Cruising on Grand Lake Minnetonka

Lake Minnetonka is located about twenty milesand hotels. The town of Excelsior was founded in
west of the Twin Cities in Minnesota. It boasts1853 and remains today on the southern end of
over 100 miles of shoreline and was formed byLake Minnetonka. Over the next few years,
melting glacial ice as evidenced by its irregulardozens of townships would flourish along the
shape. Minnetonka is one of the biggest lakes inshores of the lake as visitors flocked to wile
the state; even its name means "Big Waters" inaway their vacation days on the water.
the Dakota language. In fact, Native AmericansThe first steamship took its plunge in Minnetonka
made their home on the shores of this vast lakein 1881 and since that time, visitors to this
centuries before the English arrived. In 1822 twofashionable lakeside destination have traveled the
teenager boys traveled up Minnehaha Creek andwaters in luxury. Today, scenic sightseeing tours
into Lake Minnetonka and are the first knownof the lake are still offered by Paradise Charter
white men to visit the lake.Cruises. With 25 years of experience on Lake
Despite its grand size, it wasn't until 30 years laterMinnetonka, Paradise offers a range of services
that the lake began gaining popularity as a viablebound to delight. Guided tours tell the history of
place for settlement. In 1852, Governor RamseyLake Minnetonka while passengers nosh on a
christened the body of water Minnetonka andrange of gourmet offerings. Private tours are
construction began as people flocked to inhabitavailable, as well as exclusive wedding packages.
the area around the lake. The dam that was builtWith a fleet of three luxury yachts, Paradise
on Minnehaha Creek gave way to a logging boomoffers modern day luxuries while visitors take in
that helped the new residents construct homesthe sites and the history of this grand lake.