1 Hike & Seek

Lebanon Hills Park, Sept. 28, Noon to 3 p.m. Presented by National Wildlife Federation, this family-friendly event consists of a nature hike and scavenger hunt. Hike 1 mile to 2 miles at your own pace, stopping to peruse various interactive displays designed to stoke children's love of nature. More information at www.hikeandseek.org.

2 Autumn Geocaching Weekend William O'Brien State Park, Sept. 28-29, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Stop by the park's picnic shelter (in the picnic grounds) for a free primer on geocaching, a sort of techie treasure hunt. Learn how to use a GPS unit before striking out to find some specially placed caches through the park. GPS units provided. 651-433-0500 or www.mndnr.gov.

3 Snelling Lake by Canoe Fort Snelling State Park, Sept. 29, 10 a.m.-noon Join a naturalist for a relaxing two-hour paddle on Snelling Lake, with fall colors serving as the excursion's visual backdrop. Observe the seasonal changes happening in and out of the water. Canoes provided. Reservations required; 612-725-2724 or www.mndnr.gov.

4 Fall Bike Ride Gateway State Trail, Sept. 29, 9 a.m.-11 a.m.

Take a 12-mile tour of this old railroad corridor, which is now a metro bikeway, with a naturalist, who will help you make wild and scenic discoveries along the way. Registration required; 651-231-6968 or www.mndnr.gov.

5 Fall Colors by Tram

Eastman Nature Center, Sept. 29 and Oct. 5, 1-2 p.m., 2-3 p.m., 3-4 p.m. and 4-5 p.m. Take a ride on a tractor-drawn tram for an eyeful of red, orange, yellow and brown leaves. Enjoy peak fall colors of the maples, ashes and sumacs in the surrounding Elm Creek Park Reserve. $5. Reservation required; 763-559-6700 or www.threeriversparks.org.