They don’t call Minnesota the land of 10,000 lakes for nothing! The Twin Cities are home to many great parks, lakes, and yes, picnic areas. This summer, get out of your apartment and enjoy the fresh air with
friends and family. Below, we’ve listed a handful of the best spots to enjoy a meal in the great outdoors, without straying too far from home.
Minnehaha Park & Falls
A quintessential Minnesota experience, Minnehaha Falls is the perfect picnicking destination. Not only do they have ample picnic table and grilling stations throughout the upper park area, but you can stroll the trail at the base of the falls all the way to the Mississippi River if you’re so inclined. For those who’d rather dine than picnic, the seasonal Sea Salt Eatery just adjacent to the Falls offers a delicious variety of fresh fish options.
Located along the mighty Mississippi off River Road in St. Paul, this tucked away gem offers multiple covered and open picnic areas. Stroll along the river’s edge and the boat launch, or explore a number of scenic trails that lead to, you guessed it, a beautiful hidden water fall. Stop off in nearby Highland Park afterwards, for frozen yogurt or to browse a variety of cute shops and boutiques.
A popular spot with sweeping views of the downtown Minneapolis skyline and the Mississippi River, Boom Island Park offers both covered and exposed picnic areas. Grill out, then take a serene stroll along the waterfront path and watch the boats drift by. Just a hop, skip, and a jump to the Stone Arch Bridge, and Northeast Minneapolis, there is plenty to do and see in the area.
One of the most active outdoor spots in the Twin Cities, Bde Make Ska (formerly known as Lake Calhoun) is a fun, scenic destination with plenty of great places to picnic. Bring your suit and hit the beach, walk or bike the perimeter of the lake, or rent a number of different watercrafts for the complete experience.
As an apartment dweller, you may not have your own private backyard, but there’s no reason you can’t celebrate the season in style! In today’s post, we offer a few fun, easy and affordable ways you can bring a little summer fun to apartment living.
Grow a Mason Jar Garden
Just because you live in a small space, doesn’t mean you can’t exercise your green thumb. A sunny window or patio is all you need to grow your own mini herb or flower garden! In this helpful YouTube tutorial, learn how to make your own DIY garden using mason jars and crates. A alternative to mason jars would be to paint small terra cotta pots in fun colors and designs.
Create a Floral Canvas
Summer is all about color, and while you’re apartment may seem small, there’s no reason not to go big with blooms! In this super easy tutorial from Michael’s craft store, you’ll learn how to make a faux flower canvas that will light up the room (and show off your creativity). Consider doing a number of mini canvases that just feature flowers, to create a pretty grid installation on your wall. Floral canvases also make great gifts!
Jazz It Up With Washi Tape
Totally removable and totally awesome, washi tape is a great way to change up your apartment each season without fear of damaging walls. This Japanese rice paper tape is similar to masking tape, and come with fun colors and patterns galore. Create an abstract, freestyle mural or pattern treatment on your wall; place colorful accents around the house and more. Check out some fun ideas in this video, but also google or Pinterest “Washi tape projects” to see the many ways people use it for interior design.
While convenient and comfortable, apartment living can sometimes have us dreaming of spacious entryways, chef-worthy kitchens and sprawling floor plans. However, just because you don’t have the square footage, doesn’t mean you can’t open up your space and make it feel beautiful, bright and airy. Today, we’ll run down a few tips and tricks we’ve picked up over the years — enjoy!
Mirror, Mirror
Do not underestimate the optical illusion power of mirrors when it comes to making your space feel twice as big. Add a large mirror above your couch or mantle, or create a mirror wall with smaller, decorative mirrors hung in a creative way. A large, framed mirror leaned up against a wall is a casually tasteful way to open up the room too. It’s easy to find affordable mirrors on Craigslist, at garage sales or at discount retailers around town. Click HERE for more tips on decorating with mirrors.
Clean Color Schemes
Using light, luminous color tones to decorate your space creates an effortless brightening effect. Textiles and furniture in shades of white, soft greys, fun pastels and lighter wood selections will give you that spacious feeling without a heavy focal point in any room. Love color? No problem. Balance those light tones with vibrant potted plants, a few colorful throw pillows and of course, works of art.
Making the Most of Windows
Ok, so your apartment’s window game may not be 100%, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of what you have. Avoid heavy curtains or blinds that can’t easily be retracted or hidden. Choose lighter colors when it comes to your window treatments, and look for textiles that allow light to penetrate without sacrificing privacy. Keep the areas near windows clear of clutter or furniture — instead opting for a window-sill height platform, slim bench or console table for potted plants or decorative items.
Declutter Your Life
It’s easy for small spaces to become overwhelming when it comes to staying organized. Keep on top of it all by creating a system that works for you. Whether it’s throwing out or donating things you don’t need on a weekly, monthly or seasonal basis, or developing clever storage solutions, your apartment will feel that much more open and clean with a few adjustments. Click HERE for some tips on decluttering.
We were incredibly proud to be honored, with our General Manager Amy Gonyea, at the Hopkins VFW on Monday for our work with homeless veterans. The great men and women of our Armed Services deserve to be treated with the honor and respect that they have earned in protecting all of us and our great country.
We are happy to do our part in ensuring that homeless veterans find homes and do our best to help within our communities.
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