The Active Life

Kids’ Game for Adults
Family Fitness Event
Outfitter
Urban Bike Path
Place to Exercise the Kids
Yoga Yin & Yang
Ballroom Dance School
Place for a Quiet Jog
Bad Girl Workout

Kids’ Game for Adults
Who can’t play kickball? You stand, you kick, you run—it’s easy. And adults are catching on, as an estimated 1,100 of  ’em participated in leagues all over the Twin Cities and in the burbs from Burnsville to Blaine in 2007. From just-for-fun co-rec teams to the more serious “A League” games, it’s nice to be part of a sport that values grilling brats between innings as much as the final score. [top]

Family Fitness Event
Lifetime’s Turkey Day 5K, Reindeer Run, and Torchlight 5K are events for runners and families alike. From the holiday tradition that is the Turkey Day 5k to the Reindeer Run “fun run” and the Aquatennial–associated Torchlight 5k, the events come with cool commemorative shirts, kids carnivals, and after-race parties and gifts. [top]

Outfitter
Now that there’s one in Rogers, it doesn’t take an entire day to get to the mega-outfitter. Yes, Cabela’s sells guns. No, it’s not locally run or politically correct like Midwest Mountaineering or REI, as numerous as Gander Mountain, or as stylish as Lucys, but it is HUGE and carries everything an outdoorsman could possibly need. Serious shoppers can grab a pair of New Balance running shoes, a portable meat smoker, fly-fishing gear, and order a log cabin. The hitch? You have to assemble the cabin yourself. Talk about roughing it. 20200 Rogers Dr., Rogers, 763-493-8600 [top]

Urban Bike Path
This ain’t Detroit. There are plenty of places for a pleasant weekend bike ride. But Minnehaha Falls has the added bonus of those beautiful falls, as well as places to picnic and a relatively central location. Instead of spending your day dragging your bike to the burbs, head to Minnehaha for a leisurely ride. 4801 Minnehaha Ave. S., Mpls., 612-230-6400 [top]

Place to Exercise the Kids
Boarders, inline skaters, and bikers head to 3rd Lair SkatePark for the best indoor/outdoor venue the Twin Cities has to offer. Built in 1997, the 25,000-square-foot facility features a stellar course of rails, pipes, banks, and more to keep even the most advanced bowl and street skaters entertained. Plus, there’s a fully stocked pro shop for gear and repairs and a knowledgeable staff of skating enthusiasts. The 3rd Lair also operates The Overpass, an outdoor skate park located under Highway 169 in Hopkins. 850 Florida Ave., Golden Valley, 763-797-5283 [top]

Yoga Yin & Yang
Jan Johnson’s pulsating, fast-moving, power-yoga style keeps you flowing like whitewater rapids. Ted Roseen’s quiet, vinyasa style takes you through the poses one slow, deliberate step at a time. Johnson leaves you feeling sweaty, exhausted, accomplished. Roseen leaves you relaxed, reflective, meditative. The complementary combo is available at Minneapolis Life Time Fitness. Johnson also teaches at Downtown St.Paul Life Time Fitness, Roseen at Highland Park Life Time Fitness, Core Pilates Studio (St.Paul), and 360 Yoga (Minneapolis). [top]

Ballroom Dance School
You’ve probably driven by The Dancers Studio on Snelling Avenue, peered in the window, and been tempted to try shaking your stuff to the cha cha or join your partner in a classic fox trot. (Hey, if Emmitt Smith can do it on Dancing with the Stars, who can’t?) The studio’s side-by-side brick buildings house three spacious dance floors, and experienced instructors teach everything from beginner salsa and swing to advanced waltz and rumba, six days a week. If you prefer to sit on the sidelines, the studio hosts professional showcases and competitions for your viewing pleasure. 99 Snelling Ave. N., St. Paul, 651-641-0777 [top]

Place for a Quiet Jog
Whether you are in Minneapolis or St. Paul, it is hard to go for a more beautiful urban jog than by running along the banks of the Mississippi, letting the river be your guide. Whether you take the path through Gold Medal Park or head to Harriet Island and enjoy the bluffs, the enduring beauty of the Mighty Miss can’t be beat. [top]

Bad Girl Workout
The Firm, located in the heart of Minneapolis across from International Market Square, prides itself on being a hard-core, raw, urban gym. So the fact that it offers a group fitness class called Strip Tease is a little surprising, but the real surprise is how great a workout a little bumping and grinding can be. Don’t worry, the class is only a little bit saucier than your average dance fitness class—and guys are welcome too. 245 Aldrich Ave. N., Mpls., 612-377-3003 [top]