Huskies Newbie Bucket List
There are places in St. Cloud that new Huskies should visit, see or experience to really get to know their new campus home. Here are a few!
Rent a bike from Outdoor Endeavors and head out for a ride on the Beaver Islands Trail. The trail runs for two miles along the river south of campus to Montrose Road. Along the way you’ll have plenty of chances to see wildlife and a great view of the namesake Beaver Islands in the Mississippi River.
Located across the Mississippi River from campus. The Munsinger and Clemens gardens offer a variety of paths that wind through the trees and flower beds. The upper Clemens garden features six gardens including rose gardens and European-style gardens.
St. Cloud State sits on the oak-crowned west bank of the Mississippi River. From fishing to kayaking, canoeing and tubing, the river offers students a variety of activities to enjoy. Stop by Outdoor Endeavors to learn about checking out watercraft to explore the river.
Stop in at the Pioneer Place on Fifth, 22 Fifth Ave. S., to get your music fix. The concert venue features a variety of performers, a wine bar and hosts jazz nights on Mondays, acoustic music Fridays and a piano bar on Saturday nights.
To get a firsthand look at the region’s granite mining history take a trip out to Quarry Park & Nature Preserve, 1802 County Road 137, Waite Park. The 684 acre park offers plenty of room to swim, hike, mountain biking, picnic, geocache, scuba dive or rock climb. In winter the park remains open for cross country skiing, fat tire cycling and snowshoeing.
One way to stay in shape as a student at St. Cloud State is to “Run the Bridges.” The trail takes students on a 2.72 mile route across the University Bridge through the Munsinger and Clemens gardens up to the Granite City Crossing on Division Street and back to campus.
Take in nature at the 700-acre Sand Prairie Wildlife Management Area, located on U.S. Highway 10 east of campus. Managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Sand Prairie is 70 percent owned by St. Cloud State. It features two restored wetlands, a restored prairie, native prairie brush land and woods and is home to a variety of native wildlife.
Show off your skills at the St. Cloud Skate Plaza, 225 33rd Ave. S. The park offers many features and is constructed completely from concrete.
Explore downtown with a stop at the Paramount Theatre and Visual Arts Center. The historic theater offers concerts and theater performances, visual arts classes and an art gallery.
Throw a disc at Riverside Park. Located across the river from Husky Stadium, Riverside Park offers an 18 basket disc golf course along with tennis and volleyball courts and sledding and cross country skiing in winter.
Visit Gopher Bargain Center to look for deals for your house or residence hall room and take a seat in the “big chair.” The store carries food, furniture and just about everything in between.
The Crossroads Center, 4101 W. Division St., features Scheels, Macy’s, JCPenny, Target and Sears. It can serve many of your shopping needs.
Bike the “Jail Trail.” The trail starts southeast of campus near the intersection of Minnesota Boulevard and 15th Avenue South East near the Minnesota Correctional Facility. The facility, originally built in 1889, is still in operation. It’s surrounded by the longest granite wall in the world from granite quarried by offenders on site.
No Husky experience would be complete without a serving of small fries from Val’s Rapid-Serv ordered on touch screens and served hot and overflowing from the bag.
