Play some Sports

Another great thing to do in Plymouth, get some friends together for some sports! With plenty of fields and facilities get out and get start playing!

Michael Vick and Chad Lewis tossing the old pigskin

 Football: Plenty of room around here for football, it seems like every block has a park with reasonably decent upkeep. and if you really can't find any grass, theres plenty of roads that people dont drive on that much, for some street football (arguably my favorite pastime).

long live the Minnesota Moose

 Hockey: I went a little further in depth on hockey options earlier, which you can see here. But I would also note that hockey also plays well in the street, both in sneakers and on skates!

A league of their own

 Baseball/Softball: Baseball can be tough because you usually need big numbers, but don't let that stop you. Plymouth has some great baseball fields, especially Zachary Lane Park, and Bass Lake park. Another plug I would make is there are great batting cages at Zachary Lane Play field and at Armstrong High. Another thing I have heard of but never actually checked out is "The Cave." supposedly it's a sweet training facility for softball that is open year round. Also there are sweet indoor batting cages with pitching machines up in Brooklyn Park so you can practice your swing all year long. Check them out HERE.

hoop dreams

Basketball: Nothing like shooting some good hoops. If you haven't played "2 on 2" or "3 on 3" in your driveway for a while, go do it, odds are you've forgotten how fun it is to play on a 7 foot rim, and dust off your 360 Dunk. But if you want to go next level there are a lot of great options in town. Armstrong and Wayzata both have Gym's that I believe have open gym times. Lifetime fitness will let you hoop, for a price. And I know that the Mormon Chuch (2801 Douglas Dr. - Crystal, MN) Has a very nice gym and during the winter months often runs free leagues and open gym drop in nights.

And dont forget about bocce ball!

Sledding at Lion's Hill

Lion's hill, its technically in Crystal, but it was such a big part of my days of youth that I'm putting it in here. Its a sledding Paradise! Its got lights! Its got jumps! Its free! 

Location:

6822 32^nd Avenue North

 Crystal, MN

It's technical name is "Valley Place Park." But since it was sponsored by The Lions Club, I have always known it simply as Lion's Hill.

Its one of the best sledding hills I've ever seen. A giant mound in the middle of a big playfield. Perfect for sledding. Each side of the hill has something different to offer. the north side is the steepest and wildest, the south face is small and mellow. I've heard talk that there used to be a rope tow here, now a days you have to hike back up on your own strength.

Lion's has fun for everyone. As you can see here theres also 2 hockey rinks and a flooded field for skating on in winter time. They also have a warming house which is usually open, and a playground for summer time!

Night time dosn't mean its time to stop sledding! This well lit hill allows you to keep on trucking into the wee hours of the morning!

The North Face! aka the bumpy side

A common sight at Lion's: kids catching tons of air and having a good old time!!

Also my runner up sledding hill is Plymouth's french park: a great hill in it's own right!

Play some Hockey

Here in Plymouth winter is long as I'm sure you know.  Well as long as everything is frozen make the most of it! Hockey is everywhere here in the state of hockey.  Even if you never played its not too late. The best way to play in Plymouth, in my opinion, is on frozen lakes.  Its free and hockey in it's purest form.  Sure the ice is cracking and shifting the whole time but that's just part of the magic!

The Chiefs, city champions 2007-2008

While outdoor hockey may be the best, indoor hockey allows the puck to be played all year long! Many parks and rec leagues, drop in games and open skate times are available in town at both the Plymouth Ice center and New Hope Ice arena.  

Boot hockey on Lost Lake in Plymouth.

Another great option if you don't feel like going out on the lake is down at the park! zachary Playfield and plymouth creek both have awesome free outdoor rinks. As do many parks in town.

And if you don't feel like going to the park or the lake, just flood your yard and let it freeze!

Also I'll put in a plug for my favorite hockey shop near by: Way to Go Sports, which is in Golden Valley. (8028 Olson Memorial Hwy) Its all used stuff so its cheap but still works just fine. Either that or I knock on my neighbors door who has a garage full of gear and they are kindly enough to let me use it.

 But no matter where you play or who you play with, be sure to end your game with a victory slide for the fans!