Winter Wakeboarding

Well I suppose if the lakes aren't going to freeze this year, the watersports season never ends! Kind of wish we were playing ice hockey by now but hey, we'll take what we get.

Photo taken Dec 12, 2015 here in Plymouth.

Wet suit required! ha ha.

Hamel Rodeo

The Hamel Rodeo is coming to town. It will take place just 5 miles from Wayzata High School, the address is: 19101 Co Rd 10 Corcoran MN 55340. The dates of the event are: July 9-12 2015.

While I’ve never been to the Hamel Rodeo, I’ve been to enough rodeos to know they are always a good time. Check out HamelRodeo.org for all the information and advance ticketing. And in the meantime watch this video to get you in the mood.

Plymouth, MN Library

A crazy book I found at the library. Nothing like gaining a little inspiration from NASCAR.

Plymouth has a fantastic library. It has tons of books (obviously). Tons of computers, even toys for kids. Its definately been recently updated! Its worth a look.

I saw lots of books there that seemed like they'd be fun to check out, and all the kids books are kept down real low so the kids can get at them them selves.

There is also a big meeting space, when I was there I think there was a large group gathered in the meeting room, they were all men from forign countries and they were starting up a Cricket league I think. Anyways seems like a good spot to meet.

As with any library the books are free, access is free everythings free. Go check it out.

Address:15700 36th Ave N, Plymouth, MN 55446
Phone: (612) 543-5825

Great Sledding Hills - Wayzata East Middle School

If we get anymore snow this winter, Wayzata East is a great place to go sledding. It has a cool hill that has 3 big bumps you go down.  Great for kids and totally free of course. More pics to come soon! in the mean time here's a video of some folks enjoying it!

12000 Ridgemount Avenue West, Plymouth, MN 55441

Plymouth Fire and Ice Festival

Here is the schedule for the 2015 Fire and Ice Fest!

Be sure to be there its an awesome event that is totally free and tons of fun! Its good for adults and kids. Its certainly a fun thing to do in plymouth in winter. I have great memories of hanging out at the festival riding the dog sled, doing the recycle bin races. Its all good! the Cheese Curds are not to be missed. Here are a few pictures from years gone by.

Don't Miss the ATV Train

Mushing with real sled dog teams!

Goldy and the other Minnesota sports mascots show up!

Recycling bin races are awesome, but last year I lost to some guy wearing metal cleats!

The little tykes hockey games are so fun

Cool Ice sculptures.

Live Music: Kurt Metzger's The Warmest Christmas

Kurt Metzger (on the right) puts on a great Christmas Piano Concert every year.

I want to put in a plug for a great Christmas concert: Kurt Metzger's The Warmest Christmas.  Kurt puts on an amazing Christmas piano concert every year, past locations have been the St. Paul Landmark Center, and Theo Wirth Chalet, this year he is taking his talents to the LDS Church on Douglas Drive in Crystal and admission is free. The concert consists of traditional Christmas Carols, mixed in with his own original songs, and even fun singalongs with the whole crowd.

-Kurt Metzger’s The Warmest Christmas concert, featuring Kurt and other great musicians, will be held December 21 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Crystal. 
Tickets are Free, but RSVP required at kurtmetzgermusic.com or warmestchristmas.com

Plymouth Magazine Recently ran this article about Kurt: http://plymouthmag.com/kurt-metzger%E2%80%99s-seventh-warmest-christmas-concert

Get up early and watch the sun rise over the lakes

Sunrise over Schmidt Lake in Plymouth, MN

You wont regret it.

Slip n Slide

Now that summer is upon us its time for summer fun. I suggest the slip n' slide. I shouldn't have to explain much about it except that you need a hill, water and a slippery surface. Its fun for all ages. Heres a fun video of my friends and I and our slip n slide in Las Vegas back in 2007!



Yes it was as fun as it looks. As always be safe!

