Twin Cities hikers don't have to go far to find a little slice of nature. Fort Snelling State Park offers 18 miles of easy to moderate trails, winding through cottonwood, elm and maple woods and along lakes and the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers. Sure, you'll likely hear some jets flying overhead as they land at nearby Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. But this is still a prime getaway spot, steeped in history, in the middle of the Twin Cities. Be sure to hit the Pike Island Trail, where the two great rivers meet. It's a prime place to see birds. 612-725-2389 or 612-725-2724,