Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway

I know! It's a train. The antithesis of nature. Part of the polluting industrial revolution. Responsible for the concentration of wealth in the hands of the few in the late 19th and early 20th century. Just let me say: the trains themselves didn't have anything to do with that bit. It was the old, white dudes. And the pursuit of profit at any cost.

But this train goes through some beautiful natural areas, gets you into a neat small town, and affords opportunities for walks along the river. Plus, history! Old trains!

We got to explore the old train cars, have some wonderful stories from on older, progressive gentleman and fellow writer, have a snack, and watch some women smuggle on contraband hard cider (and spill it all over the floor). Good times!

The St. Croix River Valley is really beautiful, and you should check out some of the train's special trips and get out there before the new big bridge goes up and even more exemptions to the National Scenic Riverway Act are allowed. The track runs past eagle's nests and rock outcrops through lovely forests and wetlands. It moves slowly, nine miles one way and then back, so you have plenty of time to point things out to your kids and chase them throughout the entire train. Afterwards, you can go into Osceola and have lunch and take a walk down to the river through the woods.

More pictures here.

Information:
Minnesota Transportation Museum

Osceola and St. Croix Railway
Call to reserve tickets (715-755-3570) or purchase online. They have pizza trains, brunch trains, and the straight-up train ride. Cost runs from $8.00 to $25.00, and you have to get yourself to Osceola.
"Trains operate every Saturday and Sunday, May - October, including Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day holidays. Regular excursions depart from Osceola to Marine on St. Croix at 11am & 3pm and last 90 minutes; and from Osceola to Dresser, WI at 1pm, and last 50 minutes. All trains are round trip."


Osceola, Wisconsin
Osceola & Surrounding Communities Facebook

Osceola-St. Croix Valley Railway

Osceola-St. Croix Train, a set on Flickr.

An autumn trip on a classic train, people!

Como Park Pool, Saint Paul, Minnesota

New in 2012, the Como Pool is here to say, "I am excellent, and you can suck it, private pools!" If you have never been to Como Park, you are missing out, and it will show up often on this blog because it is huge, has a lake, a zoo, an amusement park, and much, much more. Plus, it's close to my house. The pool is near the Humane Society and the railroad tracks, off of Lexington Ave on the south side. I mention these elements because they add to the attraction if you have a train crazy child or are in the market for a black dog or a middle-aged cat.

I kid because I love. The Best Cat Ever came from the Humane Society and so did Prozac Cat. And when it's time for us to get a puppy and subsequently lose what is left of our tiny minds, we will again head to the Humane Society.

Back to the pool, now that the BNSF freight train has passed. Not only is this pool easily accessed by bike, as Finn and Pete did today (I drove because I brought the stuff. I also lie because we could have carried backpacks. I'm hung over), but there is a parking lot. Highland Park Pool, while lovely and amazing itself, sucks in the parking area.

Other amenities include adjacent hills and fields, which can be convenient if your child needs to run and run. And run. Because we all know YOU CAN'T RUN AT A POOL!

It costs $16 for a family of up to five people. They take cash and cards but no checks. Lockers are $5 cash deposit, and you get back $4. We didn't bring cash, so we swam... er... swimmed... we took turns.

This is a nice pool and water park with pleasing architectural touches. Much like Pemberly Park, it is "little counteracted by an awkward taste." From the stone to the plantings and the curves of pools, it's rather a delight. There's a kids' area with sprayers, jets, contraptions, and slides; many lifeguards to encourage you to not have fun; a zip line, climbing wall, shaded tables, many beach lounges, a concession stand, and family changing rooms. There is a lap pool as well as a short diving board. The climbing wall makes up for the lack of a high dive.

The first thing we did was a ride or three on the Lazy River, which was nice and relaxing, aside from the blood curdling, sustained scream Finn let out when we went through the rain jets. Hilarious. Pete went off to enjoy the diving pool and climbing wall while Finn and I bundled ourselves in towels. At 73 degrees, breezy, and cloudy, it was not the ideal pool day. I imagine that on a hot day, this place would be a zoo.

Oh, and have I mentioned that Como Park has one of those, too? I believe I did.

My tax dollars, at good work.

Como Pool Facebook
Como Park Regional Pool
1151 Como Avenue
Saint Paul, MN

General Hours (Check their Facebook or webpage before you go): 12:00 pm - 8:00pm

Newell Park: Saint Paul, MN

The Trees

by Philip Larkin

The trees are coming into leaf

Like something almost being said;

The recent buds relax and spread,

Their greenness is a kind of grief.

Is it that they are born again

And we grow old? No, they die too,

Their yearly trick of looking new

Is written down in rings of grain.

Yet still the unresting castles thresh

In fullgrown thickness every May.

Last year is dead, they seem to say,

Begin afresh, afresh, afresh.

