The651.com

Como Park, Zoo & Conservatory is one of those places that’s so big, and so full of beauty and things to do, that sometimes I don’t know where to start. You can only do so much in one day. I think of it as the Central Park of St. Paul.

Whether you want to jog around the lake, rent a paddle boat, plan a picnic, listen to outdoor music, take your kid for a carousel ride, cross country ski, look at flamingos and monkeys, take pictures of endless gardens and colorful flowers, bike paved trails, or lounge in the grass with a book, Como Park has it all. This is one of those gems that St. Paul is truly, truly lucky to have. If you haven’t been there lately, what’s stopping you?

My 1-year-old son and I packed up earlier this week with stroller, water, and snacks, and set out for a 1.6-mile walk around the lake. We stopped along the way to pick up acorns and throw them in the water, to watch a dad and his kids fish off a small dock, and to laze in the grass and gaze at puffy white clouds on a perfect summer day. We didn’t make it to the carousel, but with all that there is to do at Como Park, that means we’ll just have to come back again soon.