Summertime activities for kids and families in Plymouth 2014

This summer Plymouth will be putting on a lot of free shows in their parks. Here is a list of what is happening when:

The Water ski show at Parkers lake is awesome. (Photo Credit Plymouth Sun Sailor)

The Hilde Small Stage: 3450 Plymouth Blvd
6/16: Zoomobile 6:45pm
6/23: Comedy Sportz 7pm
6/25: Happy birthday America with Magician Annette Fragale 11am

Parkers Lake Stage: County Road 6 and Niagara LN
6/10: BZ Girls 7pm
6/17: Andrew Walesch Trio 7pm
6/24: Plymouth Concert Band 7pm
7/8: TaleSpin 7pm
7/9: Kid Concert: Kid Power with Rachael 11am
7/15: Geoff Elvee 7pm
7/16: Water Ski Show 7pm
7/17: Travelld 7pm
7/22: Summer Carnival: kids Koncert: Cale the Juggler 7pm
7/24: Everett Smithson Band 7pm
7/29: Todd Menton 7pm
7/31: Kevin Bowe Duo 7pm
8/6: Water Ski Show 7pm
8/12: Rowe Family Singers 7pm
8/13 Kids Koncert: Alpha Bits 11am

Hilde Amphitheater: 3450 Plymouth Blvd
6/12: Plymouth Concert Band 7pm
6/13 at 7pm and 6/14 at 2pm: Missoula Children's Theater Presents: Rapunzel
6/19: Not Guilty Band 7pm
6/26: Star of the North Concert Band 7pm
7/1: Music in Plymouth all day
7/10: Salsa del Sol
7/11 at 7pm 7/12 at 2pm: Prairie Fire Children's Theater Presents: Tom Sawyer

Plymouth Movies in the park
8/15: Little Big League
8/22: The Jungle Book

"Little Big League" Classic.

What free activities to do inside with kids during a freezing winter?

Fun things to do with your kids when your snowed in, list provided mostly by Minnesota ECFE:

1. Have an indoor picnic. Pack up your lunch eat on a blanket have kids plan the menu
2. Make a paper chain using 3 colors help your child understand patterns. use as decor in kids room
3. Indoor Ice Skating: Take 2 paper plates and stand on them on a carpeted floor, put on some good skating music!
4. Sing some favorite songs together.
5. Using a newpaper article have your child circle letters that begin with the first letter of your childs name.
6. Celebrate winter by bringing the snow inside. Fill a dishpan with snow, gathers scoops spoons and play.
7. Read a favorite winter book to your kid.
8. Have your child retell a story or event in order, first middle and last.
9. Exercise with your child, Count the number or arm circles or hops. (check out cosmic kids yoga on Youtube)
10. Talk about how you and your child are feeling. Talk about happy faces sad faces and silly faces!
11. Together make some magic goop!
12. Make a crayon resist Picture. draw a picture with crayons and paint over it with blue watercolor.
13. Find a big empty box and make a house, car, barn, space ship, what ev!
14. Read Chicken Soup with Rice by Maurice Sendak and eat chicken soup with rice for lunch.
15. Paint with cars: Put some paint on a plate and drive matchbox cars through the paint.
16. Homemade soap bubbles. and if its cold enough blow them out side and freeze them!
17. Go to Library Family Story time! Kids will love it!
18. Paper bag puppets.
19. Froot Loops on Yarn to make necklace.
20. Make your own matching memory game.
21. Fill a cookie sheet with sand sugar or flour, practice writing or drawing in it.
22. Birthday Party for a favorite stuffed animal.
23. Make a snow picture. Fill spray bottle with water and food coloring and I think you can figure out the rest.
24. Make a puzzle. Draw a picture then cut it up and see if your kid can put it back together.
25. Put on a parade with things from around the house. Wear crazy clothes and use marching music.
26. Together make soap crayons.
27. Make a collage from magazine pictures.
28. Make play dough, or just buy some play dough! and have fun.
29. Help your kid write letters in shaving cream on a tray.
30. Try an unfamiliar fruit or vegetable together.
31. Check out Stages Theatre. There next show is Alexander and the No Good Very Bad Day.
32. Simon Says.
33. Cut the tops off carrots and put them in water and watch them grow.
34. Grow a house plant. Perhaps an indoor lemon tree??
35. Go to Wild Rumpus.
36. Wee Wednesdays at midtown global market. (free lunch for kids age 5 and under, fun and games for all.)
37. Family night at midtown global market.
38. Ice skating at local rink.
39. Swimming at the Y or lifetime or somewhere similar.
40. Barnes and Noble childrens events. A good story time venue.
41. Home Depot, first saturday of every month a cool workshop where they get a bunch of free stuff and build a toy.
42. Make some waffles.
43. Pick a different culture, research it, and make a meal to be eaten as they would in that foreign land all together with your kids.
44. Dance party.
45. Face Paint.
46. Listen to the Beach Boys and Bob Marley and day dream about summer.
47. Como Zoo little explorers activities on thursdays. Super Fun.
48. Or of course Watch Cartoons!!

