| Lake Minnetonka Boat Cruises | | | | Minnetonka became a place of research |
| Lake Minnetonka, located in Hennepin | | | | and study when The Gray Freshwater |
| County Minnesota, expands over 14,000 | | | | Biological Institute was built on Lake |
| acres and reaches a maximum depth of one | | | | Minnetonka's shores. The institute was |
| hundred and thirteen feet. Lake | | | | later given to the University of |
| Minnetonka has always been a favorite | | | | Minnesota. There is currently a Museum |
| resort destination, even until today and | | | | located near Lake Minnetonka. The museum |
| hosts a large number of fishing | | | | focuses on Lake Minnetonka, local |
| tournaments each and every year. Species | | | | businesses, Excelsior High School and |
| of fish that can be caught in Lake | | | | the Excelsior Amusement Park. The Lake |
| Minnetonka are sunfish, northern pike, | | | | Minnetonka Museum is open from May to |
| walleye, yellow perch and muskellunge. | | | | September. |
| Lake Minnetonka was formed nearly 11,000 | | | | Even today people just can't seem to get |
| years ago. Large blocks of ice melted to | | | | enough of Lake Minnetonka. The beauty of |
| form Lake Minnetonka, but it only got | | | | Lake Minnetonka is just too much to |
| its name in 1852, from then Minnesota | | | | ignore. There are a number of different |
| Governor Alexander Ramsey. Minnetonka | | | | boat cruises available all up and down |
| comes from an American Indian phrase | | | | Lake Minnetonka. Most of these boat |
| that sounded like minn-ni-tanka, meaning | | | | cruises are extremely affordable. Many |
| "big water," in reference to the lake. | | | | of them provide tourists with catering, |
| The first known groups of people who | | | | bar services and full amenities backed |
| settled Lake Minnetonka were Cheyenne, | | | | by a large number of well trained |
| Iowa, Ojibwa and Dakota Sioux Indians. | | | | professional staff. A number of these |
| They held the woodlands areas in high | | | | boat cruises are able to charter groups |
| regard as a great spiritual place, as | | | | from ten people all the way up to eighty |
| well as their burial grounds. Joseph | | | | people. Lake Minnetonka is also popular |
| Brown and Will Snelling were the first | | | | for sailboat racing. The Wayzata Yacht |
| European people to come to Lake | | | | Club provides seminars as well plays |
| Minnetonka in 1822. In 1853, the | | | | host to a number of sailboat races each |
| Minnetonka Hotel was built not far from | | | | and every year. Overall Lake Minnetonka |
| the lake, and in 1861 the Governor | | | | is a great place to take a boat cruise. |
| Ramsey, Minnetonka's first steamboat, | | | | A Lake Minnetonka boat cruise can be fun |
| was launched. After the civil war Lake | | | | for the entire family, and is extremely |
| Minnetonka became an extremely popular | | | | affordable. |
| tourist destination, and in 1889 The | | | | On your next holiday, try going on a |
| Minnetonka Yacht Club was formed. | | | | lake cruise up and down Lake Minnetonka, |
| During the 1950s nearly forty one | | | | for its scenic beauty beckons not only |
| million fish were deposited into Lake | | | | to boat and fishing enthusiasts, but to |
| Minnetonka with a majority of the fish | | | | all those who find peace amidst the |
| being walleye fry. In 1976 Lake | | | | tranquil "big-water". |