Best 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"

"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."

"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."

"Formerly known as The Moppet Players in the 1960s, the award-winning Children's Theatre Company is a regional theater that specializes in plays, shows, and concerts for families and young audiences in Minneapolis. The theater was founded in 1965 by John Clark Donahue and has since become a leader in the theatrical community by exposing and educating young people through art. In 2003, the Children's Theatre Company was the Tony Award for Children's Theatre Company."

"Introducing your child to live theater at a young age is one of the best gifts you can give them. The Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis, Minnesota is a wonderful place for this. You and your family can have lots of fun seeing a Children’s Theatre Company show."

"Opened in 1948, Riverview Theater is a single-screen movie theater that displays first-run Hollywood movies along with art films. It offers digital presentation, high-back seats, a lounge area with a television, stadium seating and a snack bar."

"If you just saw a picture of the Riverview Theater, you might not get the big deal. After all, it’s just a movie theater, right?. While that’s technically true, it’s one that has earned a spot in the hearts of Minneapolis residents."

"NE in Northeast, the award-winning project of chef John Sugimura and Xiaoteng Huang boasts 4.5 stars out of 174 reviews on Yelp. From the fast-casual spot’s sushi menu, Yelpers recommend the spicy tuna fat roll for its flavors and size. While you’re there, check out its other favorite dishes too, like the crispy shrimp over rice."

"John Sugimura has an extraordinary knack for knowing what Minnesotans want out of sushi. And by that, we are not talking about mayonnaise-y monster rolls (though those do have their place and time). Instead, he knows we love our tuna, we love our salmon and shrimp, and we love texture and relative familiarity."

"A post shared by PinKU Japanese Street Food (@pinkujapanese) on Feb 20, 2020 at 4:42pm PST. Okay, PinKU in Northeast Minneapolis might not be a traditional sushi place per say, but this spot is so delicious we had to include it. And hey, sushi is on the menu!"

"On the northeastern shores of the massive Lake Harriet sits Lyndale Park, one of the best parks in Minneapolis in one of the most upscale neighborhoods. Spread across 61 acres, Lyndale Park has four different gardens, each with its own vibe: the Peace Garden, the Rose Garden, the Perennial Garden, and the Perennial Trial Garden. Lyndale also has the Thomas Sadler Roberts Bird Sanctuary."

"The Lyndale Park Rose Garden is the second largest rose garden in the entire United States of America. It features 100 species of plants that provide the perfect picturesque backdrop."

"Izzy’s has 32 classic-to-kooky flavors to fantasize about at both its hole-in-the-wall St. Paul location and its gleaming, modernist outpost next to Minneapolis’ Gold Medal Park. For Peppermint Bon Bon fans secretly dreaming of Summit Oatmeal Stout, there’s the Izzy scoop, a mini spoonful topping the first heap like a little hat. (For a party, order the Hot Dish: a red casserole dish of all 32 flavors in Izzy scoops.) This summer, Izzy’s Target Field space gives old-fashioned chocolate malt cups—those tall, icy tins—the artisanal treatment."

"Izzy’s Ice Cream has been a St. Paul institution since it opened its doors in 2000. Family owned and operated, the ice cream café has won major awards for its excellence, and it has been featured on The Food Network. Izzy’s is a café with a conscience; it is powered by solar panels, and it sources its ingredients locally wherever possible."

"The new Nellie’s is serving something not found in the Twin Cities metro previously: build-your-own ice cream sandwiches. Co-owner Daved Najarian got the idea from visits to Los Angeles in which he would come across build-your-own ice cream sandwich places. Although this version has a local spin."