photo credit and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.

As we continue to encourage more people to bike, please view our Destination section at HaveFunBiking.com for your #NextBikeAdventure – Also, check out the MN Bike Guide, now mobile friendly, as we enter into our 13th year of producing this handy information booklet full of maps.

Have a great day, with a safe, memorable 2021!

Have a great day!

Ride your bike around Lakeville and discover its cycling treasures

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Your vacation time is precious, and that’s not something Lakeville takes lightly. Located on the southside of the Twin Cities, the bike-friendly small town is the perfect getaway for those wanting a break from the big city noise.

In Lakeville, you can breathe in all the fresh Minnesota air you want as you enjoy your favorite outdoor activities. Ride your bike along its many trails and loops, go for a nice hike, or just lay by the beach and soak in the rays (remember the sunscreen). And this is all within a bikeable distance.

More About Bike-Friendly Lakeville

One of the best parts about Lakeville is its location. It may feel as if you’re far away from the city, but you’re really only 30 minutes away from downtown Minneapolis. So even if its a last a minute getaway you need after a long week at work, Lakeville is ready to help you take your worries away.

You can also steer your bike into historic downtown Lakeville and discover its many locally-owned shops, restaurants, and more. And if you want to pair your tastebuds on this adventure, then check out the town’s local brewery and winery.

Riding options when visiting Lakeville

There are plenty of opportunities when pedaling around Lakeville. Its road and trail routes will help you get around town. And for off-road adventure checkout, the West Marion Lake Mountain Bike Trails with challenges for all skill levels. , and other easier trails taking you on a tour of the towns. No matter what kind of biker you are you’ll find a course path, full of nature and lakes, for your next adventure in Lakeville.

Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve

You don’t have to go far for some good mountain biking. Murphy-Hanrehan has a single-track section full of trails for all skill levels. The easy trail is just under one mile, the intermediate trail is just under 2.5 miles, and the advanced trail is nearly 7 miles. Also, the trails are connected so you can ride all three if you want to take on all levels.

Buck Hill Mountain Bike Skills Park

Buck Hill may be best known for its skiing, but the summer attracts the mountain bikers as well. It’s the perfect place for beginners, and there are even sections for those with more experience. Switching from trail to trail is easy as one connects to at least one of the others.

Lebanon Hills Regional Park

The largest park in the Dakota County park system also has plenty of mountain biking. Located at the park’s West Trailhead, there are different areas for all skill levels. Each course features different obstacles for its level of difficulty. Riders will have to face challenges such as riding over a pile of logs, rocks, sharp turns, and more. Maps are located throughout the courses to help navigation.

Road Biking

Getting around on your bike in Lakeville is relatively easy as well, especially in historic downtown Lakeville. Most of the roads have a trail running alongside them so you don’t have to worry about sharing the road with motorists.

Ritter Farm Park for hiking

If you’re looking to get some walking miles in, but also want to take it easy, give the trails at Ritter Farm Park a try. Along the way, you’ll see colorful flowers and the trail connects to another trail that takes you along Marion Lake.

An At-A-Glance Look at Lakeville

Be sure to check out our At-A-Glance Lakeville Article for more details on where to stay, play, and explore for your hand-held devices. As this story and the At-A-Glance Article are mobile-friendly for your convenience, have fun!