Lil explorers exploring the FREE como zoo!

Ice Fishing!

Gone Ice Fishing in Plymouth!

I can't say that I'm an expert Ice fisherman, but its always fun to give it a try! So go to a lake, bore a hole with and auger and throw your pole in. (if you don't want to buy one odds are your neighbor owns one!)

If you want some real advice I recommend going to this cool bait shop located at: 11540 Bass Lake Rd, Plymouth, MN. He'll hook you up with the secret spots and the right bait for what you want! Dress warm, and bring something to sit on!

Joanie with the catch of the day in Plymouth: Curly leaf milfoil!

Skiing in Minnesota

Skiing in Minnesota

Ok so Plymouth itself doesn’t have a ski resort. You do get a lift ticket when you cross country ski in french park but I still wouldn’t call it a ski resort. But if you’re like me when it comes to winter recreation nothing beats Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding. So in this post I will be handing out awards to our near and dear Minnesota Ski Resorts. In case there’s anyone who doesn’t already know, our state was flattened by glaciers back when Wooly Mammoths roamed, we don’t have “Legit Mountains” but we’ve got a lot of snow and a long skiing season so why not hit a ski hill or two!

The Gnarlyest Award: Hyland Hills

I refuse to refer to it as its updated name: Hyland Ski and Snowbard Area because Hyland Hills just rolls off the tongue so nice. You could basically call Hyland a skatepark on snow. The place is a urban snowboarders dream. You go into the park, hit some rails and jumps and without ever unstrapping your board you slide over and grab the rope tow, head right back up to the top and do it all over again! The sheer amount of time you spend on your board riding is unlike any other place I’ve ever ridden. The ability to just take hit after hit after hit on HUGE jumps and crazy rails allows snowboarders to perfect their craft and really perform some seriously impressive moves. The only things I don’t like about Hyland is other than the Board Park it’s a fairly boring ski hill. The average ride from top to bottom lasts about 15 seconds, so if you just want to go and get some carving in, go elsewhere. But if you just wanna shred rails all day and never unstrap your feet from your board, it doesn’t get much better than just taking a short drive to the south metro to take on Hyland Hills. PS they’ve got that Olympic style ski jump on the corner of the street there… I’ve never seen anything else like that!

Hyland Hills: Small Hill, Good Board Park.

The Most Famous Alumni Award: Buck Hill

If what I hear is true, Lindsey Vonn, the great Olympian was raised up and taught how to ski right here on local Buck Hill! While I can’t really give much noteworthy opinion on the best place to train if slalom skiing is your thing, I would say you might as well give buck hill a try, it was good enough for Lindsey Vonn!

The Best in the Mid West Award: Lutsen Mountains

This is as close as you’re going to get to skiing in Colorado or Utah. It’s by far the best. They have four individual peaks, a gondola, beautiful scenery, and they are right on Lake Superior. Lutsen is probably the only Minnesota ski hill I could ride 2 or 3 days in a row. At Lutsen you don’t just get the best skiing in state but you get that whole ski resort experience because the whole town has the back woods outdoorsman feel. All the lodges are rustic and the land is wild and untamed. Lutsen has features that aren’t seen in the other resorts in state such as skiing on bridges over rivers, large stone cliffs, 1,688 ft elevation, and runs that can be as long as 2 miles. Lutsen offers a lot of fun, it’s a long drive but if you want a ski trip that will let you feel like you’re really skiing go to Lutsen. One time I was lucky enough to stay in a cabin that was actually on the mountain (were talking: put on your skis on the back porch and away we go!), and all I am going to say about that is if you have the chance, I highly recommend it.

Lutsen Mountains: Definately Minnesota's Best Skiing

The Closest award: Elm Creek Park

Elm Creek: a great park

I previously did a whole report on Elm, but it’s worth mentioning again that technically speaking there is a ski hill right in Elm Creek Park. All it has is a rope-tow board park, and a beginners hill, but its close, cheap and fun!

The Night Owl Award:  Trollhaugen

As far as I can tell this place gets the award for being open the latest into the night! 3am! Wow for those of you not afraid to ski till you drop come “roll the troll” all night long!

