In the dead of winter, the art shanties are a fun activity at Lake Harriet. Always new and…read moresurprising shanties that come from the creative minds of the artists. You can dance, dress up and sing, learn about what lives below the ice, be a cat, cast a spell with Taylor Swift lyrics, and help aliens understand humans. This event epitomizes how Minnesotans don't let freezing temps keep them from enjoying the lake and expressing their creativity.

Minnesotans really know how to throw events no matter rain, shine, or winter. Reflecting on this…read morepast winter reminded me of the surreal experience of standing on top of this frozen lake having moved from a two season state. If you've never been when it's frozen over I would highly recommend coming during their kite festival which also happens during the art shanty exhibits. If you show up to the kite festival on a whim, no worries, the park will have kites for sale. I would highly encourage coming with footwear that has good traction or added cat tracks to get secure grip on the ice.

I go here on a regular basis. It is and always will be one of my favorite late walks in the Twin…read moreCities. About 3.12 miles around and you get a little bit of everything. There is nothing like it in the summer.. there is a spot where you can rent a kayak if you want (which I do fairly often on a hot day) and you can pull it up to a beach and take a dip. Just so lovely. The walk is also great and it gives you a bit of everything. Gorgeous lake, some wood scenery, on a main road as well if you want to stop off and grab food or a coffee. There are a few parking lots where you can pay for parking but there is also a lot of free street parking which is typically what I do. Just all in all a lovely walk everytime.

Worth checking out. Right outside of downtown Minneapolis and a good option to explore your…read moresurroundings and nature. If you like to run or be in a lake beach this is the place for you. Water was pretty and clean. There's a restaurant there but I didn't check it out; seems nice. If you like sailing or kayaking this is the place for you. The area was clean and calm; not too crowded but definitely some people. The complex and houses around the area adds to the lake vibe.

This is my favorite lake in the twin cities, especially during the fall when the leaves are at peak…read moreintensity of fall colors! I especially love paddle boarding here because it's usually a short walk from street parking to the lake. The views are spectacular and the wildlife is fun to watch. The walking paths around the lake are always well maintained and it's about a 3 mile loop around, with great views the entire time.

Lake of the Isles is a lake in Minneapolis, it's connected to Cedar Lake and Bde Maka Ska. It's…read morepart of the Chain of Lakes. It's a park area. There's a walk area, and around the lake there are fancy homes.

Very, very late review of maybe my favorite of the chain of lakes…read more Even though it's connected to much busier lakes it seems more secluded and quieter than the others. It does have a smattering of large homes but much of the shoreline appears almost uninhabited despite being surrounded by the city. Walking along the lake shore can be a relaxing way to pass some time. Even driving by seems calm and peaceful if you're not in a rush. A bonus is my book is that the Lake is next to the Cedar Lake bicycle trail which skirts the North shore.

The lake offers ample shore fishing opportunities…read more Trail Pedestrian is almost 2.miles and the bike is around the same I believe You can grill, do cross country skiing when it's winter I heard. You need to paid for parking lot. Is connected to Lake of the Isles. I post a video of the lake.

I walked the 8 miles around the lake! I started and ended at East Medicine Lake Park. It was a very…read morewell marked path that stayed close to the lake 50-60% of the time! It was fairly well shaded by trees. Approximately 3 bathroom and water opportunities. I saw a lot of new beaches and fishing points on this walk. It took 3 hours with a few stops. Overall 5/5 recommend for novice hikers!

Medicine Lake is such a lovely lake and the perfect spot for a nice stroll. A perfect visit for…read moresolitude and also a nice lake to gather with a company of friends to walk and talk! It is located less than 10 miles from Minneapolis in the suburb of Plymouth, quick getaway from the city. There are lovely parks surrounding the lake, and the paths are nicely paved connecting to Minneapolis, Maple Grove, and Minnetonka. The paths are ideal for biking, running, and a nice stroll. There's lots and lots of parking, Medicine Lake is one of my favorite lakes and I love the walking paths something one can enjoy all year long with the change of seasons, oh the colors and the fragrance! It is one of the reasons I love living in the Twin Cities. The photos below is from my walk on Sunday June 12, 2022 which was a perfect early summer day.

