Free Museums in Lake Minnetonka

"The Minneapolis Institute of Art is a must see attraction for those of all ages. You can find exhibits and artifacts spanning all continents and all ages, with some items dating back 40,000 years. There are prints and drawings, photography and new media, paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, textiles, and contemporary art as well as specific collections to explore focusing on Asian art, African art, and American art."

"The Minneapolis Institute of Art is an internationally recognized institution. From Greek sculpture to Warhol, silver vessels to van Gogh, we've got it all."

"The Minneapolis Institute of Art is a large museum representing more than 5,000 years of history through breathtaking works of art."

"If it’s one of those indecisive March days, the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis has outdoor options at the Sculpture Garden and indoor art amazements, including “Designs for Different Futures,” a major traveling exhibit running through April 11. Organized by the Walker, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago, “DFDF” has more than 70 examples from designers that look to the future. Some of the pieces are designs that are already part of our present."

"The cornerstone of the district is the Mill City Museum. Built on the ruins of what was once the world's largest flour mill, the museum chronicles more than just the history of grinding grain. Exhibits tell the story of Minneapolis itself and the many industries that relied on the Mississippi River and nearby St. Anthony Falls."

"The Mill City Museum was built within the Washburn A Mill and chronicles the flour milling industry. The Mill was built in 1880 and was the largest of its kind at that time. A devastating fire in 1991 left the structure in ruins."

"The Mill City Museum, built from the ruins of the Washburn Mill, sits right next to the Mississippi River. It is family-friendly and features interactive exhibits, a restaurant, gift shop, and much more."

"Housed in a striking stainless steel and brick building, designed by internationally acclaimed architect Frank O. Gehry, the Weisman Art Museum (WAM) offers an educational and friendly museum experience for visitors of all kinds. The museum, located on the gorgeous University of Minnesota campus, creates art experiences that spark discovery, critical thinking, and transformation, linking the University and the community. Its permanent collection includes more than 25,000 works of art and is especially rich in the areas of American modernism, ceramics, Mimbres pottery and Korean furniture."

"Housed in a striking stainless steel and brick building designed by architect Frank Gehry, the Weisman Art Museum is both educational and approachable. The museum’s collection features early twentieth-century American artists, such as Georgia O’Keeffe and Marsden Hartley, as well as a diverse selection of ceramics and contemporary art. They always have a great selection of events, so be sure to check their calendar to see what’s in town."

"There are two fresh shows on view at the Weisman Art Museum on the University of Minnesota campus. “Paper Mountains: Marsden Hartley’s Lofty Landscapes” looks at the work of artist Marsden Hartley (1877-1943) during a time he was questioning what it meant to produce art that was distinctly American. He sought inspiration from the mountains, according to information from WAM."

"Since 2002, The Museum of Russian Art has served as the Twin Cities’ window to art, history, and culture of Muscovite Russia, the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union, its former republics, and post-Soviet Russia. Housed in a beautifully renovated historic building, the museum’s multi-level galleries provide a tranquil and intimate setting for their exhibitions and educational events. A one-hour tour is free with admission."

"Windom’s The Museum of Russian Art, located at 5500 Stevens Ave. South, is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the museum 4.5 stars out of 32 reviews. READ MORE: 'I Just Want To Meet The Guy': Mountain Biker's Life Saved By Off-Duty Doctor On Minnesota Trail"

"Though the Twin Cities Model Railroad Museum recently moved to a new location, but you’ll still find the O-scale models of your favorite trains. Much of the museum replicates the railroads and landmarks that travel through Minnesota, but you’ll find some Easter egg treats hidden in the tracks, such as Big Foot and Mickey’s Diner."

"The Twin City Model Railroad Museum in St. Paul is open on Saturdays. The museum has a new Lego Layout created by the Greater Midwest Lego Train Club. And the popular Night Trains exhibit is extended through April 24."

"Northrup King Building is the largest art complex in Minnesota, with more than 350 artists and small businesses who are working, showing, and selling their wares in this 1917 former seed company complex. First Thursdays and Open Saturdays, as well as annual events like Art-a-Whirl and Art Attack!. give plenty of opportunity to browse and shop 19 mediums from jewelry to mosaics and digital to graphic arts."

"With 4.5 stars out of 78 reviews on Yelp, the Middle Eastern eatery has proven to be a local favorite for vegetarian diners. READ MORE: Authorities Break Up 2 Large Fights At Anoka County Fair"

"Went there after the school semester was over and had a nice meal!. The cafe is located within a block from the St Paul University of Minnesota student Ce..."

"With 4.5 stars out of 78 reviews on Yelp, the Middle Eastern eatery has proven to be a local favorite for vegetarian diners."

"They have 16 flavors on rotation at any given time, and while they definitely offer the classics, our favorites are the ones that push the boundaries a little. Try sweet basil vanilla, Mango Pineapple Ginger, rhubarb, and the “Good Girl” which is made with lavender, almond milk and burnt honey. Bonus: many of their flavors are dairy-free and vegan!"

"3146 Hennepin Ave South, MinneapolisThe scoop: With 16-18 rotating and creative flavors, you don’t know what you’ll find including concoctions like Purple Reign, Good Girl, and Charlotte’s Web. Find LaLa at Farmers Markets around the metro, too."

"A beautiful little shop in Uptown, La La serves both kid-approved cones and more sophisticated flavors adults adore, like the olive oil and balsamic vinegar Olivia Balsamico. There is also a wide selection of house-made sodas."

"Lake of the Isles Park is another one of the Minneapolis Instagram spots. You find here many walking trails and lots of trees. View this post on Instagram"

"One of the larger parks in Minneapolis, the Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park spans 139 acres along the Mississippi River. Within the park, you'll find a network of paved trails that connect with the Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park, as well as the Minneapolis Park System trails, meaning you could spend days and days within the park and never have the same itinerary. Among the activities the park affords are fishing, birding, bicycling, and hiking."

"The Gibbs Museum is on the site of a farm that prospered during the late 1800s. The farm's original farmhouse and barn have been fully restored and can be seen by guided tour, led by costumed living history interpreters. The remainder of the grounds can be explored freely and features authentically constructed replicas of buildings typically found during the time period, including a log-and-sod home and a one-room schoolhouse."

"2097 Larpenteur Avenue // Falcon Heights, MN 55113 Costumed guides tell the true story of the pioneer Gibbs family and their Dakotah Indian friends. Explore the museum's Sodhouse, farmhouse, one-room schoolhouse, Dakotah bark lodge, tipi and…"

"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Andreas Faessler used under CC BY-SA 4.0. With its beautiful architecture and the stained glass windows, Basilica of Saint Mary is a unique place to visit, regardless of whether you are a religious person or not. It is located along Hennepin Avenue between 16th & 17th Streets in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota."

"America’s oldest basilica is also one of the most gorgeous churches in the country. The Basilica of St. Mary is one of the most stunning things to see in Minneapolis. Worshipping at this Hennepin Avenue church is such a powerful experience."