February is heart month – a time set aside for introspection on how your heart health and your overall lifestyle choices are working out as the chaos and calories of the year end holidays are in the rear view mirror.
We spotlighted a few restaurants in Minneapolis Northwest that serve heart health meal options here. We also told you about a local blogger that created a recipe trove along with tips and information on eating a low sodium diet here.
With the unusually warm winter that we’ve weathered this year we wanted to point you in the direction of physical fun that is low in cost and high in heart health. Enjoy!
Snowshoe through the trails at Historic Eidem Farms
Throughout the month of February and March the Historic Eidem Farms organizes both Luminary Snowshoe Walks and Snowshoe and S’mores events that are open to the public. Sign up here.
Explore the farm at night on snowshoes under the full moon. Walk the back lot and warm up by the campfire with hot chocolate and s’mores! A limited number of snowshoes are available for free, and you can bring your own if you have them. Age 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent. Plan on hiking if snow conditions do not allow for snowshoeing.
Traverse through both Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center via the Shingle Creek Parkway
We held our inaugural Pedal Jam family bike ride this summer and our residents were thrilled to experience so much of our Brooklyns by traveling on our Parkway! Shingle Creek Parkway travels past retail, next to the river, and allows passengers to bypass the busy highway by traveling over a covered bridge!
Generally considered an easy route, experience this 5.5-mile loop trail in an afternoon as on average it takes 1 1/2 hours to complete. This trail is great for birding, hiking, and running. The best times to visit this parkway is March through October, but considering the mild winter we’re having in 2023-2024, exploring in February is a petty safe bet. Dogs are welcome but must be on a leash.
Pickleball Mania at Pickle in the Middle!
OK – so this heart healthy option may technically consist of five indoor courts, but considering the amount of new indoor and outdoor courts being built all over the Twin Cities, we wanted you to know about this new Brooklyn Park business that offers so many options to get you on the courts. Take a lesson, join a league, sign up for a camp or play recreationally 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You’ll get a front door code when you book a reservation!
Pickle in the Middle opened on April 1, 2023, amid a Minnesota snowstorm. Though they have membership level options, it is free to book one of their five indoor courts. Co-founder Ann Rabe told us that when she learned that the building that she was working next door was up for sale, it was time for her to join forces with two of her entrepreneurial friends and make her dream of a pickleball business a reality. “We’ve kept our business model simple – we don’t sell food, drinks or equipment, but we do provide space for people to gather for parties, exercise and have fun.”
Pickle in the Middle has a party room to host family and friend groups. Guests can bring in their own food and beverages!
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