Love walking around this lake. Cool beach fronts and nice open fields with playgrounds.read more

After yesterday's paddle, I gotta say this place is bliss…read more I'd kind of scoped it out a few days prior just by taking a hike around the entirety of the lake to see what all it had to offer besides hiking and biking. I'd parked over by the larger beach (Nokomis Main Beach) on the west side (there's a smaller one on the east side), utilizing the free parallel parking which was available since it wasn't yet a busy afternoon rather than the pay lot. The large beach is quite nice, with some play equipment for the kiddos, a decent restroom facility, even a eatery/ice cream place. Seasonally, there's also a rental place for kayaks/canoes/swan boats if you don't have your own. There's another parking lot on the north end which is nearby a dock that's great for putting in your own kayak/canoe. This is also where you'll find the nearby Community Center with lots more play equipment and tennis courts outside, as well as gyms and rooms inside (open in the afternoons/evenings). It looks to me that the community center offers a lot of classes/activities for kids throughout the year that you can sign up for. I took a quick detour inside and admired their small common area with little library, fish tank, art, etc. Walking around the entirety of the lake will also take you over the car bridge, which offers some nice views. Just north of that bridge is also where the fancier boats are anchored. When I came back the second time with my inflatable kayak, I was able to easily get out onto the water and enjoy my time. Lovely warm September day meant lovely warm lake water, and I paddled the length of it and back, stopping frequently to just lay back and vibe. I especially enjoyed relaxing at the southern end of the lake where the planes fly directly over on their descent into MSP airport. So cool to marvel at!

Lake Minnetonka is a beautiful lake. There's a lot of bays and generally a lot to explore. Looking…read moreat all the lake houses is always a good time. There's some restaurants and businesses near the main lake. There's big island and swimming areas. Not sure I personally trust the lake water but for sure "purify yourself" if you wish. We went on a Saturday early afternoon & it was pretty busy. Lots of boats on the water. It's generally chill. We were on a private boat but they do have boat tours and yacht party's which are really fun.

Nice, clean lake. Smaller than anticipated still worth the visit if in the Minneapolis area…read more Boaters and fishing on the lake that day.

It's a nice lake with a couple beaches. No amenities nearby and because of the ridiculous…read moreoverpriced green line that goes nowhere it's now hard to get to. We all got taken for a ride $$$$ with light rail when the buses do a great job!

The once popular clothing optional Hidden Beach is no longer nor clothing optional. Looking to…read moreescape the 90° heat & sans suit, remembering this place from years ago. Then I saw this! Years have changed things! I went, regardless. Will modern day's morality accept a little skinny dipping. Unh-unh! Plus, thunder storms greeted me. looks like a nice shower at home will suffice."

This is such a great spot to take kids since there is a playground but right across the street you…read morehave a lot of walking trails and I think it's really well paved out and you can choose which trail to take depending on the distance you want to walk. They have plenty of parking and it's an activity you can do all seasons.

I liked this lake a lot. I think the size of the beach and the proximity of bathroom facilities &…read morenearby playground is perfect for toddlers and young kids. I also like how less crowded it is compared to other bigger beaches/lakes.

I came by here to see Minnehaha Falls and really enjoyed the park. There is a restaurant on site,…read morebut it wasn't open when I arrived. They also didn't have any restrooms available during my visit, (I think they were being remodeled) so there was a huge line for the porta potty on site. Not the most convenient thing so go to the restroom before you come here. The falls are beautiful, and there's a short hike down the stairs to get a view of the lower falls, but you have to crawl over a short rock wall to get closer to the falls. It's not a huge waterfall, but it's pretty. There's a short hiking trail along the stream that goes around the park. It's flat but I don't recommend it for wheelchair users. Maybe strollers can make it, but go at your own risk as I'm not sure how you could access the trail from the top. I'm sure there's a way, I just didn't explore the entire trail to find an accessible route and I had to take stairs to go down and back up.

A good park to stop before heading to the airport. We wanted to do this before our flight, so we…read moreplanned accordingly and just had backpacks as luggages. The waterfall is beautiful! I haven't seen such a strong waterfall in a long time. You can see it from the top and then take the stairs down to see the waterfall close up. We also rode bikes to the south end of the park, then came back and did a round trip 2 miles hike following the river. It was super nice and peaceful. Park had plenty of paid parking, even had a cafe and a restaurant. Bathrooms were plentiful and clean. A big turnaround for Uber drop offs and pick ups. Lots of lime bikes everywhere to rent one to ride around.