New York’s not the only state with a Central Park.
In Roseveille, Minnesota, a suburb located northeast of Minneapolis and northwest of Saint Paul, there’s a park with that name, too.
And nestled within the borders of Roseville’s Central Park is the Harriet Alexander Nature Center.
The nature center is one of two places I visited in when I stopped by Roseville. (The other was Bent Brewstillery, and if you’re curious, you can read more about it here.) The center itself is filled with a wealth of displays, including life-like animals, fossils and even live bees! It’s a great spot if you enjoy learning about wildlife and one to bring the family to.
Although I love learning, I also love being outdoors, and the surrounding areas outside of the center were my favorite part.
There’s a nice boardwalk at the nature center that goes through 52 acres of marsh, prairie and forest habitats. The marsh on site is pretty neat. Some sections look like they’re solid with a green layer on top, but they’re really not. There’s also a good chance you’ll see mallard and wood ducks around there. Other birds seen here include Canadian geese, great blue herons, and songbirds like common yellow throats and march wrens.
I stopped by the nature center with Roseville Visitors Association marketing & events coordinator Lindsay, and we were also lucky enough to see a deer passing through the grounds! (Raccoons, red fox and red squirrels are other mammals that visitors might see here.)
What’s also nice about the center is that across the street from it is another nice little spot to check out called the Muriel Sahlin Arboretum, which is also part of Roseville’s Central Park.
The Harriet Alexander Nature Center, along with Bent Brewstillery, is a nice place to spend some time when in Roseville or Twin Cities area. It’s a pleasant little nature spot in the suburb that offers a simple, family-friendly adventure.