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.

There are sand volleyball courts just a tiny walk away and people gather there to just play. It's…read moreamazing and the people there are super kind and inclusive. (I would know I'm always the youngest there by like 10 yrs) It is my favorite place and playing makes me indescribably happy. It's amazing the most popular time is about 6-9 bc it's getting colder and more people come. We go everyday now (when we can) It's amazing please try it out if you are interested or just like V-Ball

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.

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.

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.

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

Lovely little sandy beach with lifeguards, bouyed water boundaries, and semi-private shower and…read morechanging areas. Closest to a California beach experience I've found in the Twin Cities thus far.

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 beach! There aren't amenities there, but you just need to plan ahead and you're good to…read morego. It was busy, but easy to find a space. Be aware that parking can be tricky and you need to walk a few blocks from where you park to the beach.

Overall, I had a good visit. The place felt clean, the staff was polite, and everything went…read moresmoothly enough. It was not perfect, but the experience still felt comfortable and positive. 2.

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.

This is one of the best parks that I have ever visited! We went at the perfect time of year so that…read moreit was cool out and the leaves were beginning to change.

We visited Minnehaha park for the beautiful waterfall, and were pleasantly surprised by the…read morewonderful bluegrass festival that took place in the pavilion! We enjoyed this thoroughly. The set up was wonderful, and the performers were great. Lots of coupons available as well. There was lots of seating available and food vendors, and of course the staple sea salt eatery. The line was so long we were unable to sacrifice the bluegrass time to get a bite. Love this park! So fun to enjoy in all seasons.