Things to do in Excelsior MN

There’s still a month of summer left to take advantage of Minnesota lake days! We recently spent an afternoon in Excelsior MN right on Lake Minnetonka – literally the perfect day by the lake. This has to be the most adorable lake town that you don’t have to drive up north for!

Excelsior MN highlights

With so many things to do in Excelsior MN, we tried to do as many as possible, so here are our highlights! I really need to go back again soon because we just scratched the surface of dining options.

Lunch at Lago Tacos

 

 

Start your afternoon right with some of the best tacos in the Twin Cities! Make sure to get the guac and salsa sampler, and a margarita! In my opinion, this is the best spot for casual dining in the area, great for friends and kids alike! Later in the day we saw people get Lago Tacos delivered to their boat – seriously, what a dream that would be!

Sip on some Lakeside Lemonade

 

I couldn’t resist this cute little lemonade stand located right downtown Excelsior. We tried the organic lemonade on the rocks and the frozen lemonade with a shot of raspberry. Both were so yummy and refreshing! Check out their Facebook page to see where they’ll be next! 

Take a ride on Steamboat Minnehaha

 

 

 

The Steamboat Minnehaha was the highlight of our day! Standard cruises are $15, and take place every Saturday, Sunday, and holiday through September 3rd. There are a few options to choose from throughout the day, but we chose the hour long Legends of Big Island cruise because it worked best with our schedule.

The steamboat is unlike anything else you see on Lake Minnetonka. Before automobiles were prevalent, these steamboats would take people all around the Lake Minnetonka area. The coolest thing was that this particular boat was purposely sunk in 1926 and then restored 1979 into what you see today. Make sure to stop by the lower level to check out how it works and take the captain up on his offer to drive the boat towards the end of the trip!

Shop at Style Hunt

 

 

I love a good boutique, and Style Hunt is now one of my new faves! Why, you ask? Because it’s filled with all things girl power and graphic t’s (and lots of other cute stuff too). I spent way too much time in here deciding which shirt I wanted to buy, and ended up choosing this one with my life motto: “Work hard, play harder.” LOVE!

Do more shopping at Water on Water

 

 

Clothes aren’t your thing? Then, stop in at Water on Water. This shop was filled with all things Minnesota, but specializes in stationary and prints. I’ve been looking for a Minneapolis print for a while now and came across this adorable one that I had to get! Can’t wait to find a frame for it 🙂 

Stop for drinks at Excelsior Brewing Company

 

I don’t think I’ve ever shared a “things to do” itinerary that didn’t include a brewery. The Big Island Blonde is one of my all time favorite local beers, so it was fun to try it in-house at Excelsior Brewing Company! I was too busy chatting with my family that I forgot to take photos of the space but it has an awesome patio that’s perfect for summer! And super dog friendly.

Eat dinner at Olive’s

 

After our beer we naturally had to stop for pizza at Olive’s! We shared 3 pizzas among 6 people and had plenty of leftovers! We tried the farmers market, Olive’s house, and Hawaiian. Olive’s house was my favorite, and the Hawaiian (without pineapple) was my second fav because it was topped with arugula, balsamic, and macadamia nuts!

Get dessert at Lick’s Unlimited

 

 

For dessert, we stopped by the local ice cream shop, Lick’s Unlimited. This spot is so quirky and fun with SO many flavors (and cones) to try! I’m a sucker for pistachio, so I ordered that with a chocolate dipped cone. We then took our cones and walked around the port to take in the pretty lake views. Such a perfect end to an awesome day!

I already can’t wait to go back to Excelsior…there are so many things to do. Take your family, friends, or date next time you’re looking for a fun afternoon!