Things to Do With Kids Around Lake Minnetonka

Current family options around Lake Minnetonka include Lake Minnetonka Regional Park, which remains open daily and has hiking plus a plowed winter walking route. Excelsior's streetcar, beaches, farmers market, and the park's swim pond are seasonal: their regular 2026 seasons have ended, although streetcar special events with their own fares and ticketing may still be offered.

The table below separates what remains available from what has closed for the season. For holiday-specific planning, see the Excelsior Christmas events guide; this guide keeps the broader mix of family outings and seasonal status in one place.

During regular Excelsior Streetcar service, the fare is $3 and children age 3 and under ride free. The 2026 regular schedule ended September 26, after its last Thursday service on August 27 and Sunday service on September 20. Late-year rides are special events with their own dates, fares, and ticketing, so the regular-service price should not be assumed.

The Minnesota Streetcar Museum publishes separate regular-schedule and special-event pages. Check the specific event page before driving, and use the City of Excelsior's parking information for current municipal parking rules.

Excelsior Commons is open to the public, but its listed beach season runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day and has ended for 2026. During the beach season, the City of Excelsior lists hours of 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and states that no lifeguards are present. Check the city page before planning a water outing.

The Commons covers 13 acres and includes two beaches, playgrounds, tennis courts, a baseball field, a bandshell, restrooms, docks, and buoys. Check the city beach page for current status and the parking page before departure.

For a broader comparison of seasonal access and supervision, read the Lake Minnetonka public beaches guide. That guide covers beach planning; this page stays focused on a mixed family outing list.

Lake Minnetonka Regional Park in Minnetrista is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and offers 3.5 miles of hiking plus nearly one mile of plowed winter walking. The park also includes a play area, fishing pier, picnic facilities, trails, and other recreation, making it the strongest year-round option in this family list.

The Lake Minnetonka swim pond is closed for the season as of October 20, 2026. Three Rivers Park District says season wristbands will return in spring 2027, so families should check the swim-pond page for the next opening date, admission, and operating details rather than rely on the prior summer schedule.

No. The 2026 Lake Minnetonka Excelsior Farmers Market season ran from June 11 through August 27 and has ended. The market's official About page listed Thursday operations during that period, so families planning for 2027 should wait for the operator's next published season rather than assume the same dates or hours will return.

The market is a summer outing, not a year-round stop. Check the official About page before building it into a future family day in Excelsior.

No. Steamboat Minnehaha is not operating in 2026 and is dry-docked in the Excelsior boat barn. A June 2026 feasibility study found a possible Lake Minnetonka Regional Park ramp and storage site compatible, but funding, approvals, and agreements are still required, so a return remains conditional rather than scheduled.

The relaunch update describes a possible return by 2028 only if the remaining conditions are met. Families should not plan a 2026 boat ride on Minnehaha. For the vessel's historical context without treating a relaunch as confirmed, see the Streetcar Boat Minnehaha history guide.