Backyard Destinations

What’s a trip to the land of 10,000 lakes without a visit to one of those lakes?

When in the Twin Cities, Saint Paul’s Como Lake is lake worth stopping by.

Como Lake is situated in Como Regional Park and it’s a pretty simple place with a little over 1.5 miles of pathways around the lake – perfect for walking, biking and running – and a dock where people can fish, among other things.

I previously visited Lake Calhoun and Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis, but made my way to this lake in Saint Paul because it’s always relaxing to be in outdoor environments like that.

I got to Como Lake via public transit from Minneapolis: I took two buses and walked less than a mile to get there. On the way from the bus stop, I walked through residential areas (how lucky are those residents who live so close to the lake?) and randomly saw a German immersion school.

That was pretty interesting.

But I digress.

It was a bit gloomy the day I visited Como Lake, but it was still picturesque.

At the lake, similarly to Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis, there’s a Wheels Fun Rental there where you can rent kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, pedal boats and surreys at an hourly rate.

I didn’t indulge in any water activities when I visited, but I still saw some people cast out fishing rods. It seems that the lake a good spot for bluegills, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Como Lake isn’t to be confused with Lake Como in Italy, which actually was the first item to pop up when I went online to do a little research about the lake. The European version looks a lot more vibrant, but Saint Paul’s Como Lake is beautiful in its own way.

From the lake, you can walk or bike over to Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, which is located within Como Regional Park.

One of my favorite places there is the sunken garden. (Fun fact: Britney Spears posted a photo of Como Park on her Instagram account in May 2016.)

Another cool spot to check out there is the Japanese garden.

It doesn’t cost a single cent to visit Como Lake and the park, and it’s absolutely worth checking out if you’re an outdoor enthusiast and/or if you just want a dose of the outdoors while in the Twin Cities.