A sweet summer: Things to see and do off the beaten path in the south suburbs

The south-of-the-river suburbs have a well-earned reputation as a summer hot spot. From the roller-coasters of Valleyfair, to the costumed cavorting of the Renaissance Festival, to the novel creatures of the Minnesota Zoo, to the high-speed thrills of Canterbury Park and Elko Speedway, many of the region's top attractions are here in the south.

But there are also plenty of things to do that don't often land in the spotlight. As Memorial Day and the unofficial start of summer approach, Star Tribune South has scouted a few of the things to see and do that may not have caught your attention: The under-used parks, the niche businesses, the quirky places, the hidden gems. You might have to venture out for a 30-minute drive to find some of them, while others might be just down the street. Some are places you might check out briefly if you're in the neighborhood, and others are destinations worth a full-day trip.

It's worth noting that most of them are affordable, or even free. So, gas up the car, grab your sturdy shoes and maybe pack a picnic, then go out and discover something new.

A BURGER FOR EVERY TASTE

One bite of a half-pound Double Play burger and it was obvious why King's Place on Hwy. 61 is revisited again and again and again. The Miesville location may not be convenient for many, but it's worth the drive if all-beef patties are your thing. The Double Play, juicy and flavorful, is topped with swiss cheese and sauteed green peppers and onions. King's Place offers 44 varieties, with all the imaginable toppings -- even a few that might seem unimaginable. Corned beef? Jerk sauce? Cole slaw? A fried egg? Among the more creative, the No Hitter features sauerkraut, swiss cheese and a hot dog. The Dug Out, topped with peanut butter, lettuce and tomato, is listed on the menu with words of encouragement: "Just take a bite!!!" Don't mind if I do. 14460 240th St., Miesville. 651-437-1418.

CAPONI ART PARK

Chances are you've heard mention of Caponi Art Park, and maybe you've driven past the entrance on Diffley Road in Eagan. But if the park's estimates are any clue -- the best guess is that just 5,000 people visit each year -- you probably haven't ventured in. But you should. In the middle of a fully developed city, these 60 sprawling acres offer the unique combination of a quiet nature walk and a sculpture garden, dotted with pieces that blur the distinction between the landscape and the art. In the sculpture area, a giant snake meanders through the grass, sculptures sit embedded in hillsides, and what appears to be a discarded anchor in the brush looks more like a shark if you look twice. In the park's natural area, you can walk a few hundred feet from the gravel parking lot and feel like you're deep in the wilderness -- in fact, you might want a compass. "It's here to explore on your own," said Heather Westerlund, the park's program and volunteer coordinator, "and maybe get a little bit lost." 1205 Diffley Road, Eagan, 651-454-9412, www.caponiartpark.org.

FIRE A FEW ROUNDS IN PRIOR LAKE

It is one of the prettier spots in Scott County, with gorgeous views of ponds and wetlands, where great graceful white birds power their wings. It is also a place whose soundtrack features a constant POP! POP! POP! as, each year, 2.5 million brittle-thin clay targets are shattered by hunters practicing their aim. You are welcome either to watch -- weekends are busy, and after-work leagues can draw 150 shooters -- or to have a shot at it yourself. If you don't have a gun, the 600-acre-plus Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club outside Prior Lake will rent you one for ten bucks. A box of shells is about $8, and 50 clay targets is $23 (less for kids). If you want to hear what it sounds like when an automatic weapon rips off a few rounds, there's a spot for that as well, on a spread that has a bit in common with a golf course. 2920 E. 220th St., Prior Lake, 952-447-2272, horseandhunt.com.

MUSHROOM HUNTING

At Lebanon Hills, Terrace Oaks and other south-metro parks and woods, step off the beaten path to pick mushrooms. With about 200,000 species in the Upper Midwest, they grow in an array of shapes, from lobster claws to yellow lanterns, and a rainbow of colors. Morels are now beginning to pop up, as are the Black Devil's Urns, which resemble a cup, and the Pheasant Backs, which taste like watermelon. In mid-summer come the golden chanterelles that burst forth with fruity flavor. The peppery-tasting coral mushrooms grow just about any time on dead wood. "Follow that rain," says Thomas Peterson, known as Dakota County's mushroom man for the classes he teaches each fall. He advises mushroom-hunting within 48 hours of rain -- and knowing for certain what you are eating. "If you don't know it, throw it," Peterson said. For more information, go to www.minnesotamushrooms.org. Lebanon Hills Regional Park, 860 Cliff Road, Eagan.

