Officials say Minnesota’s state parks are having a “fantastic year,” with single-day permit sales up six percent through the end of September, overnight stays up a like amount, and year-round permit sales up eight percent. The D-N-R’s Pat Arndt credits legacy account funding that makes more information available to the public. She points to “on-line virtual tours, so you can look at a park before you go and people can see these beautiful places; an on-line tool… called Park Finder, where you can easily select where you want to go and what you want to do.” Arndt says they also have an on-line calendar, increased naturalist programs and free loaner kits for visitors.
Arndt says even though the weather is getting chilly, “don’t stop going to a state park and getting your workout in, just because summer is over. This is a beautiful time of year to be out, actually.” Arndt says state parks have a wide variety of activities during the winter months. Check the D-N-R’s website.