Minneapolis Parks and Lakes

Rent a canoe on Lake Calhoun and paddle through three lakes.

See an outdoor concert at the Lake Harriet bandshell

Swim and play at the Lake Nokomis beach

Ride a bike around the lakes and down Minnehaha Creek to Minnehaha Falls

Visit the Bakken Museum of Electricity and Life

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

Pane Vino Dolce is a neighborhood treasure located in the East Harriet neighborhood in Southwest Minneapolis. There is no sign identifying the place, however, it's easy to spot because on most nights you'll see a line of people waiting to get in.

The restaurant has great ambience, with stucco walls lightly washed with pale blue and tiled floors. The focal point of the dining room is a massive wrought iron candlelight chandelier. At twilight each evening, the staff lowers it to light the candles and decorate it with fresh flowers, which is a show in itself.

The menu consists of high-quality Mediterranean-style cuisine at very reasonable prices. The pastas and pizzas are between $8 and $12; larger dinner entres (which change daily according to the chef's moods) are $15 and up. Desserts are made on-site, and include standards like tiramisu and imaginative items such as a chevre cheesecake,

The wine selection is good and eclectic but requires caution. You tell your server what you want, and they'll recommend something to you. Be sure to ask the price, or risk ending up with a very expensive bottle.

Recommended menu items include the cod croquettes appetizer, the beet salad, or any of the pizzas, which have a delicious crispy crust.

Mill Ruins Park is Minneapolis' newest park, dedicated just a few weeks ago. The centerpiece of the park is the excavated foundations of several 19th century flour mills. The old mill races have been uncovered and restored so that the Mississippi flows through them once again.

The ruins are very picturesque, and there are several historical plaques that tell the story of how Minneapolis came to be. Construction is underway on an adjacent history museum, which will be housed in one of the old mill buildings.

Many of the old warehouses and mills along the river have been converted to upscale housing, offices, and hotels, making this a very attractive part of town.

Minnehaha Creek flows through southwest Minneapolis, connecting Lakes Nokomis and Hiawatha and eventually joining the Mississippi River. Half a mile upstream from the river is a wonderful rarity--an dramatic urban waterfall. The area between the falls and the river is a large and beautiful park, which is a family favorite.

The falls and creek are the main attraction, but the park also features a snack bar, picnic area, souvenir shop, public barbeques, and playground equipment. The John Stevens house (one of the first houses in Minneapolis) is well-preserved example of a pioneer family's dwelling. Volunteers from the Minnesota Historical Society offer tours on weekends. A statue of the Indian brave Hiawatha and his love Minnehaha (inspired by Longfellow's poem "The Song of Hiawatha") stands in the middle of the creek.

This charming museum explores the relationship between electricity and life. Exhibits include antique quack medical devices designed to "shock" sick people back to health, the earliest electrocardigram machines, and a Theramin, which is an electronic musical instrument played by moving your hands around in an electric field.

There is also a collection of electric fish and eels, and an exhibit devoted to the story of the Frankenstein monster. The multi-media portion of the Frankenstein exhibit may be too intense for small children, but my 10 year old found it delightfully spooky.

The Bakken is housed in a beautiful old mansion on Lake Calhoun.

One of the best ways to experience the Minneapolis Lakes is to get out on the water and spend a lazy afternoon paddling around. You can rent a canoe and life jackets at the Lake Calhoun concession stand, then work your way through a chain of four lakes.

Paddle out from the canoe dock, then bear right towards the channel. On a nice summer day, the channel is usually lined with people fishing. Paddle through a narrow passage under two bridges, and come out into Lake of the Isles.

Lake of the Isles began life as a swamp, and tries its best to revert to its natural state. The murky, shallow water is filled with weeds and often overgrown with algae in the hot summer months. Despite the poor water conditions, the lake is very picturesque. It's lined with big old trees and stately mansions. You'll share the water with ducks, geese, and the occasional turtle. Bear to the left, and paddle along Isles' southern shoreline towards the channel that leads into Cedar Lake.

Cedar is a bigger, cleaner lake than Isles, with several public beaches and picnic areas. This is the best place to stop for a picnic and a swim. A small portion of the shoreline belongs to private homes, so take care that you don't disembark in someone's back yard. The public beaches are easy to see from the lake.

If you feel really ambitious, continue on through Cedar to little Brownie Lake, which is to the northwest through another narrow channel. The Brownie shoreline is completely undeveloped and there is no public access except by boat.

The complete round trip is about 5.5 miles, and will take you most of an afternoon to complete.

According to old records, there were once many more lakes in Minneapolis than there are now. The smaller lakes were filled in in the early part of the 20th century so that more housing could be built. Today, there are seven main lakes within the city limits, and several other small ones.

Each lake has a unique character, defined by its natural setting and neighborhoods around it. Cedar and Wirth are the most "natural" of the lakes, and large parts of their shorelines are undeveloped parkland. Lake of the Isles is a mostly man-made lake, carefully sculpted in the early 20th century as the centerpiece to a neighborhood of imposing mansions. Lake Calhoun is a thoroughly urban lake, which is adjoined by the trendy Uptown neighborhood. Harriet and Nokomis are surrounded by family neighborhoods, with the best swimming beaches and playgrounds. Little Lake Hiawatha sits in the middle of a public golf course.

Rent a bike, a pair of roller blades, or even a canoe and explore the beauty and charm of the Minneapolis lakes!