They don’t call Minnesota the land of 10,000 lakes for nothing. It seems like at nearly every turn there’s a lake, large or small. Minnesota is a place of cabin culture — meaning that on summer weekends, everyone flocks to their cabins to spend time on their lake. But you don’t have to have a cabin to enjoy the water. Minneapolis proper is dotted in dozens of lakes and as locals, we’ve got our favorites.
Lake harriet
This is a super charming lake where motor boats are not allowed. Instead, you’ll find sailboats of various sizes, lots of kids feeding the ducks, and a few beaches. There’s a trail that wraps all the way around the lake (about 3 miles) so it’s a great place for some exercise. We love grabbing lunch or dinner at Bread and Pickle, a little window-service eatery near the Bandshell. Speaking of, when it’s nice out, you can almost always count on catching a show or music at The Bandshell.
lake of the isles
Much more low key than some of the other lakes, you’ll find lots of kayakers here and plenty of runners along the shores. In the winter, they put up a big warming hut for all the ice skaters.
lake bde maka ska
Sailboats always dot this lake (no motor boats allowed) and people fish from the various docks. On super windy days, you’ll see folks out there kite surfing. With the downtown skyline in the distance, it’s a really beautiful scene. There’s a sailing school right at the entrance to the lake near Lake Street and food trucks sometimes park in the lot there. About a 4-mile walk, there is also a path here that surrounds the lake, as well as several beaches and plenty of playgrounds along the way so it’s a great place for families.
lake minnetonka
Okay so this isn’t technically in Minneapolis but it’s worthy of a visit. About 25 minutes west of the city, the ultra rich Minnesotans build stunning estates on this massive lake. It’s so fun boating around choosing what house you’ll buy when you win the lottery. Cruise over to Maynard’s and order a bootleg and a walleye sandwich and you’ll be happy. Back on land, downtown Wayzata has some declines restaurants (COV, 6 Smith) and great shopping along the main drag.
Lake Nokomis
Want to get out on the water but don’t have a boat? At Lake Nokomis, you can rent paddle boards, kayaks, and canoes or just swim in from the beach. They’ve also got a pretty sweet concessions stand serving up amazing cheese curds and hotdogs.
