by Trever
A first-ring suburb of Minneapolis, St. Louis Park is a large, active community that offers plenty of fun things to do for both residents and visitors alike. Here are a few great ways to spend your time in St. Louis Park –keep reading to find your perfect activity!
About St. Louis Park
St. Louis Park wasn’t always the bustling city it is today. With the town’s first developments in the late 1800s and a rapid growth of industrialism, the western boundary of Minneapolis was officially drawn at France Avenue once St. Louis Park was incorporated in 1886.With the turning of the 1900s, the town saw a growing population and residential boom, and even became the official home of the world’s first concrete, tubular grain elevator which still stands as a popular landmark today. As the 1950s were on their way, St. Louis Park finally became an official city, allowing them to make expansions to such things like sewer, water and street systems, while establishing schools, public transportation, government facilities and a thriving commercial sector. This decade brought more than 60 new subdivisions and the construction of thousands of new homes which helped lead to a rapidly developing suburban-urban environment throughout the second half of the 20th century. As of today, the town of St. Louis Park is integral to the overall makeup of the Western Minneapolis suburbs, with a heavier population of just under 50,000 residents. Here, you get great access to Uptown and Downtown Minneapolis, Lake Minnetonka, and of course the many amenities of St. Louis Park itself.
Things to Do in St. Louis Park
With a ton of awesome dining options, upscale shopping opportunities, recreational areas and more, here are a few popular things to do St. Louis Park. Take a look at some of the best options below:
Restaurants in St. Louis Park
- Yangtze Restaurant: Casual spot for classic Hunan, Sichuan, Mandarin & Cantonese dishes plus weekend dim sum options.
- Blaze Pizza: Hip counter-serve pizzeria dishing up crispy, thin-crust pies made with creative toppings & sauces.
- Yum! Kitchen & Bakery: Bakery & cafe selling a range of from-scratch eats, such as sandwiches, salads & signature cupcakes.
Recreation in St. Louis Park
- Oak Hill Park Splash Pad: A great option for the little ones, with plenty of aquatic and dry play spaces for all ages. Plus, rentable pavilions, winter ice rink and trails for hiking and biking.
- Westwood Hills Nature Center: A huge park, boasting over 160 acres of prairie, forest and marsh areas, as well as recreational paths and an educational center.
- Cedar Knoll Park: For a more intimate park experience, here’s one of the town’s smaller less-well-known recreational areas, with baseball fields, dog park and wooded area.
Shopping in St. Louis Park
- The Shoppes at Knollwood: Attractive strip mall offering familiar retailers like DSW, TJ Maxx, Home Goods, as well as dining options like Panera Bread, Pizza Karma and Caribou Coffee.
- The Shops at West End: This mall with an open feel offers upscale shopping like Evereve and Anthropologie, as well as a movie theater and popular restaurants like Punch Bowl Social and Cooper’s. Across the street are a number of other retail and dining options, like Home Depot, Petco, Jersey Mike’s Subs and Bruegger’s Bagels.
Entertainment in St. Louis Park
- The Pavek Museum of Broadcasting: Browse collections of vintage radio and television equipment, many crafted by local craftsmen. And see the Vitaphone system, used to cut audio discs for the first “talkie”, The Jazz Singer.
- Discovery Flights: An introductory session with a certified flight instructor at Inflight Pilot Training, where participants get to take control of a plane and fly. Experience St. Louis Park and the rest of the Minneapolis suburbs in an entirely new way – 20,000 feet off the ground.
Get in touch with Inflight Pilot Training to schedule your Discovery Flight.
We’ll pair you with one of our certified flight instructors as they help you take the controls of a plane. Not only is it an unforgettable experience, you get the chance to see what a day in the life of a private pilot is like. We can introduce you to a new hobby and an exciting way of life – all it takes is a quick call or note to our team to get started. For additional information on Inflight training programs, contact us today or call (952) 698-3000.
