Brooklyn Park can be planned around one cultural-history highlight and several nature-focused attractions. Historic Eidem Farm illustrates farm life from 1905 to 1920; the Shingle Creek Regional Trail begins in the city at its connection to the Rush Creek Regional Trail. River Park is one of the Mississippi River Paddle Share locations. In Mississippi Gateway Regional Park, the Treetop Trail winds through the treetops and a wetland. So the first consideration in choosing an experience is what you’re looking for: farm history, a trail, or kayaking.

Farm history at Historic Eidem Farm

Historic Eidem Farm is a living history site in Brooklyn Park. It illustrates farm life from 1905 to 1920 and offers hands-on experiences focused on farm life and its cultural history. Visitors can explore the gardens and visit the animals; the site covers 19 acres. The dates give the farm’s history a specific context, while the hands-on experiences connect visitors with everyday farm life. If you’re interested in everyday history, this focus takes you to a specific era rather than a broadly defined history topic. The gardens and animals add other activities on the grounds to the historical perspective.

Shingle Creek Regional Trail: starting point and winter

The Shingle Creek Regional Trail offers a different focus. It begins in Brooklyn Park where it connects with the Rush Creek Regional Trail. Both names are useful for orientation: the Rush Creek Regional Trail is the connecting trail at the Shingle Creek Regional Trail’s starting point. There is also a seasonal planning consideration: the Shingle Creek Regional Trail is cleared during the winter months. The starting point and winter clearing offer two different kinds of information—a connection to another named trail and seasonal details. If you plan to visit during the winter months, you can take the clearing into account when considering this trail.

The Treetop Trail on the Mississippi

In Mississippi Gateway Regional Park, the Treetop Trail runs for more than 900 feet through the treetops and a wetland, offering views of the park. Mississippi Gateway Regional Park is on the Mississippi River. The trail is accessible, and an entrance is available near the Gateway Center. Details about its route and views give this nature experience a specific profile. The entrance location is also helpful for orientation. Compared with the Shingle Creek Regional Trail, the features described here are different: the Shingle Creek trail focuses on its connection to the Rush Creek Regional Trail, while this one winds through the treetops and a wetland and offers views of the park.

Kayaking with the Mississippi River Paddle Share

The Mississippi River Paddle Share adds kayaking to the trail and farm experiences. Brooklyn Park is a program partner, and River Park in Brooklyn Park is one of its locations. The Paddle Share is a self-service kayak system that allows participants to paddle on the Mississippi River to various destinations in the metro area. This connects a location in Brooklyn Park with an activity whose possible destinations extend beyond that single location. When choosing among the offerings, this distinction can help: the Paddle Share is for kayaking on the Mississippi to various destinations in the metro area, while the trail information describes specific route features and a starting point.

Discover more destinations: Plymouth, Brooklyn Center, Edina, Osseo, Minnetonka, St. Louis Park, Mound, Rogers

For the broader travel overview: Hennepin.