Lake Minnetonka Birthday Party Ideas

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1.    The Best Places to Swim
There are many places to swim on Lake Minnetonka. Dropping an anchor and tying up with other boats to float in the middle of the lake is always an option. We also recommend Maxwell Bay as a prime swimming spot on the lake.  We love the cove behind Big Island as a place to swim with friends! As well as swimming, it's important to know the best tubing and water-skiing spots on the lake. North Arm Bay, Halstead's Bay, Jennings Bay, and Harrison Bay are all popular spots to participate in water sports.

2.    Where to Catch the Big Ones
Fishing is one of the main attractions on Lake Minnetonka. We recommend Seton Lake/Black Lake as a great place to catch fish. We also recommend Crystal Bay (Coffee Bridge; west), and Forest Lake to relax and enjoy the sun while catching some fish.

3.    Ice Cream on the Lake
On a hot summer day, the only cure (besides the lake, of course) is ice cream! Head to Wayzata to grab some Ben and Jerry’s ice cream right on Lake Street. Walk across the street to sit lake side and enjoy. On the opposite end of Lake Street, you’ll find Yogurt Lab. A frozen yogurt shop with tons of toppings to customize your perfect cold treat. Down in Excelsior, there are many options for frozen delights! Right off the public docks you’ll see Tommy’s Tonka Trolley that serves ice cream, root beer floats, and food all from inside a trolley cart! Serving Sebastian Joe’s award-winning ice cream, you can’t go wrong. Just up from the lake on Water Street is Licks Unlimited, voted the best ice cream by the National Ice Cream Retailers Association. Even if ice cream isn’t for you, Licks Unlimited is such a special experience. They have a bright pink interior and children’s drawings along the walls displaying the glorious past 27 years of business they have brought to Excelsior. If you’d like to venture more around Excelsior, right up from Maynards is Adele’s Frozen Custard. They make their own secret recipe vanilla and chocolate fresh every day with two other flavored options which can be found on their website calendar. From sundaes and shakes to custard pies, Adele’s has it all. They also serve deli sandwiches, hot dogs, brats, and BBQ pork.

4.    Water Toys to Bring
A day on the lake can only be complete with the perfect water toys and inflatables. The Ship's Store sells various types of inflatables in different sizes. We offer smaller and larger inflatables that are perfect for the whole family. We have plenty of watermelon, swan, pineapple, donut, popsicle, and flip-flop floaties in stock for the rest of the summer, and we won't run out any time soon! While in the water, pool noodles and toys to play catch with are always popular among groups enjoying a day on the lake. We have giant noodles and small toy footballs in our store that anyone can enjoy!

5.    Sunscreen and Protection
While on the lake, you’ll want to make sure you’re fully protected from the sun to ensure the best boating day. Each of our pontoons have canopies on them. Aside from that, you’ll want to make sure you have sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. Luckily enough, we sell everything you’ll need for the lake! We have travel size sunscreen in our Ship's Store, along with Lake Minnetonka sunglasses and baseball hats of all styles and colors. It’s very important to be fully protected from the sun to protect from sun poisoning or dangerous sun exposure to the skin.

6.    Last Minutes Gifts
Forgot to pick up a birthday present for your guest? Stop into the Ship's Store and grab some Lake Minnetonka souvenirs to help the birthday guest remember their special day on the lake. Whether it be a captain’s hat with the matching shirt, or a Lake Minnetonka hat and t-shirt, we’ve got all the best gifts here. Get a picture with your crew while on the lake and purchase the Lake Minnetonka picture frame or the Lake Minnetonka tumbler for everyday use. In the Ship's Store, we also sell Birthday Party Packs, which include:
•    8 'Happy Birthday' flex cups
•    8 'Happy Birthyay' shot glasses
•    8 pineapple drink stirrers
•    8 confetti with gold rim paper plates
•    20 'Birthday Squad' napkins
Separate from the Birthday Party Pack, we have small birthday candles and 'Happy Birthday' headbands.

7.    It’s Beer O’Clock
Lake Minnetonka has begun to introduce many new breweries all over. In Spring Park, you’ll find Back Channel Brewery which was newly established in 2017. They make their own craft beers in house and have a calendar for the summer of all the food trucks coming to the brewery.  They also have dock space, so you’re able to pull the boat up right to the dock and go in to enjoy a beer and some food. In Wayzata, you’ll find Wayzata Brew Works with public docks right across the parking lot. Serving up their own craft beers, they love to experiment different types of beers and fruit with unique concoctions every time you go in. Down in Excelsior you’ll find the Excelsior Brewing Company, a very well-known brewery all over the greater Twin Cities area. With their flagship beer being the Big Island Blond Ale, you’ll be able to experience a wide array of beers and pick up a growler to bring on the boat with you! They also host many events from concerts to yoga classes, you can experience it all at the Excelsior Brewing Company. New to the area is Unmapped Brewing. Located on Excelsior Boulevard in Minnetonka, this brewing company offers a great atmosphere providing activities for people of all ages, including dogs. Unmapped has shelves of games available for guests to play, and they also have Trivia Night every Monday at 7:30.