Minnetonka

The word "Minnetonka" comes from the Dakota Indian mni tanka meaning "great water". The city is home to Cargill, the country's largest privately owned company and United Healthcare, the state's largest publicly owned company.
Minnetonka's close proximity to Minneapolis makes it an attractive location for people wishing to visit the Twin Cities, yet not spend the money on a hotel downtown.

By plane

The Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport is only fifteen miles from Minnetonka.

By car

Minnetonka is intersected by two major interstates and a number of major highways. Interstate 494 runs north/south through the center of Minnetonka. Interstate 394 runs east/west, into Minneapolis and joining with interstate 94

Most people travel by car in Minnetonka. Metro Transit serves the Minnetonka area with bus service and the schedule can be found on the Metro Transit website. Express busses to Minneapolis run most mornings and evenings. Taxi service is also available by request, although it would be rather hard to hail a cab down from the street.

• Charles H. Burwell House

  phone: +1 952 939-8219
  address: 13209 McGinty Rd E
  A five acre site, including the buildings, is on the National Register of Historic Places, and the site is also a designated Minnetonka Landmark. Tours of the home are offered during the summer.

• Shady Oak Beach

  phone: +1 952 939-8374
  address: 5200 Shady Oak Rd
  This 85-acre, fully recreational area offers 76′ of sandy beach shoreline and clear spring-fed waters, as well as great amenities including multi-age playground area (newly installed in 2011), lifeguards, swimming, high dive, concessions, changing area, canoe rental, sand volleyball, fishing and free parking.

• Libbs Lake Beach

  address: 16515 Park Ln
  Libbs Lake Beach is a small neighborhood beach. The beach will have limited times with lifeguards on duty and also times when swimming is allowed in an unsupervised setting. Parking is very limited.

• The Marsh

  phone: +1 952 935-2202
  address: 15000 Minnetonka Blvd
  Set amid an expansive wetland, this suburban retreat includes a full-service salon, spa, conference center, fitness center, guest rooms and restaurant.

• Ridgedale Center

  phone: +1 952 541-4864
  address: 12401 Wayzata Blvd
  Over 140 specialty stores and restaurants. Stores include Abercrombie & Fitch, Apple, Ann Taylor, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Coach, Coldwater Creek, Hollister, J.Jill, Origami Sushi, Sephora, Swarovski and White House Black Market.

• Bacio

  phone: +1 952 544-7000
  address: 1571 Plymouth Rd
  Contemporary Italian restaurant serving dishes such as natural chicken risotto, spaghetti with meatballs and traditional flatbread pizza.

• Gold Nugget Tavern & Grille

  phone: +1 952 935-3600
  address: 14401 Excelsior Blvd
  Serves its signature handmade tater tots (pumped full of cheddar), spicy walleye cakes and a lot of great American standbys like burgers and fries. Try the Minnesota Wild Rice Burger.

• Jimmy's Food and Cocktails

  phone: +1 952 224-5858
  address: 11000 Red Circle Dr
  contemporary and traditional American cuisine with global influences, market fresh fish and seafood.

• Lone Spur Grill and Bar

  phone: +1 952 540-0181
  address: 11032 Cedar Lake Rd
  Southwestern specialties and barbecue beef brisket. The meats here are smoked for 14 hours with specialty seasoning and all authentic menu items are handmade.

• Redstone American Grill

  phone: +1 952 591-0000
  address: 12501 Ridgedale Dr
  Watch the chefs in the open kitchen prepare specialties like Grilled Meatloaf, Wood Fired Filet Mignon or Slowly Roasted Prime Rib. Offers a full bar, extensive wine list, diverse lunch menu and Sunday Champagne Brunch.

• Scoreboard

  phone: +1 952 935-6537
  address: 5765 Sanibel Dr
  Sports themed bar & grill. Menu offers favorites like burgers and pasta, but there are surprises like fish tacos and lettuce wraps.

• Holiday Inn Express

  phone: +1 952 912-9999
  address: 10985 Red Circle Dr
  15 minutes from the MSP airport and downtown. Complementary continental breakfast served daily.

• Minneapolis Marriott Southwest

  phone: +1 952 935-5500
  address: 5801 Opus Pkwy
  Heated indoor pool, pond-side sunbathing deck, and health club.

• Sheraton Minneapolis West Hotel

  phone: +1 952 593-0000
  address: 12201 Ridgedale Dr
  Located across from Ridgedale Mall, and just 10 minutes from downtown Minneapolis. Hotel includes an indoor pool and full-service Atrium Bistro.

• Ridgedale Library

  phone: +1 612 543-8800
  address: 12601 Ridgedale Dr
  Full computer lab with Wi-Fi internet access.

In the Twin Cities metro

• Mall of America in nearby Bloomington. Minnesota has no sales tax on clothing.
• Valleyfair is an amusement park that's within an hour's drive in nearby Shakopee.
• Minnesota Zoo is in nearby Apple Valley.
• Minneapolis is only a five minute drive from Minnetonka and offers plenty to do.