Tag Archives: #FindYourNextAdventure

Bike Pic Jan 9, Minnesota Ironman Bike Ride Location Announced Soon

It’s the second Monday of the New Year which means the second week to your New Year’s Resolutions and where will the 51st Minnesota Ironman event be held? We hope you decided to do more biking and join us for the first big bike event held on the last Sunday in April. As of today, the Ironman committee has narrowed the selection to three Minnesota communities and will be announcing the location on January 15th – Stay tuned.

While waiting, view the new Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide and remember to register for the Root River Bluff & Valley Bicycle Tour.

Thanks for viewing Today’s Minnesota Ironman Bike Ride Pic

Now rolling into our 10th year as a bike tourism media, our goal is to continue 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 place to have fun we hope the photos we shoot are worth a grin. As you scroll through the information and stories we have posted, enjoy.

Do you have a fun bicycle related photo of yourself or someone you may know that 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 picture was taken. Photo(s) should be a minimum of 1,000 pixels wide or larger to be considered. If we do use your photo, you will receive photo credit and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.

As we continues to encourage more people to bike, please view our Destination section at HaveFunBiking.com for your next bike adventure – Also, check out the MN Bike Guide, now mobile friendly, as we enter into our 8th year of producing the guide.

So bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure. Please share all our picks with your friends and don’t forget to smile. We may be around the next corner with one of our camera’s ready to document your next move while you are riding and having fun. We may capture you in one of our next Pic of the Day posts.

Have a great day!

Bike Pic Aug 8, riding out to the mountain bike trail

These ladies, with miles of smiles, are riding their bikes out to Stahls Lake Park, a family fun single track mountain bike trail system north of Hutchinson, MN.

Find many more bike friendly places to explore in the new Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide.

Thanks for viewing the Bike Pic of the Day here at HaveFunBiking (HFB).

hanks for viewing the Bike Pic of the Day here at HaveFunBiking.

Now rolling into our 10th year as a bike tourism media, our goal is to continue to encourage more people to bike. While showcasing all the unforgettable places for you to ride. As we continue to showcase more place to have fun we hope the photos we shoot are worth a grin. As you scroll through the information and stories we have posted, enjoy.

So bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure. And don’t forget to smile, while you are riding and having fun. We may capture you in one of our next photos that we post daily.

Have a great day!

Bike Pic August 5, ice cream smiles Friday!

Like the ice cream bike tour at the La Crosse Area Bicycle Festival all social rides and events are suitable for families, kids, and easy riding. They leave from Cameron Park, in the downtown area, at the designated times making frequent stops and have a leader and volunteers to guide the ride through the city. For scenic country bike tours and mountain bike actives see schedule.

Find many more bike friendly places to explore in the new Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide.

Thanks for viewing the Bike Pic of the Day here at HaveFunBiking (HFB).

Now rolling into our 10th year as a bicycle tourism media source, our goal is to continue to encourage more people to bike, while showcasing unforgettable places to ride. As HFB searches and presents more fun cycling related photos, worth a grin, scroll through the information and stories we have posted that may help you Find Your Next Adventure. Then, while out there if you see us along a paved or mountain bike trail, next to the route you regularly commute on, or at an event you plan to attend, be prepared to smile. You never know where our cameras will be and what we will post next!

Do you have a fun bicycle related photo of yourself or someone you know that you would like to see us post? If so, please send it our way and we may use it. Send your picture(s) to: [email protected] with a brief caption (of each), including who is in the photo (if you know?) and where it was taken. Photo(s) should be a minimum of 800 pixels wide or larger for us to consider using them. If we do use your photo, you will receive photo credit and an acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.

As HaveFunBiking continues to encourage more people to ride, please reference our blog and the annual print and quarterly digital Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide to Find Your Next Adventure. We are proud of the updated At-a-Glance information and maps we are known for at the HFB Destination section on our website and in the guide. Now, as the Guide goes into its seventh year of production, we are adding a whole new dimension of information, now available for mobile devices.

So bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure – we may capture you in one of the next photos we post.

Have a great day!

Bike Pic August 4, a family fun mountain biking experience

A family fun mountain biking experience on the Gadbolt Lake Loop, near Walker, MN. Also checkout the Hanson Lake loop in the Area when visiting the area.

Find many more bike friendly places to explore in the new Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide.

Thanks for viewing the Bike Pic of the Day here at HaveFunBiking (HFB).

So bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure – we may capture you in one of the next photos we post.

