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The next few weeks are packed with outdoor events worthy of planning for. Here are a few of my picks for getting outside, getting active, or cheering for your favorite athletes in St. Paul. I hope to see you out and about!

June 6: Who needs to travel to some far away, exotic destination for a volunteer vacation when you can get into nature and help spiff things up right here at home? June 6 is National Trails Day and there’s a local service project happening at St. Paul’s Battle Creek Regional Park. You’ll make new friends, feel good about your work, and get free lunch and a free wicking t-shirt. That’s the kind of staycation that’s way cheaper than, say, a volunteer vacation in Cambodia. Pre-registration is required. Contact Mikaela for more details at mkramer@rei.com or at 952-884-4315 x. 203.

June 7: There is a ton to do and see during one of St. Paul’s most festive days of the year—Grand Old Day—but for active types, get involved by signing up for a morning race. Choose from the in-line skate, 8K run, 1/2 mile youth run, or the 5K walk/jog and register here. Sports fans should head to the “Sporting District” between Fairview and Cambridge for interactive games, demos, and/or scrimmages by the Minnesota Rollergirls, Timberwolves, Minnesota Thunder, St. Paul Saints, and more.

June 10: Get absorbed in the high-speed energy of the Minnesota Bicycle Festival, which starts in St. Paul. Watch pro racers speed by (Mears Park is the best viewing spot) during the evening races. The women’s pro/elite race (40 laps) starts at 6 p.m.; the men’s race (45 laps) at 7:40 p.m. More info on the pro races is here. If you have kids under 12 who are budding racers, bring their bikes and helmets and sign them up for the Hoigaard’s Tour de Kids, which starts at 7:15 p.m.

June 13: REI is hosting its free Paddle Demo Day at Ft. Snelling State Park. Whether you’re a novice or a pro-paddler, you’ll find something at this Snelling Lake event. You can test boats and accessories, and get paddling tips from REI staff. Just bring a snack, water, and dress for getting wet. REI provides the boats, personal flotation devices (PFDs), paddles, plus a 15 percent off coupon good for the purchase of a full-price boat in case your passion for paddling is ignited. More info here.

June 14: The Happy Trails Family Nature Club is hosting a family walk at Crosby Farm Regional Park from 10 a.m.-Noon. The walk starts along a paved forest trail and goes to a soft, sandy beach along the Mississippi River. Happy Trails says about the event, “We will spend the majority of our outing playing and relaxing in this beautiful area on the beach.  Kids will love testing their skills as they climb the bent-down-low trees in this area.” Feel free to bring a picnic! Meet near the pavilion in the first parking lot.

Now you have no excuse for hiking your same-old, well-worn trail or worse, getting stuck inside. Put on your hiking, running, walking or biking shoes and get out to enjoy the abundant active life that St. Paul has to offer!

I’m always searching for the perfect spot to get a quick nature fix. For me, that means a place that’s nearby and easily accessible, but that allows me to feel far from the city and close to the woods. Battle Creek Regional Park, just five miles from downtown St. Paul, may be just that place. Woods, wetlands and grasslands comprise the 1,840-acre park, providing a home to many species of birds and wildlife.

My husband, son and I visited on a recent Sunday afternoon and were surprised to see few other people, even on a sunny spring day. From the parking lot off Point Douglas Road, we crossed a footbridge over the creek, noticing a small, but pretty waterfall to our left. The sound alone of running water set me at ease, reminding me to drop my shoulders and take a deep breath. Spring is finally here!

Continuing on the flat, paved path, we entered a large meadow surrounded by limestone walls. Bright yellow dandelions dotted the green grass and a few empty picnic benches reminded me to pack a lunch next time. Better yet, bring a blanket, sprawl out with a book and sandwich, and skip the benches altogether.

Chirps and bird songs followed us down the main trail. A lone male mallard, with its shimmery green head, flew downstream, gliding in for a smooth landing. We heard and saw goldfinches, warblers, sparrows, and a lovely blue jay, too. Maple, aspen, pine, and oak trees filled in on either side of the trail, with ferns, saplings and other ground vegetation filling the forest floor.

I tend to prefer gravel or dirt trails when hiking, but the paved path is just right for a jog or a leisurely bike ride, especially if you’re towing kids in a bike trailer. It also makes this trail, which meanders along side the creek almost the entire time, easily accessible for those in wheelchairs. Explorers may want to ditch the pavement and hoof it on a side dirt trail (frequented by mountain bikers) that takes you deeper into the trees and away from the open meadows.

The only downside to this hike is the occasional break in the trail where you have to cross a road to catch the other side of the path. The roads aren’t too busy though, and it isn’t long before you’re surrounded by nature again.

I’ll be back soon to check out the other trails, particularly the one that begins off Lower Afton Road, which I’ve heard is one of the best in the park. Next time I’ll bring a book or a journal, too. Benches perched throughout the park call for stopping and taking in the scenery, slowing down, and enjoying some alone time. Do you have a favorite near-town nature getaway you’re willing to share?

More info: http://www.nps.gov/miss/planyourvisit/battcree.htm

Getting there: Take Interstate 94 east out of downtown St. Paul. Exit on Highway 10 South. After about 1 mile, turn left on Lower Afton Road. Take an immediate left on Point Douglas Road. Point Douglas road ends in the Battle Creek parking area.