Weekend Getaway: Saint Anthony Main, a Minneapolis getaway to hike, drink and reflect

March 23, 5:10 PMMinneapolis City Guide ExaminerLori Wilson

Previous Next

1 comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Minneapolis City Guide Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Father Hennepin Park on the way to the Stone Arch Bridge

Being cooped up all winter doesn't come without its consequences. Just a few weeks ago I was this close to throwing my Wii out of frustration for my simulated outdoor recreation workouts.

Like everyone else under seasonal house arrest, I was more than ready to feel the fresh spring breeze on my face and enjoy all of Minneapolis’ wonderful outdoor amenities without the winter layers. So when I woke up this past Saturday morning to a beautiful clear blue sky and high 50-degree temps, my thoughts immediately turned to getting some sun on my pale winterized skin.

 

Lake Calhoun, Lake Harriet and Lake of the Isles are all great choices for early springtime recreation, but everyone else seems to have the same idea once warm weather hits our fair city. The Minneapolis lakes become jam-packed with runners, walkers, bikers, rollerbladers, and even a few adventure enthusiasts who brave the thinning ice for one last run on the lake. I was energized by everyone's outdoor zeal and was up for a little springtime city digging. But with all the choices, where do you start? 

The old cobblestone road of Main Street; the 'Main Drag'.

St. Anthony Main was my place of choice for afternoon urban exploring. This charming little area is tucked in the northeast of downtown on the east side of the Mississippi River. The restored riverfront area houses theatres, outdoor concert series and four restaurants with open air patios and unbeatable downtown skyline views. Main Street has the oldest brick and stone buildings in the city dating all the way back to the 1850s. The Pillsbury A Mill complex, a historic flour mill that ceased operation in 2003, makes one reflect upon Minneapolis' past and present; especially when the late afternoon sun hits the faded bricks just right.

On this Saturday afternoon, the spring air smelled exuberantly clean and the ground felt slightly spongy from the winter thaw. The cobblestoned Main Street was alive with couples, families, and solitary walkers who happily roamed the riverfront. The walkway down to St. Anthony Falls was still barricaded for the season, but the elevated path gave walkers a glimpse of the historic Stone Arch Bridge from across the way.

The Stone Arch Bridge gracefully arches 23 times across the Mississippi River like a skipping stone suspended in perfect flight. From a distance, the dramatic limestone and granite stone arches make a grand gateway connecting the historic Riverfront District to the Warehouse District on the other side of the river. It's not until you are up close that you are struck by the sheer enormity of the bridge.

Taken on the bridge looking toward downtown Minneapolis

This historic icon was once a former railroad bridge that was transformed into a pedestrian and biker friendly path. The Stone Arch Bridge is the only bridge of its kind in the United States to span the mighty Mississippi. Once you actually step onto the bridge's walkway, you will be quickly taken aback as to how high you actually are above the river. Come rain or shine, the Upper Mississippi below the bridge rages year-round in a cascade of white and blue foam. From your bird's eye perch, you can safely enjoy spectacular views of the Falls of St. Anthony, downtown Minneapolis, and the historic flour mills along the river. Pictures hardly do justice, but are still worth capturing on film.

On this particular day, the bridge hums with activity. Bikers fly past pedestrians with cheerful grins and runners speed by every few minutes in shorts and t-shirts. The cheerful notes of a trumpet fill the spring air as an old man leans comfortably against the bridge railing and plays for a young child and her parents before they drop a few dollars into his case. Everything in the world just seems right and beautiful at this exact moment.

Taken on the bridge looking toward downtown

By that time, however, the afternoon sunlight was beginning to slightly fade behind the trees. Along Main Street, people packed the outdoor patios of Tuggs Tavern and Vic's Dining to enjoy a drink or two before the day escaped them. Vic's impressive menu of seafood, steaks, chops and pasta dishes make for an easy dinner choice, especially when a vacant table magically appeared on the busy terrace. This blissful afternoon was truly a perfect collaboration of Minneapolis spring living... one that should be re-lived over and over again.

The best way to unwind on a lazy Saturday afternoon