Along with riverfront parks, the city is dotted with urban parks that make it easy to get back to nature. Spend a lazy afternoon in Raspberry Island Regional Park, which features walking paths, benches for reading or resting, and access to the Mississippi River. If you’re visiting in December, be sure to take a stroll through Rice Park, where thousands of twinkling lights and holiday decorations capture the spirit of a Saint Paul Christmas. For kids and animal lovers of all ages, the Como Zoo and Conservatory is the oldest free zoo in the U.S. and includes 25 different animal exhibits.