WATT MUNISOTARAM BUDDHIST TEMPLE

If it's peace and serenity you seek, look no further than the Watt Munisotaram Temple between Farmington and Hampton on Hwy. 50. The Cambodian Buddhist temple that rises majestically from the surrounding farm fields is the largest in the United States. Traditional temples in Southeast Asia inspired the design of the 50-foot-high structure that shares the 40-acre property with living quarters for Buddhist monks. It serves a community of more than 7,000 Cambodian Buddhists in Minnesota, many of whom fled their homeland after the Vietnam War. The temple and grounds are open to the public from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. There aren't scheduled tours, but individuals and groups can call ahead to arrange a more structured visit. 2925 E. 220th St., Hampton, 651-463-3101, www.wattmunisota.org.

CHOCOLATE, HANDCRAFTED BEFORE YOUR EYES

In a warehouse-looking building near Burnsville Center is an unexpected sweet stop. It's Abdallah Candies, the fourth-generation chocolate makers who are enjoying their 100th year in business. The store is open 9 a.m. to 5:30 weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. On weekdays, there's a special treat from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., when visitors can watch chocolate dippers handcraft their confections. Get a bite-sized free sample, too, of the featured candy of the month. Abdallah's will be celebrating its big anniversary July 27-Aug. 1. The lineup includes a silent auction, progressive sidewalk sale, candy sampling, daily drawings, in-store discounts, caramel and chocolate dipping, and hot dogs and soda pop. As the event draws closer, the company's website will announce exact dates and times. 3501 W. County Road 42, Burnsville, 952-890-0859, www.abdallahcandies.com.

DELUXE GELATO

On hot summer days, there's nothing better than a cool, creamy treat. How about gelato? Jazz Co. Café in Prior Lake dishes up 18 flavors of the Italian delicacy in addition to tasty flatbread pizzas, sandwiches and salads made to order from an array of ingredients behind the counter. Owner Camille Myser set up shop in early 2008, ordering the frozen treat from a Michigan artisan with Italian roots. The flavors rotate, but derivations of vanilla and chocolate are constants. On a recent afternoon, the choices included crème brûlée, dark chocolate raspberry swirl and Tahitian vanilla. The cafe will offer outdoor patio seating and begin serving beer and wine in June. 4646 Colorado St., Prior Lake, 952-440-3278.

A SMALL-TOWN GIANT

Montgomery may be tiny, but the town has a giant mascot. To learn more, head to Big Honza's Museum of Unnatural History, named for a Paul Bunyan-esque character dreamed up by resident John Grimm. Big Honza Giganticzech's personal effects, all on display at the museum, include a stein-sized sippy cup and an enormous steam-driven toothbrush. Grab a bite to eat at Big Honza's Eatery next door and check out the museum for free, or call Grimm to arrange a group visit. Guided tours, $25 per person, include entertainment, lunch and a museum tour led by curator Monty Gomery (don't be fooled -- it's Grimm, wearing one heck of a disguise). The museum is open weekdays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., and by appointment. 201 S. 1st St., Montgomery. 612-756-1075, www.bighonza.com.

ROOT BEER BREWERY

Making root beer may be Mark Glewwe's hobby, but the pleasure is not all his. The Spring Lake resident does it right, as a growing number of Twin Cities residents can attest. The root beer has been a big hit at the Prior Lake farmers market for years, and it's also now available at the farmers markets in Eagan and New Prague. Glewwe has been making root beer for 15 years and has enlisted his son Erik to help out. Two years ago, with his wife, Laurel, pleading for a return to normalcy in her kitchen, Glewwe built a large shed to house his brewing equipment. They welcome group tours at their brewery and encourage people interested in buying their products to come on by. But because they have full-time jobs, it's best to call ahead. A 12-ounce bottle sells for $2, a six-pack for $10. Customers are encouraged to bring along any empty bottles (non-twist-off caps) they might have. They'll pay $1 for a six-pack of empties. 4620 207th St., Spring Lake Township. 952-440-4558.  

ARCHERY TRAIL AT SPRING LAKE RESERVE

This one is for the aspiring Robin Hoods out there. The archery trails at the Spring Lake Park Reserve provide a spot to practice with bows and arrows. There are six practice targets, and for those who want to hike and shoot, there are two 14-station trail loops. The stations offer a variety of shots from wooded or elevated vantage points and distances of four to 80 yards. Archers must provide their own equipment and buy a permit -- $5 for a day pass or $32.03 for the season. The archery trail is open from 8 a.m. to sunset and can be accessed from the Lower Spring Lake Park Reserve Trailhead off of Pine Bend Trail at the western edge of the park. 13690 Pine Bend Trail, Rosemount, 952-891-7000, www.dakotacounty.us.

FOSSIL HUNTING IN LILYDALE REGIONAL PARK

Did you know that Dakota, Ramsey and Goodhue counties are home to the best fossil-hunting in Minnesota? You won't find a Triceratops, but because the area was a shallow, tropical sea 430 to 500 million years ago, you can find remnants of small ancient sea creatures -- shelled brachiopods, clam-like pelecypods, and even trilobites -- if you know where to look. The prime location is Lilydale Regional Park near the Ramsey-Dakota county border, site of a former brickyard where a fossil-rich layer of shale has been exposed by excavations and the elements. Note: You must call ahead and buy a permit before fossil hunting.

