Top Things to do in Metro Minneapolis-Saint Paul
Top Hotels in Metro Minneapolis-Saint Paul
- 1. Celeste St Paul
- 2. TownePlace Suites by Marriott Minneapolis Mall of America
- 3. Hampton Inn & Suites Minneapolis/Downtown
- 4. Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Bloomington at Mall of America, MN
- 5. Radisson Blu Mall of America
- 6. The Marquette Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton
- 7. Graduate Minneapolis
- 8. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Minneapolis Bloomington W
- 9. Embassy Suites by Hilton Minneapolis Downtown
- 10. Best Western Plus The Normandy Inn & Suites
What to do and see in Metro Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Metro Minneapolis-Saint Paul: The Best Bodies of Water
Discover the best top things to do in Metro Minneapolis-Saint Paul, United States including Chain of Lakes, Harris Lake Park, John M Conde Park, Lake of the Isles, Silverwood Park, LaBelle Park, Excelsior Commons, Lake Harriet, Bde Maka Ska, Cedar Lake.
Restaurants in Metro Minneapolis-Saint Paul
1. Chain of Lakes
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 402 reviews
Three separate lakes (Lake of the Isles, Lake Calhoun and Lake Harriet) all surrounded by pedestrian paths.
Reviewed By jesseMN - Savannah, United States
Walk, jog, swim, hear a concert, rent bikes, roller skates, canoes...the chain of lakes is one of the many attractions of the excellent Park system - connected by trail and water to other parks - that attacts year 'round visitors. A cherished resource that is actually three interconnected lakes in the City. Accessable by public transit.
2. Harris Lake Park
3. John M Conde Park
4. Lake of the Isles
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 326 reviews
Reviewed By bethsA9826WF
Lake of the Isles is one of the chain of lakes in the heart of Minneapolis. It's winding shoreline has a well-card for walking path and showcases the lake's isles and varied shore environments. It's a 2.6 mile walk, and if you get tired of looking at the sun on the water, skyline in the short distance, lily pads, birds, and the many dogs with companions you'll meet, check out the gorgeous array of houses (some mansions) that surround the lake.
5. Silverwood Park
6. LaBelle Park
7. Excelsior Commons
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 19 reviews
Reviewed By lucycan
This is a large park just outside downtown Excelsior. Great views of the lake. There is a beach, ball park, and plenty of places to sit for a picnic.
8. Lake Harriet
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 594 reviews
Reviewed By RayMan222 - Minneapolis, United States
Was aiming to review the Art Shanty Project on Lake Harriet, which runs weekends through Feb 9th in 2020 artshantyprojects. This is Minnesota/Twin Cities at its best - Art, broadly defined, on the ice. Worth a visit if you are in the area. Apparently it is not a permanent venue worthy of Trip Advisor status but probably the best reason to visit Lake Harriet in winter.
9. Bde Maka Ska
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 607 reviews
Reviewed By CaptTrouble - Hudson, United States
This is a large and beautiful lake to walk around in Minneapolis. I would recommend walking on weekdays as it and the other lakes in the chain can be absolutely crazy busy on the weekends. My husband and I took a brisk walk around it in October to admire the sunshine and the fall leaves. Bde Maka Ska is now the official name of this lake; there is still a Lake Calhoun in Kandiyohi County. Bde Maka Ska is the largest lake in the City of Minneapolis with a size of 401 acres and a maximum depth of 87 feet. The name is a Dakota one, pronounced Be-DAY Me-KAH-Ska, which in English means Lake White Earth. The lake was given the name Calhoun in the early 1800's by the U.S. Army in honor of the United States Secretary of War while the Army was surveying the area for Ft. Snelling. Calhoun's history as a slaveowner and pro-slavery politician led to modern day questions about whether the lake was best named after him. In 2017 the Minneapolis Park Board voted to change the name back to the Dakota name Bde Maka Ska, with the Hennepin County Commissioners agreeing. In 2018 the MN DNR made it the official name in Minnesota. The State submitted materials to the federal government to change the name on the federal level, which was approved in June 2018. Signs were changed around the lake. On April 29, 2019, the Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled that the name could only be changed by legislation. The federal government has declined to change the name back and the Park Board has declined to change the signs back.