Most underrated: Spirit Mountain

While it is no Lutsen, It has the second largest Vertical Drop in State. It’s a little closer drive being only in Duluth and its great skiing! I don’t hear a lot of talk about spirit but I really have enjoyed every time I’ve been there. The scenery and ambiance are not quite a match for Lutsen but the skiing quality is there, 175 skiable acres to enjoy.  A side note: Its really cold there.

Shredding Minnesota's "Mountains" in blizzard Conditions.

Family Fun Award: Wild Mountain

Wild is the perfect family fun hill. A short drive out to Taylors Falls, Not super expensive ticket, a perfect balance of runs, 1/3 being beginner 1/3 being intermediate 1/3 black Diamonds. A Decent amount of vertical Drop (300ft). And as if to drive my point home I just noticed that the ski information site: onthesnow.com has them ranked as the most beloved ski spot in Minnesota for families.

Muddiest Parking Lot Welch Village

I got totally stuck in the Welch Village parking lot last year in my minivan, it was not pretty. So if you come here in March, be careful where you park.

Welch Village's Youngest Snowboarder at 1 Year Old.

Lawn Chair Skateboarding

Jamison P. Metzger, one of the original Lawn Chair Skateboarders.

 You know those days where you really want to go skateboarding, but you also really want to just sit in your garage in a lawn chair? Haven't you always wondered why you couldn't do both? Well its your lucky day! thanks to Lawn Chair Skateboarding you can have the best of both worlds!! This great new sport started here in our own Plymouth, Minnesota in the early 2000's when youths started to explore new ways to enjoy the leisurely ride of "Longboard"skateboards.

Speed wobbles!

 Please excuse the words all over the photos, the original footage is featured in the credits section of a snowboarding movie.

 As you can see the sport is simple put your chair on your board, adjust the seatback to achive your desired level of relaxation and let it ride!

Jamison shown here took his love of lawn chair skating to the western states.

 Heres a new twist on an old favorite: 2 longboards underneath an old plasitic and metal school chair! This is definately a riskier and more aggressive tactic, but its quite a rush.

Lawn Chair Skating, and to think that it all started in Plymouth Minnesota.

Fall Fun in Plymouth

Fall is possibly the most pleasant time of year in Minnesota. There is always a lot to do. The following is a brief list of fall activities with in reach of Plymouth.

Camping: There are thousands of options, my nearby favorites are Baker Park, Elm Creek Park Group Camp, and Taylor's falls Interstate State Park. The fall colors in Taylor's Falls will blow your mind.

Taylors Falls in Autumn

Apple picking: There are many great ones nearby. My personal Favorite is Minnetonka Apple Orchard, which is free on weeknights. Its not just apples, there are animals to pet and feed, lots of playgrounds and tractors for kids to play on, funny scarecrows a corn maze, awesome food including apple donuts, sometimes live music, its an overall good vibe. And then if you feel ambitious pick a million apples and make some homemade apple sauce. Its the old fashioned way to get your food!

Canning Applesauce with those Minnesota Apples

Pumpkin Patch: Very similar to the apple orchard vibe is the pumpkin patch vibe, and often times they can both be found at the same place.

Severs Corn Maze: Its a long drive but its the best corn maze.

Farmers Market: Get some fresh good grub. Maple Grove, open thru oct 24. Plymouth's is closed already sadly.

Red Wagon Riding: Just find a big hill and bomb it like you were Calvin and Hobbes. It'll let you know your alive! I recommend the hill on the backside of Petsmart grassy, steep and in plain view of a lot of cars! Classic.


Mostly just spend some time soaking up that crisp fall air because you know whats coming, all too soon...

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!

High School Football

Nothing like going to watch the youngsters toss the old pigskin around! Plymouth has 2 great high schools: Armstrong and Wayzata. Here are their schedules for the upcoming season.

Armstrong High School Football Schedule 2013

8/29 7pm @Maple Grove

9/6 7pm Blaine

9/13 5pm @Centennial

9/20 7pm @osseo

9/27 7pm Park Center

10/4 7pm @Elk River

10/11 7pm Totino Grace

10/25 7pm Playoffs

Wayzata High School Football Schedule 2013

8/29 7pm @Rosemont

9/6 8pm @Lakeville S.