Newell Park in St. Paul's Hamline-Midway neighborhood is most remarkable for its huge and numerous oak trees. It is also host to the annual Heartwood Festival (formerly the Hamline-Midway Folk Festival).

From the Saint Paul Parks site:

"One of the oldest parks in Saint Paul, Newell Park was dedicated in 1908. The park is named after Stanford Newell, attorney, member of the first Saint Paul Park Board, and U.S. Minister to the Netherlands from 1897 to 1906.

Park development began in 1927. The pavilion, which still stands today, was built in 1929. The park was a center of community activity throughout the 1930s and many large celebrations were held there."

We live a few blocks from this park, so it is an easy evening or anytime destination. If you are reading this and don't think that you have access to something similar, I encourage you to pull up a map. Or even pull OUT a map, like on real paper and everything, and make sure. Many urban areas have undiscovered places you can take your kid, and even the smallest patch of ground can be teeming with interesting things. Remember, just because you have seen it doesn't mean your kid has, and just because you think it's common doesn't mean your kid will. We notice so much more when we are with Finn because he is seeing things we don't, and we are looking for things to show him.

 "Many of these trees were my friends. Creatures I had known from nut or acorn."-Treebeard

There are many picnic tables as well as a couple of shelters, plus bathrooms on the west side of the pavilion. There is street parking south and west of the park and two parking lots on the north side. This is a common gathering space for parties and family reunions. Other amenities include  a small basketball court, baseball diamond, bike racks, and water fountains.

Unfortunately, people don't seem to pick up after themselves at this park as well as one might hope, and people sit in their cars a lot in the parking lot. That said, no one has ever bothered me, and the parking lot is over the hill from the playground and on the other side of the park from the oak grove.

More Photos Here.

Newell Park
North Fairview Avenue and Hewitt Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55104

Evergreen Park, Roseville Minnesota

We have a hanging in our house that says "Once a year, go someplace you have never been."
- The Dalai Lama.

I've never been behind my garage. Does that count? Not Zen enough?

However, we had never been to Evergreen Park in Roseville, Minnesota, either, until today (Map). 

This suburban park is large and has nice trees plus a fence around the playground to keep the kiddos away from the street, leaving you free to read a book or play with your smartphone while they run and jump and risk injury.* The bathrooms are right next to the playground, which is a bonus when your kid shrieks, "I have to go pee!" at the last minute. It looks like the have a space for birthday parties as well.

There are baseball fields where Little League games take place, and we happened to arrive on one such day, so the place was teeming with kids in uniforms and overly competitive parents. Oh hey! There's a snack counter with hot dogs and pulled pork sandwiches. Probably only on Little League days, but be warned in case your kid, like mine, wants all the food he sees someone else having. There's a small parking lot right next to the playground, but that won't help you if there are games happening. We parked across the four-lane, median-divided street, which was less than ideal.

We don't go to the suburbs much because we are Those People, but we hear that they have all the good schools, malls, and parks.

Evergreen Park

1810 County Road B

Roseville, MN

 

*I'm KIDDING. I always bring a flask with me.ª

ªOK, kidding again. We particularly enjoyed the twisty slide and the green tubey thing with the holes in it. The whole family could get in there at once or one person could be outside and play Troll Under the Bridge.

Minnesota Zoo Educational Programs: Blurb

We are members of the Minnesota Zoo. It's just a great place to go, year-round. Aside from being a destination with great exhibits and learning opportunities on a normal visiting day, they also offer great kid and family programs. We have not had a chance to participate yet, but I do have a friend who has. She and her family did a zoo encounter with the bears, who are some of the zoo's most popular residents.

For kids and families, they have classes, tours, camps, and overnights for almost all ages (all the way down to 2 years old), as well as career exploration and conservation seminars all the way through 12th grade.

On their "Games and Activities" page, they have online games you can play before your visit as well as crafts and a scavenger hunt.

Smell it!

Lilacs, baby. They are everywhere in early spring.

Have your kids touch them and smell them. Do not encourage tasting.

Dunning Park, St. Paul, MN

Mama had some politicking to do at the Senate District Convention, so Pete and Finn came by toward the end to view the proceedings and check out the park adjacent to St. Paul Central High School.

 

Dunning Park in Saint Paul is nice. It's right in the center of town, so it's easily accessibly. It does not have a lot of shade, so I imagine later in the year, you would need to make sure you have sunscreen and hats. They have a big kid playground and a little kid playground along with a tire swing, big swing, and toddler swing. Helmets not necessary, at least for kids...

There are baseball diamonds, tennis courts, and a basketball court with restrooms in the center of the park. There is at least one picnic table and parking at the school and at the park.

Dunning Recreation Center and Dunning Fields
1221 Marshall Avenue Saint Paul, MN 55104‎
(651) 632-5124
Toni Stone Field at Dunning Sports Complex