Minnesota Monthly‘s Summer Weekends. When the days stretch long and the sun finally sticks around, there’s only one question: How will you spend it? From lakeside escapes to late-night patios, consider this your guide.
In the City | By the Water | In the Wild
By the Water
If there’s one thing Minnesotans do better than anyone else, it’s summer on the water. Whether you’re anchoring the pontoon, paddleboarding at sunset, or floating down a winding river, let the state’s massive network of glistening waterways be your north star this season.
One With the Waves
Here are the best ways to get on the water this summer.
Sail Away
Romantic, cinematic, and undeniably difficult, sailing feels like a crossover between watersport and fine art—often overlooked for its perceived inaccessibility. But gliding the windswept waves of Minnesota’s lakes is easier than one might think. Sailing schools and beginner programs include Duluth-Superior Sailing Association, North House Folk School in Grand Marais, and Sailaway Sailing School in Minnetonka.
Tour the St. Croix River
Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours guides guests through an educational encounter with the marvel, offering public and private cruises aboard its two multilevel paddlewheel boats—The St. Croix Princess and Queen.
Pedal in a Swan at Sunset
Date-night tip: Pack a picnic and head to Lake Nokomis before sunset, where you can rent a swan-shaped pedal boat for two. Wheel Fun Rentals offers daytime rides and LED-lit night rides—a romantic way to experience the skyline-framed lake.
Cliff Jump at Quarry Park & Nature Preserve
Thrill seekers will feel right at home at this scenic swimming hole near St. Cloud, spanning 684 acres of quarries, granite pools, climbing walls, trails, and wooded terrain. Cliff jumping is a popular draw, with adventurers lining up along cliffs up to 25 feet high, while lower, family-friendly jumps average around 10 feet. Always check water depth and conditions to ensure a safe landing.
Courtesy of Visit St. Cloud
Encounter Our Majestic State Bird
You haven’t truly spent a weekend in Minnesota until you’ve heard the loon’s call break through a quiet summer night. Set to open in 2027, the Crosslake National Loon Center will serve as a premier research and education facility dedicated to protecting our state bird. This summer, preview its mission with Loon Pontoon tours on Cross Lake—schedule available at nationallooncenter.org.
Fly Fish in the Driftless
Known for its hilly, unglaciated terrain, Minnesota’s Driftless Region is a fisherman’s paradise, filled with trout-rich streams and spring-fed creeks. Book a guided trip with Driftless Fly Fishing Co.—sessions include gear, tackle, and a scenic streamside lunch. Learn more at minnesotaflyfishing.com.
Walk the World’s Longest Freshwater Sandbar
Take a walk on the water—literally—at Duluth’s Park Point, the world’s longest freshwater sandbar, stretching 7 to 8 miles into Lake Superior. Separating the harbor from the open lake, it offers hours of shoreline views before giving way to a wooded trail that doubles as a thriving bird sanctuary.
Boat Up and Dine In
If you prefer your patio sips with shoreline views—and a sizable dose of quirky, cabin-country lore—here are the gems you’ll want to bookmark for a season of alfresco bliss.
Vintage Appeal
Dock up at the 1960s-established Lord Fletcher’s Old Lake Lodge for a resort-style round of battered Walleye Fingers, as boaters wave on from the social channels of Lake Minnetonka. 3746 Sunset Drive, Spring Park
Contemporary Class
Drift into 6Smith for an evening cocktail that feels distinctly metropolitan. With thoughtful mixology and an expansive rooftop patio overlooking Wayzata Bay, the elevated nook adds a touch of sophistication to the unbuttoned rhythms of lake life. 294 Grove Lane E., Wayzata
Sociable Sips
With live music, moonlit DJ sets, and a calendar of lively summer events, Lola’s Lakehouse overlooking Lake Waconia embodies the spirit of a classic lake-town watering hole, with an unmistakably social appeal. 318 E. Lake St., Waconia
Courtesy of Poplar Haus
Brews With Views
There are few spots in the state where a premier brewery and taproom sit against the shores of a 100,000-plus-acre lake. Portage Brewing Co. is just that—a modern, Northwoods-inspired brewery with rugged, small-town appeal, pouring a steady rotation of locally produced, small-batch beers. 107 Fifth St. S., Walker
Wilderness Retreat
The scenic drive (or boat ride) into Poplar Haus comprises half its charm. Nestled along the wild and breathtaking Gunflint Trail, the hidden Northwoods escape offers stunning patio views of Poplar Lake, a gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, and one of the best lakeside burgers in the state. 7890 Gunflint Trail, Grand Marais
Scandinavian Sensibility
Conveniently nestled along the North Shore Scenic Drive, New Scenic Café’s garden-framed, string-lit patio faces Lake Superior, offering road trippers a Scandinavian-style respite from their trek along the Great Lake. 5461 North Shore Drive, Duluth
Courtesy of New Scenic Cafe
Lakeside Festivals
Minnesotans spend all year dreaming of those slow-paced summer weekends, where everything—including live music—is best enjoyed lakeside.
Lakes Jam
June 24-27 | Brainerd
Lakefront Music Fest
July 10-11 | Prior Lake
Minnesota Yacht Club Festival
July 17-18 | St. Paul
WE Fest
Aug. 5-8 | Detroit Lakes
Courtesy of WE Fest
Quirky Summer Traditions
If you’ve ever spent a summer weekend near one of Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes, then it’s likely you’ve encountered at least one endearingly quirky town tradition that seems to have little rhyme or reason behind it—apart from eliciting joy. Bookmark these charming lake-town traditions to dive in.
Leech Lake Walleye Tournament
May 30-31
Turtle Races in downtown Nisswa
Wednesdays, June 3-Aug. 12
Sand Sculpture Contest at Grand Haven City Beach
June 20
Loons & Lakes Festival in Crosslake
June 26-27
Fisherman’s Picnic in Grand Marais
July 30-Aug. 2
Cardboard Boat Races in Crosslake
Aug. 8
Float-a-Palooza Beach Party on Lake Pepin
Aug. 9