950 Lilydale Road, St. Paul, 651-632-5111, tinyurl.com/qpvre5.

CZECH IT OUT

For a sweet taste of Czech baking in Minnesota's heartland, head to Franke's Bakery in Montgomery. Bob Franke wakes up in the middle of the night to slide trays of pastries into the oven before the front doors open at the business his grandfather started in 1914. The bakery sells coffee, bread and doughnuts, but it's best known for its kolacky -- soft, fruit-filled rolls that come in apple, raspberry, apricot, prune or poppyseed. The traditional Czech treats take center stage during the town's Kolacky Days Festival, held this year from July 24 to 26. 200 S. 1st St., Montgomery, 507-364-5025.

LAKE BYLLESBY REGIONAL PARK

Looking for a spot to pitch a tent? Try the campground at Lake Byllesby Regional Park on the southern Dakota County border. The county park on the eastern end of the calm, meandering lake -- really just a dammed portion of the Cannon River -- features lakeside spots for campers of both the tent and motor-home variety. There are barbecue grills and fire pits, a playground, horseshoe pits, some hiking trails inland, boat launches and a swimming beach. The hydroelectric dam constructed in 1910 is also a curiosity, but access to the area around it is limited since it's still producing power. Entrance to the park is free, but permits are required for camping. 7650 Echo Point Road, Cannon Falls. 507-263-4447, www.dakotacounty.us.

THE LANDING

The Landing, formerly Murphy's Landing, is a bit too big to qualify as hidden. But what's hidden to many who pass by on the highway and haven't been inside lately is a vigorous round of renovation that is gradually transforming a whole lot of sadly peeling, decaying, neglected buildings into something much more like what they would have been in their prime. The Landing is a collection of historic buildings mimicking a riverfront village. Three Rivers, Hennepin County's parks authority, bought the property in 2002 and has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. About a dozen exteriors have been overhauled. Four are being worked on this year, two of them buildings for public visits: the depot and the bank. Workers have also rooted up a tremendous amount of underbrush to create better views. 

2187 Hwy. 101, Shakopee, 763-694-7784, tinyurl.com/onjvb4.

WILDLIFE IN THE CITY

The Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge is a 14,000-acre network of preserved wild places, divided into eight units, along the Minnesota River. Those who've checked out the refuge are probably most familiar with the large Long Meadow Unit in Bloomington, home to miles of trails and the refuge's visitor center. But the visitor center will be closed all summer for construction; that might be a good excuse to check out one of the smaller access points, including some just a stone's throw from heavily trafficked areas. The Black Dog Overlook near Burnsville is one seldom noticed spot; take the Black Dog Road exit off Interstate 35W and head east to find a tucked-away parking lot and short trail leading to an observation point where carp can be seen leaping out of the river as waterfowl drift by. If not for the conspicuous presence of the Xcel Energy power plant, you might forget you're just a mile or two from the Heart of the City. 677 Black Dog Road, Burnsville, tinyurl.com/otz7zg.

ORCHARDS WITH MORE THAN APPLE PICKING

The apple blossoms are peaking gorgeously this week at Minnesota Harvest Orchard in Jordan. Even before all the harvest fun and special events start up on Aug. 1, there's plenty to do on the 278 acres of this orchard, where more than 50 varieties of apples are grown on 120 of those acres. The Apple Blossom Wine Festival runs through mid-June on weekends with jazz and blues music. At other orchards in the south metro area, you don't have to wait till the apples are plump in the fall; strawberries and raspberries will be ripe for picking much sooner (for a handy directory, see www.pickyourown.org/MN.htm ). Minnesota Harvest also features birthday parties and horseback riding during the day and by appointment in the evening, General Manager Jim Dalton said. 8251 Old Hwy. 169 Blvd., Jordan, 952-492-7753, www.minnesotaharvest.net.

A WALK IN THE GARDEN

If you need inspiration for your garden, or just a quiet spot to wander and reflect, try UMore Park in Rosemount. It's a bit early in the season for most flowers -- many plots won't hit their peak until late June -- but a group of master gardeners tends a 6-acre display garden with roses, herbs, irises and much more. The gardeners, who belong to a University of Minnesota Extension program, are planning a series of one-session classes on Tuesday evenings that start next week and cover everything from rain gardens to tomatoes. The garden is free and open to the public. There's a small fee for each class. 1605 W. 160th St., Rosemount, 651-480-7700, www.mggarden.umn.edu.

This feature was compiled by Sarah Lemagie, Katie Humphrey, David Peterson, Joy Powell, Dean Spiros and Dylan Belden.