Lake Minnetonka worth a visit?

I can%26#39;t get a real feel about Lake Minnetonka in internet searches. Is this a place to sight-see, stop for a drink, or a meal, etc? What things are there and nearby?

Lake Minnetonka worth a visit?

There are a couple nice downtown areas in Wayzata (think upscale) and Excelsior (think old fashioned character). It has a healthy boating %26amp; biking environment with a lot of lakeside docks %26amp; entertainment. If you have a boat it%26#39;s great but it gets crowded during the summer. If you don%26#39;t, there are probably other locations I%26#39;d recommend to spend you%26#39;re time, although it might be nice for a day. If you%26#39;re seeking cool destinations on MN water, I%26#39;d recommend Duluth, Stillwater or Red Wing.

Lake Minnetonka worth a visit?

Yes it is worth a visit. Go by car, boat or bicycle and it shows people in Minneapolis having a great time. In Wayzata you can eat breakfast, lunch or dinner at Sunsets which can currently be booked at www.opentable.com a great outdoor patio and tons of windows to view the scene. For a lively place to have drinks and a meal with lots of action Lord Fletchers or Maynards fits the bill near Excelsior. All have decent food and a fun atmosphere. Out of Excelsior you can take a public boat excursion to get a feel for the beautiful lake and surrounding properties. They sell great ice cream near the docks. There can be art fairs going on depending on the timing of your visit. We often ride our bikes out there the LRT Trail has been extended to much of the lake and it%26#39;s fun way to see it. There are cute shops if you like to browse. It%26#39;s a really great area away from the urban atmosphere of the city. Reminds me of dining on the intracoastal waterways where you live.

it%26#39;s a beautiful lake. Massive houses to gawk at. A few bars on the water (Fletcher%26#39;s and Sunsets). I really like Fletcher%26#39;s -- I would say that%26#39;s your best bet if you decide to head out there.

But if you want my opinion, if you don%26#39;t have a boat, it%26#39;s not worth it. And even if you do, it can be a hassle. Tough to get a boat on in a crowd in unfamiliar territory.

It%26#39;s also a haul if youre staying somewhere near Minneapolis.

And it can be a confusing drive if you%26#39;re new to the area. We could direct you, of course, if you decide to go. Just trying to list all the pros and cons for you.

I would say it%26#39;s almost the same distance to Stillwater, which is a straighter shot. More bars and some shopping and a lift bridge to see. There%26#39;s a marina there and patio bars to look out over the St. Croix river (the river that divides MN and WI).

It%26#39;s a pretty town.

Just throwing that out there.

In Minneapolis, of course, you have the chain of lakes, the prettiest being Harriet. These aren%26#39;t boating lakes (non-motor lakes, so there are sailboats,which add to the scenic value). They%26#39;re small, scenic lakes with pretty neighborhoods wrapped around them. Nice biking and walking territory with parkways and easy paths. I think the Harriet area is the prettiest part of Minneapolis.

Maybe visit the bandshell area of Harriet and wander up north toward Lake Calhoun -- a little bigger, more open and populated but with a nice view of the downtown skyline. On the northeast side you can make your way into uptown to any number of bars/taverns or lunch spots. Uptown is a nice area to people watch and grab a beer. From the parkway link up with Lake Street and head east. Lake and Hennepin is basically ground zero for uptown. Williams peanut bar is right there. Uptown Bar too. a few more unique spots like Bryant Lake Bowl (great food) exist with a little more walking.

The Mpls/ chain of lakes (Harriet, Calhoun, Lake of the Isles and Cedar Lake) are one of the city%26#39;s jewels, what makes it unique. You%26#39;ll find a good area for picnics and people watching and relaxing. People are winging frisbees and playing volleyball -- you can rent canoes as well and paddle under Excelsior Blvd. to Lake of the Isles too.

maybe try one of those boat / dinner cruises -

http://www.al-almas.com/home.aspx

the best would be if you knew someone who could take you out in their own boat ...

that cannot be beat, so spend a day on lake with good weather

Definitely worth a day on the lake. Rent a boat and cruise around -- better yet if you know how to sail rent a sailboat. The lake isn%26#39;t as crowded as it used to be due to the economy. All of the aforementioned places to eat/drink are perfect on a nice summer day.

Thanks for all the great advice. Since will be on vacation and don%26#39;t live anywhere nearby, will not have a boat and don%26#39;t know how to sailboat. We were thinking about Stillwater too for a day trip and it sounds (based upon time limits) that this might prove the better option for us as sightseeing will unlikely be by boat (unless it is canoeing). So, thank you all for the honest feedback.

I hope you enjoy your visit... let us know if you need more info, suggestions, etc.

Minnetonka is great if you can get out on the water in a boat. To all the points already stated, the lakeside food, water, big houses, etc...

However, if you are just on the shore - I disagree wit the others and don%26#39;t think it%26#39;s worth visiting. You would basically be eating lunch lakeside.. If youa here for a full week, certainly take an afternoon and have lunch in excelsior or wayzata.

The draw of the lake is to be on the water! If you have time and are visiting in June/July/August, for about $300 you can rent a pontoon and really have a nice relaxing day.

..

Your plan to visit Stillwater is great. That%26#39;s a great small town and certainly worth spending a day there!

You can go on a cruise on Lake Minnetonka -- it%26#39;s easy. The restored steamboat Minnehaha, which was part of the Twin Cities%26#39; trolley service in the first part of the century, gives excursions out of Excelsior, www.steamboatminnehaha.org.

I went on one of its excursions the first weekend of October to see fall color (and mansions) around the lake -- gorgeous and just 10 bucks. And Excelsior has a big, beautiful city park on the lake, with beach, plus shops and restaurants all along Water Street. You just follow Highway 7 west of Minneapolis and get off when you see the sign for Water Street. Stillwater gets awfully congested in summer, but Excelsior has a relaxed summer-on-the-lake vibe.

Beth at MidwestWeekends.com

Yes, the Minnehaha was raised from the floor of the Lake and restored. (Quite a story) The trolley company scuttled all of the steam boats when they went out of business, and the big amusement park (the reason for the boats and trolley line to Excelsior,) went the way of the dodo shortly after. The MN transportation museum also operates a short, but historical and interesting trolley ride in Excelsior.

Stillwater is interesting as well, with food, drink and antiques, but the crowds can be suffocating on weekends.

tptr