Tag: snow

• Sand Dunes State Forest

  

  First of all, if you are looking for information about Sand Dunes National Park, this is not it. Sand Dunes State Forest is in Minnesota. You will not find huge flowing waves of sand here, but you will find miles of good hiking that is not too crowded. If you have horses, this is also great for trail rides.

  Tammy Nara

  June 24, 2022

  Central Minnesota Hikes, Hiking, north metro hikes

  hidden hiking gem, Hiking, land management, land use history, loop trail, Minnesota, Minnesota hiking, minnesota parks, north metro hikes, sandy soil, snow, trails, tree ecology, woods

• Tamarack Nature Center

  

  Now that the snow is almost gone it is time to return to this 320 acre park. (1.3 sq.km) In the winter they are cross-country ski only. I did a 4.5 mile (7.25 km) walk here on March 20, 2019 and did not come close to hiking all the trails. The central loop is paved and was clear of snow but only half a mile (0.8 km). The large parking area is free of charge. During the pandemic their amazing visitor center is closed, but if you need a restroom, pit toilets are available. The trails are well marked and have names like Acorn, Deer, and Dragonfly. They are arranged in concentric circles, sort of. This is a great place for a day hike.

  Tammy Nara

  March 10, 2021

  Hiking, north metro hikes, Twin Cities HIkes

  deer, ice, leaves, mud, nature experience, neutral colors, new plants, slush, snow, Spring in Minnesota, stream crossing, things to do near St. Paul, twin cities hiking, updated post, water on trail, White Bear Lake hiking

• Priory Neighborhood Preserve, Maplewood

  

  A refuge for wildlife and a refuge for a seeker of solitude. That is what I found here. The trails are natural and not maintained in winter which means that if you are the first to enter after a snowfall, it is up to you to blaze the trail. I love that.

  Tammy Nara

  February 15, 2020

  Hiking

  blaze trail, loop trail, maplewood, Minnesota hiking, natural trails, snow, St. Paul, things to do near St. Paul, urban hikes, wetland, winter walking

• Maze or Labyrinth?

  

  In my last post about my snow labyrinth, I compared it to a path toward a goal that has many changes in direction but as long as you keep following the path you will get to the goal. A maze is different. A maze has many choices to make and many dead ends. The goal is to find your way through.

  Tammy Nara

  March 18, 2019

  Build habit of Creativity, Creativity, Time management

  choices, creativity habit, hike, labyrinth, lake, Maze, Maze vs. labyrinth, snow, Spring, Steps, Thaw, Time management, Which direction to choose, Which idea to develop, Winter

• Show Up and Do the Work

  

  Both painting and hiking are achieved by many small actions. One more step, one more step. In both it is possible to get lost in the repetition of small actions. That feeling of being in the zone of automatic productive action is amazing.

  Tammy Nara

  February 17, 2019

  Build habit of Creativity, Hiking, Painting

  creativity habit, do the work, how painting and hiking are the same, in the zone, judging my art, painting hiking connections, perfectionism, Show up, snow, Tracks in snow

• Paint a response.

  

  Today I struggled with the demons of doubt and fear. Time was wasted. The negative thoughts told me that I am not good enough. They said I deserve to take a break. The demons did not want me to experience nature or paint anything, they wanted me to waste time. If I go through my one and only life without honing my art skills and without communicating my ideas, they win. I am glad that a different thought occurred to me: “Wait. How is it that I am both not good enough AND deserving of a break? I think I will no longer listen to you”.

  Tammy Nara

  February 10, 2019

  Build habit of Creativity, Creativity, Hiking, Painting

  abstract, central park, creativity habit, doubt, fear, jigsaw puzzle piece, leaves, Minnesota, Painting, roseville, sketch, snow, Time management, trees, winter hiking

• Snail Lake Regional Park

  

  As I was walking there today I saw children sliding down the icy hill. Usually there is snow there time of year but it is all melted except for a track of ice formed by the sleds that packed down the snow we had about a month ago. This park makes me nostalgic.

  Tammy Nara

  January 12, 2019

  Build habit of Creativity, Creativity, Hiking

  beach in winter, birch trees, connection to nature, drawstring backpack, flooding, free parking, good people, ice fishing, Icy path, lost and found, lost bag, melancholy, memories, mileage goal, Minnesota, natural shore, nature experience, nostalgia, playground, redbubble, shoreline return to nature, Shoreview, sketch, Snail Lake Regional Park, snow, trail description, walk on ice

• Coon Rapids Dam

  

  My hike was only 2.67 miles (4.3 km) because I stopped to chat with an old friend and ran out of time.

  Tammy Nara

  December 16, 2018

  Hiking

  annual pass, chance meeting, Coon Rapids, hike, Minnesota, Mississippi river, parking, snow, support parks, time, trailhead