The Chain of Lakes Is Why Minneapolis Works

Lakes Harriet, Bde Maka Ska, Cedar, and Isles form a connected loop of paths and parkland through the southwest neighborhoods. The full circuit is about 13 miles — bikeable in an hour, walkable in a gorgeous afternoon. The paths are paved and separated: walkers left, bikes right. Minnesotans enforce this with raised eyebrows.

September is the month. Summer crowds thin, the maples start throwing orange, sailing dinghies lean into breezes that smell like cut grass and approaching autumn. The stretch between Harriet and Bde Maka Ska passes through a channel where turtles sun on logs and herons stand in the reeds looking like they've figured something out but aren't sharing.

The Lake Harriet bandshell runs summer orchestra concerts to blanket crowds, but the lake is honestly better in fall when it's quieter. Nice Ride bike stations are everywhere. Stop at the Lake Harriet Pavilion for a malt from the concession window. Eating ice cream by a lake while the leaves turn is basically what Minneapolis was designed for.