Surrounding St. Paul Is Minnesota's Fun Day Trip City Filled With Idyllic Nature Escapes And Tasty Restaurants

Minnesota is known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, so it isn't surprising to learn that it's got plenty of beautiful places to explore. One of those is a suburb not far from St. Paul, the state's capital and twin city to neighboring Minneapolis. Maplewood has been around for quite a while — it was first established around 1850 when European and French Canadian settlers arrived in the area. Over time, a strong community emerged and it became an officially incorporated city in 1957. That's a lot of time for a dense city to grow, but Maplewood has managed to maintain plenty of wide-open spaces and its natural beauty and charm. 

St. Paul itself is pretty great, with plenty of entertainment and nature opportunities of its own, but sometimes big cities are meant to left behind, at least for a little while. Luckily, visitors to St. Paul can spend a day exploring Maplewood's beautiful nature escapes, enjoying its thriving food scene that's been influenced by various cultural cuisines, and enjoying a break from the big city. You can even give your dog a great escape at the Battle Creek Dog Park (just don't forget all the things your dog needs for the perfect vacation!). And you don't have to travel far to do any of it. Maplewood is less than a 10-minute drive along the I-94 from the heart of St. Paul, and the closest airport is the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP). Once you get there you've got plenty of ways to entertain yourself both indoors and out.  

There is plenty to do around the St. Paul area, whether you have one day or several to spare. You could explore the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, which is one of the biggest shopping malls in the country. But if you want a great day trip, Maplewood has a lot to offer. The city is home to Myth Live, a concert venue where you can catch a show, plus indoor and outdoor golf courses so you can hit some balls no matter what time of year it is. There are plenty of ways to enjoy nature and the native wildlife — more on that in just a bit — but you can also observe wildlife in an unlikely place. The Maplewood Mall is home to Sustainable Safari, a hands-on zoo that offers numerous animal encounters with animals like kangaroos, capybaras, and continental giant rabbits. 

If you're a foodie, you'll be spoiled for choice when it's time to grab a bite to eat. Maplewood has its fair share of nationwide chain restaurants like Outback Steakhouse or Olive Garden, but where it really shines is the wide range of local eateries that represent a range of global cuisines. There are options for Vietnamese, Japanese, Indian, and German food, along with plenty of American fare that taps into the hearty cooking the Midwest is known for. 

For an experience that combines dining and live music, you might check out The Dog House Bar and Grill, which serves American classics and has a 4.4 star average rating on Google. "The dirty bourbon burger had a sweet and savory sauce and so much flavor!" one reviewer noted. "Everything was perfect! Love the huge variety of menu items!"

Maplewood isn't the only suburb near St. Paul worth visiting. Nearby Plymouth is a family-friendly Midwest city that has its own beautiful scenery, shopping, and great food. But Maplewood's nature escapes make it a standout, since these spaces are designed to give locals and visitors alike access to the great outdoors. Lookout Park was originally planned out in 1884 in the midst of a housing development that spanned 23 acres. It got its name from an observation tower that created a vantage point of the surrounding area, and although that observatory is no longer standing, you can still catch views of nearby Lake Phelan during the winter and fall once the leaves have fallen from the trees.

If you want to see some of the local wildlife, head to the Maplewood Nature Center where the trails are open every day from dawn to dusk. At the center, you could explore the trails, have a picnic lunch, or take the littles to the nature play yard, although you'll have to leave the dogs at home for this one. You'll also want to visit Keller Regional Park, the oldest park in the area, which is so large that it consists of six different sections. It's got a boat launch, a fishing pier, an archery range, and four different picnic sections that can be reserved for special events. Whether you are strolling through town or exploring the parks, Maplewood's nature escapes are a beautiful alternative to the office buildings and traffic you'll be skipping in St. Paul.