Why go
The linked paths make the park system useful for more than a single scenic stop. Follow the Chain of Lakes for a walk or ride beside the water, seek out the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden in Theodore Wirth Park, or trace Minnehaha Creek toward its falls and the river. These are distinct outings, so let your preferred pace and landscape decide.
The full story
Minneapolis parks grew from an early decision to preserve natural features and connect them by boulevards and parkways. Landscape architect Horace Cleveland helped shape that approach, and Theodore Wirth later developed the system further. Its design is easiest to understand on the ground: the Grand Rounds links lakes, creek corridors and parkland, while separate paths give walkers and cyclists room alongside the parkway. The Chain of Lakes offers open water and long, connected routes. Theodore Wirth Park offers a different experience, with the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary set within a larger wooded park. At Minnehaha, the creek becomes a waterfall before continuing toward the Mississippi. Rather than treating the parks as one stop, choose a section that matches the outing you want. The lake paths suit a sustained walk or ride; the falls give a more focused destination.