This lovely area of Minneapolis was created in 1921, to honor the servicemen and nurses who died in World War One. The Parkway is part of the Grand Rounds Scenic Bikeway. So, if you have the energy, park your car at Lake Calhoun and bike approximately six miles to the memorial. Before you get to Victory Memorial you will ride along Dean Parkway, Cedar Lake Parkway, moving onto Wirth Parkway. This is where the majority of your ride will take place. When you reach Victory Memorial Parkway notice that laying under each of the trees along the path is a small marker for each of the servicemen and nurses that died.
Before the parkway makes a turn towards the east you will run into the memorial itself. It’s a beautiful spot to put your kick stand up and rest on one of the marble benches. The names of each of the servicemen and women are inscribed on a plaque within the memorial. Before you leave its worth taking a look at the Statue of Abraham Lincoln that was erected in 1930 by surviving members of the Grand Republican Army to honor the lives of those who died in the Civil War. It’s located on the northwest curve of the Parkway just a few yards away. After all this history and biking you must be thirsty! Take the time to ride down Lake Drive to downtown Robbinsdale and have a pint of a great local ale at the Wicked Wort Brewery, or grab a bite to eat at Marna’s, a Costa Rican eatery just across the street from the Wicked Wort.