Have a great day!

Biking to Good Times – Stockyard Days

Emily Stocker, HaveFunBiking.com

The Twin Cities Gateway is known for having nine wonderful communities. In typical Minnesota hometown fashion, they each have a festival. This weekend kicks off nine days of fun in New Brighton. Stockyard Days, in their 35th year, will be fun for the entire family, taking place in Long Lake Regional Park. Ride your bike or come by car to this celebration. You won’t want to skip it.

Sunday at Stockyard Days

Sunday, August 7th starts off the events with a golf tournament at Brightwood Hills Golf Course. Gather a team of four to play and vie for one of many prizes, including best team name. There will also be prizes for men and women for closest to the pin, longest drive, and longest putt. The tournament starts at 8 a.m. so join in the fun or come watch some great golf.

Stockyard Days bike sprints will give you a taste of NASCAR Racing on two wheels.

Sunday is also the date of the first annual Bike Sprints. The racing starts at 10 a.m. and is an event you will want to attend. The high energy surrounding the event with cyclists whizzing by as fast as they can, fills everyone attending with excitement.

Monday

Monday, August 8th, at 5 p.m. opens the Medallion Hunt. Clues are posted at City Hall each day and participants search the 12 city parks and the community center to find the Medallion. The winner is presented with $125, but here’s a tip. If you plan on participating, buy a button by August 7th to double the prize.

Wednesday is Kids Day

If you and the kids can only make it to Stockyard Days one day, make it Wednesday. That night is when the kiddie parade takes place, ending in the park. Kids get to dress up in costumes and decorate their bikes to ride through the parade route. Prizes go to best costume and best bike decoration. That night BikeMN will be putting on a bike rodeo for kids. Here they will learn more about safety while biking and practice the new skills they learned. The fun continues in the park with a screening of Disney’s movie “Zootopia”.

Thursday

Mark your calendar for Thursday at 6 p.m. since this is the day that The Stockyard Days parade rolls through town. See businesses, politicians, clowns, bands, and visiting royalty. The parade makes for a great Thursday night and a good way to snag some candy.

Friday

Friday night kicks off the street dances. Live music in the park by Bad Girlfriends will have you singing and dancing along to a variety of music. From the bands Journey to Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Maroon 5 to Dixie Chicks, and everything in between, it promises to be a great night.

Saturday

Saturday really packed in the events. Starting with the 5K, 10K, Kid’s run in the morning. Then, the New London to New Brighton Car Run will take place. Check out classic cars as they drive through town. In the park from 3 to 6 p.m. is a fantastic one man band, Wayne and the Boys, with a great taste in music. Fireworks will be at dusk to “oo” and “ah” the crowd. Finally, Ladies of the 80’s band will wrap up the night from 7 to 11 p.m. with a great tribute to music legends across the decades.

Sunday

Wave and cheer on the Stockyard Days Parade Royalty.

Wave and cheer on the New Brighton Ambassadors at the parade.

Sunday, August 14th starts with a car show and swap meet in the park. At noon, head over to the semi-finals of the talent show. The final round begins at 3 p.m., to find the winner of New Brighton Idol. The festival ends with the crowning of the 2017 New Brighton Ambassadors.

Bike over to the Twin Cities Gateway for a week filled with fun, food, and music.

Bike Pic August 3, how far will her bicycle go?

With a mischievous look, how far will her bike go? This photo was taken on the Inaugural Mississippi River Trail Ride, in May of 2012, between Itasca State Park and Bemidji, MN. See some of thee other fun bike tours HaveFunBiking ran that year and in 2013.

Find many more bike friendly places to explore in the new Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide.

Thanks for viewing the Bike Pic of the Day here at HaveFunBiking (HFB).

So bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure – we may capture you in one of the next photos we post.

Have a great day!

Bike Pic August 2, BikeMN angel looking out for MRT riders safety

Here cyclists enjoying the Mississippi River Trail (MRT) with the BikeMN angel (van) looking out for their safety. This HFB photo was taken on June 25, as riders rode back from Big Lake, MN to Minneapolis on the Train & Trail Tour. See all the photos at HaveFunBiking’s Facebook Page Photo Gallery.

BikeMN (Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota) has a vision to make “Minnesota a place where bicycling is a easy, safe, and fun for everyone.”

Find many more bike friendly places to explore in the new Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide.

Thanks for viewing the Bike Pic of the Day here at HaveFunBiking (HFB).

So bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure – we may capture you in one of the next photos we post.

Have a great day!

Bike Pick July 29, ice cream smiles Friday!

Stopping at Doc’s, in Spring Grove, for some ice cream before riding further on the the annual Root River Bluff & Valley Bike Tour. Next years ride will take place again on the second week of July. Watch for further details in future posts.

Find many more bike friendly places to explore in the new Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide.

Thanks for viewing the Bike Pic of the Day here at HaveFunBiking (HFB).

So bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure – we may capture you in one of the next photos we post.

Have a great day!

Enjoying the Parks by Bike – Coon Rapids

Emily Stocker, HaveFunBiking.com

Biking along the Mississippi River Trail (MRT), you will find many great communities to explore. One of which is the great Coon Rapids, MN a wonderful town with great parks to keep you entertained. While enjoying the 40 miles of bike trails surrounding the city of Coon Rapids, take some detours through a few of the 40+ parks there.

Lions Coon Creek Park

With large play structure and plenty of bike trails, Lions Park is a fun place to visit.

As the park with the largest play structure in Coon Rapids, everyone will love Lions Coon Creek Park. Bring your lunch with you to enjoy in one of the picnic shelters in between the activities that can be done there. The park totals about 15 acres and has features for park-goers of all ages. Kids will love the playground and parents will love the walking trails. Get some friends together for a great game of bocce, basketball, or volleyball. After a round or two, then unpack that lunch and take a bite to eat before the next game.

Bunker Beach

Feeling like a cool challenge is in order, take a chance in the park walking the “wiggly water walk”

On a hot summer day, the perfect place to cool off is at Bunker Beach. Bike there from the MRT or from your hotel. From a playground and sand volleyball court to the lazy river and water slides, Bunker Beach has something for everyone. Afterward, check out the wave pool where three-foot waves run for fifteen minutes intervals every ten minutes. For extra fun try out the waves on a tube. For those feeling a bit adventurous, take a chance walking the “wiggly water walk” in the plunge pool. Here, you can balance your way across lily pads using only the cargo net above as a source of stability.

Dog Parks

Bring your furry friend with you on your next bike ride and stop by the Dog Park in Coon Rapids. A great place for you to enjoy the fresh air and let your dog roam and interact with other dogs. Open from 6 a.m. to half an hour past sunset, this is a wonderful place to let your dog run free. The dog park also has a large off-the-leash area.

So the next time you are biking near Coon Rapids swing by one of the city’s parks for a great time.

The Art of Biking- all things Fridley

Emily Stocker, HaveFunBiking.com

The Mississippi River Trail (MRT) takes cyclists through the remarkable art communities that create the Twin Cities Gateway. One of these nine communities is the city of Fridley, MN just north of downtown Minneapolis. Here the community offers a one of a kind experience for art and bike lovers alike. From live theatre to a stunning gallery, everyone will feel inspired after taking a look at the creative scene in bike-friendly Fridley.

Banfill-Locke Center for Art

Enjoy the beautiful garden as you enter the the Banfill-Locke Center for the Art in Fridley.

Enjoy the beautiful garden as you enter the Banfill-Locke Center for the Art in Fridley.

Just off of the MRT the Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts makes a great rest stop on your bike ride. Stop in to cool off and admire the works in the gallery. Maybe pick up a gift for another art lover in their gift shop. If seeing all the collections inspires you, consider making the trip to Banfill-Locke regularly and sign up for a class. Find a class that would best fit your schedule, from a single lesson to an eight week workshop. The Banfill-Locke Center has classes in literary, visual, and self-discovery arts. The center also allows poetry enthusiasts to appreciate the art live by bringing in local poets.

The Banfill-Locke Center for the Art’s newest exhibit opens on July 30 with a reception open to the public. This new exhibition “Art of Darkness” features a variety of pieces all inspired by the paranormal. This exhibit will be open until August 27th.

Fridley Community Theatre

Come by bike or car the “Lady Pirates of Captain Bree” is a show you are sure, to not want to miss.

Along with wonderful art, Fridley also has a renowned community theatre. With three productions a year, the community theatre works hard to bring wonderful live theatre to its audience. For this year’s summer production the actors are grabbing their eye patches and are prepared for “The Lady Pirates of Captain Bree”. The show opened last weekend, but don’t worry if you missed it. There are three more shows this weekend. Watch the promo clip to get a taste of what to look forward to in the show on their website.

So bike on over to Fridley to get your fill of all things art.