Minnehaha Regional Park

Minnehaha Regional Park is the crown jewel of the Minneapolis park system, and at 4.8 stars across thousands of reviews, it has earned that distinction through consistent delivery of one of the city's most memorable outdoor experiences: Minnehaha Falls, a 53-foot waterfall that drops through a limestone gorge into a creek that winds its way to the Mississippi River.

For families visiting Minneapolis, Minnehaha Park is a mandatory stop. Children who live in the city return every season because the park changes fundamentally: spring brings the falls at peak flow with dramatic water volume and spray; summer brings the full park experience with wading pools, picnicking families, and Sea Salt Eatery in full operation; fall delivers color in the maple gorge that rivals any designated foliage destination; and winter brings the frozen waterfall — partially or fully iced depending on the year — which is as spectacular as any natural phenomenon in Minnesota.

Sea Salt Eatery, operating seasonally inside the park, is a Minneapolis institution. The outdoor-seating fish taco restaurant has earned national attention and local devotion, and eating lunch there after a waterfall walk is the definitive Minnehaha afternoon. The wait can be real on sunny summer weekends — arrive at opening (typically 11AM) or pack a picnic and enjoy the park's extensive green space without the line.

The creek trail below the falls walks through the limestone gorge down to the Mississippi River — a 30-45 minute round trip that is among the most scenic short hikes in the city. Wabun Playground sits adjacent to the park's upper area, extending the playground element of the visit. Free parking in multiple lots within the park makes logistics straightforward for a family destination of this popularity.