9/12 7pm Anoka

9/27 6pm @Hopkins

10/4 7pm Edina

10/11 7pm @Eden Prairie

10/16 7pm Minnetonka

10/25 7pm Playoffs

Storm Damage

This post isn't so much of a suggestion of something to do. Its more of an acknolegement that Plymouth weather is wild, and if you plan on spending any ammount of time in Plymouth: BE READY. If what I heard on the radio yesterday is accurate, the President delclared us a FEMA Disaster Zone due to our June storm. The following is a small documentation of what hit us last month.

...And this is why we had no power for days.

 This year we've seen it all, blizzards in late April, Tornados, Severe Thunderstorms, good times!

Part of the Plymouth lifestyle is dealing with severe weather. The people here are hearty and resilient though. Many were out of power for up to a week. But the really nice thing was the minute the storms were over I saw an outpouring of people out in the neighborhoods immediately helping out and pitching in to repair damage on their homes and their neighbor’s homes. It made me proud to be a Plymouth-ite.

French Park

French Park is Plymouth’s best Park. And it has Plymouth’s best playground. All you really need to know is they have the nets, aka the spider webs, aka the ropes, it’s fun for everyone. I included a few pictures to get you excited. But seriously not much has to be said, your right by a beach for swimming, there’s an indoor facility with taxidermied animals and ice cream treats and it’s the funnest playground equipment you’ve ever played on.  It’s the old kind of playground that’s not completely safe and made out of wood, therefore its more fun. So come play on it or bring your kids because they don’t make them like this anymore.

Part of it was under construction at this time, but as of last time I was there (5/8/15) all construction was complete.

Its free! and its located at: 12605 Rockford Rd  Plymouth, MN 55441
(763) 694-7750

Go There

Plymouth's Best Burger: Five Guys

When they finally shut down the old Blockbuster Video, I felt pretty sad, like a piece of my childhood had died, all the friday nights poring over all the VHS tapes and settling on raiders of the lost ark again. But then they put a Five Guys Burger Joint in where the Blockbuster store used to be and suddenly I wasn't too worried about all the videos I would not be renting anymore.

Five Guys is an excellent Burger and Fries fast food restaurant which originated in the Washington DC area. Since all my inlaws are from DC I'd known about Five Guys for several years, and I love it. There are tons of options for your burger, every kind of topping under the sun, but the menu is simple.

One thing thats funny at Five Guys is there are free peanuts all over the place, its pretty awesome, also they tell you exactly where their potatoes are coming from that day. (almost always Idaho). Every thing is super delicious and fresh. The standard burger comes with 2 beef patties, so you gotta specify if you only want one.

So go try one you wont regret it, perfect for a saturday lunch.

 4105 Vinewood Ln N - Where Blockbuster once was, right next to Target.

It's the best burger in town!! (till we get our In-n-Out burger, but that just wouldn't fly, would it Eric Fernelious of Simi Valley, California?)

Ride around Medicine Lake

A great picture of Medicine Lake from the path. Photo Credit goes to TwinCitiesRealEstateBlog.com

  

With the weather changing and summer finally coming biking season is on. Plymouth has no shortage of bike paths, but my favorite in Plymouth is the medicine lake loop. The ride is perfect for a summer afternoon. Its about 8 miles long and there are good sidewalks for most of the way.  The course is slightly hilly but not terrible.  It’s a highly populated path and you see people running, biking, skateboarding, rollerblading, and even doing those crazy cross country skis on wheels.

Plymouth Locals enjoying a ride around the lake on bikes and blades.

A few highlights on the course:

You pass by 3 great parks: East Medicine lake Park, West Medicine Lake Park, and French Park all of which have beaches for swimming playgrounds for the youngsters.

You can travel up into the “City of Medicine Lake” if you want to take a quick detour. This is a fun area that is a peninsula completely surrounded entirely by the lake. There is a park and some interesting homes.

You get to go over 2 really long bridges through the wetlands and swamps. They are really fun to ride over but tough on rollerblades and skateboards. Also the gnats are pretty thick on this part of the trail.

The famous turtles of East Medicine Lake Park

The portion of the trail that conincides with East Medicine Lake Boulevard is super nice. There are no homes in between the road and the lake and you really get a nice scenic view of the lake from here, especially at sunset.

The trail is easy to find. It’s a loop so it doesn’t really have a start or finish but I always kind of think of the starting point as 36^th ave and Zachary Lane. From there I usually head in a clockwise direction following east Med Lake BLVD to South Shore Drive and then to West Med Lake Road. Then you head around the horn to Northwest Blvd and either around or through French Park. If you get confused just follow the shoreline.