UMN VG 2024-25 DM Accessible - Flipbook - Page 43
Minnesota makes a splash
If you ask a Minnesotan what there is to do in their state, most locals will point you in the direction of
the nearest lake or stream. Whether you prefer to skim, swim or skate, we invite you to dive in—on
campus and around our state.
Paddle
Plunge
Pucks
ON CAMPUS:
Dip into the mighty Mississippi from
the East River Flats just down the hill
from the U of M’s Co昀昀man Memorial
Union. As you paddle downstream,
you’ll get to see the 昀氀ora and fauna
that shape our state’s history, and you
may even catch a glimpse of a bald
eagle or white-tail deer.
ON CAMPUS:
Once you’ve had your 昀椀ll of skimming
the surface, dive headlong into one of
the Recreation and Wellness Center’s
pools to brush up on your backstroke
or develop your doggy paddling
skills. Take part in their Ski-U-Drop
(will you jump o昀昀 the 5-meter or
10-meter platform?) or Tri-U-Mah (an
annual indoor triathlon celebrating its
20th year).
ON CAMPUS:
Once these bodies of water start
freezing over, they’re not out of
commission yet! Buy a ticket to watch
Gopher Hockey— the second-most
popular sport after football among U
of M student sports fans—or take to
the ice yourself in club or intramural
hockey leagues on campus.
IN MINNESOTA:
If downstream isn’t mighty enough
for you, bring your paddle upstate.
Check out Lake Itasca, home to the
humble headwaters of the Mississippi
River and the U of M’s Itasca
Biological Station, where you could
take a 3-week 昀椀eld biology course. Or
sign up for a 3-day Canoe Expedition
of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area
with the U of M’s Center for Outdoor
Adventure.
Check out our outdoor gear rental and trips
at recwell.umn.edu/adventure.
IN MINNESOTA:
Want to spread your water wings
even further? Plunge into Lake
Superior—one of the country’s 昀椀ve
great lakes—two hours north of
the Twin Cities. Dip your toes in the
dark sand of Black Beach or take
up sur昀椀ng in the fresh salt-free
water. Feel like Lake Superior is too,
well, superior for you? No worries!
Minnesota has over 10,000 other
lakes to explore (11,842 to be speci昀椀c,
but who’s counting?) of varying sizes.
IN MINNESOTA:
Scratch the surface of one of
Minnesota’s lakes and play on a
pond! You could even grab some
friends and compete in the U.S. Pond
Hockey Championships, hosted
on Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis.
Prefer art over athletics? Trade in
your skates for snowshoes for the
Art Shanty Projects—whimsical and
interactive art installations on Lake
Harriet’s ice.
U OF M TWIN CITIES
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