X marks the spot.   A recent trend in the past decade, geocaching allows our technology-obsessed generation to get outside and experience their inner-pirate while still within the reach of their iDevices.  All that’s necessary to go geocaching is a smartphone and a free app such as Geocaching Intro.  This app will help you find a geocache nearby; there may even be one in your neighborhood!

A walk in the park.  We are fortunate to live in an area with a multitude of recreational areas.  If you’re looking to meander along some trails, we recommend Lake Minnewashta Regional Park.  Here you can walk over five miles through woods and prairies as well as visit an adjacent dog park. The best part is that it’s free.

Smell the flowers.  According to the well-known rhyme, April showers bring May flowers.  And what better spot to take in spring at its finest than the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum? The flowers will start blooming soon, with the tulips at their peak in mid-May. The majority of the Arboretum can be seen along the “3-mile drive,” which you can walk, run, or even bike.

Go with the flow.  Conveniently located just miles from our high school is the start of Minnehaha Creek.  This is a great location for canoers and kayakers of all skill levels to take to the water for a half day of adventure.  Starting just off Gray’s Bay, it takes 5-6 hours to reach Minnehaha Falls with 2 necessary portages along the way. Borrow a friend’s canoe or kayak and arrange transportation before you can have a day of fun and excitement.

Go fish.  After being encased in feet of ice during the winter, our lakes and streams finally thaw in the spring, providing an excellent opportunity to get out on the water and catch some fish. With 356 lakes in Hennepin County alone, there are plenty of places to choose from.  Of course, our favorite is our namesake, Lake Minnetonka.  Variety abounds on Tonka where it is possible to reel in crappies, walleyes, sunfish, bass, and muskies all in one afternoon.  Bring your own gear or contact one of the numerous charters based on the lake.