West Minnetonka - Minnetonka, MN

In the 1870s, growth in the western towns of Lake Minnetonka really took off with the building of boarding houses and grand hotels to accommodate all the people flocking to the 14,528 acre lake to escape the summer heat. Lakeside communities thrived, and resorts were developed along the shoreline. Over the years the area continued to flourish as many took up permanent residence here.

Open May through September, check out the Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Historical Society to learn even more about this great lake's grand history.

The Old Log Theater in Greenwood on the Lake attracts patrons from all over the metro area to their acclaimed productions.

Held mid-July, the Spirit of the Lakes Festival in Mound is one of the largest festivals on the lake. Family friendly, it runs for three days and includes a scavenger hunt, live music, food booths, a parade, fireworks and more.

For a taste of the very best the far west suburbs has to offer, in terms of social life, lake atmosphere, and good food and drink, make it a point to frequent Lord Fletcher's in Spring Park. Even better, do it by boat. Many lakefront restaurants have docks to accommodate boating patrons and Lord Fletcher's Old Lake Lodge is one of the largest with 100 slips. This massive establishment features several venues: the Wharf, the Oar House, and the Main Dining Room.

Roll in anytime on a summer day, and the Wharf at Lord Fletcher's has a packed crowd. Grab a drink at one of the three outdoor bars, and enjoy the sun. The Wharf, open seasonally, features a casual menu with appetizers, burgers and sandwiches. In the Main Dining Room, locals call the Walleye a must-try. Cooked to perfection, it melts in your mouth. An extensive menu in this slightly formal dining room also offers up Braised Pot Roast or Chicken Marsala, if fish is not your favorite. For a sports bar atmosphere, check out the Oar House, offering a full menu including nightly specials. Summer or winter, Lord Fletcher's always surpasses expectations.

Al and Alma's Supper Club and Charter Cruises in nearby Mound has been open since 1956 and bills itself as a supper club that "embraces our past but requires no membership " Plan accordingly, Al and Alma's only serves dinner. The dining room overlooks beautiful Cook's Bay, and they also offer private and public cruises on their fleet of 6 yachts. Known for hand-cut steaks and homemade desserts, (go for the key lime pie), diners leave satisfied.

Jake O'Connor's claims a spot in the lovely and historic town of Excelsior. This hot-spot holds a reputation for friendly service and a cozy atmosphere. This traditional Irish pub in look and feel provides favorites, such as corned beef and cabbage, and fish 'n' chips, as well as updated fare such as the bay scallop risotto, or fig and goat cheese flatbread. Stroll around Water Street after your meal to take in the shops or stop for ice cream at Licks Unlimited, which, on a nice night, has a line out the door but is well worth the wait.

Tucked in and around the lake in it's many inlets and channels are lots of little dive bars and restaurants. One such dive is the Caribbean Marina and Restaurant, nestled in a residential neighborhood on Echo Bay. Open only in the summer and only for outdoor seating, residents visit for the gorgeous view and lazy atmosphere. The burgers are good, but the tap beer combined with the sunsets are the best.

Nightlife stays pretty quiet on this side of town; small bars are plentiful and some restaurants stay open late but driving can be a little hairy, especially in the winter, due to all the twists and turns around the lake. Most folks stay pretty close to home after dark.

The Mound Transit Center off Highway 15 offers three-level parking and two express bus routes into downtown Minneapolis. All Metro Transit buses have bike racks for those who prefer to combine their methods of travel. Carpools are very popular and take advantage of the high-occupancy vehicle lanes going into Minneapolis and St. Paul. Residents find access out of the far western Minnetonka suburbs fairly easy. Highway 12 and Interstate 394 run together, heading straight out from Wayzata into downtown on the north side of the lake, while Highway 7 takes riders out from the south side to the Interstate 494 beltway.

Cabs generally don't run in the area, but an occasional taxi can be spotted. Your best bet is to schedule one ahead of time. Uber services some of the area but not at the far west end of the lake toward Mound and Minnetrista. A ride with Uber from Excelsior to downtown Minneapolis runs, on the low end, $32 to $44.

In Minnesota, many residents run, walk and bike in all kinds of weather. Trails and parks provide the best way to get your exercise, as many of the roadways are narrow and curvy with no dedicated bike lanes.

This area provides residents with plentiful access to parks and beaches. Bike or walk all or part of the Lake Minnetonka LRT Regional Trial that runs from Hopkins to Carver Park and affords scenic views of the lake along the way.

Big Island Regional Park in Orono on Lake Minnetonka, open to the public as a nature preserve, has numerous informal hiking trails. Overnight camping is not permitted.

Take Highway 5 east to Victoria to visit Carver Park Nature Reserve. Visitors enjoy free parking, but must purchase a daily pass for $5 to enter the off-leash dog area. Enjoy biking, hiking and cross country skiing among the rolling hills and multiple lakes. Complete with an archery range, campground and nature center, this park offers activities for the entire family.

Public access to Lake Minnetonka area beaches can be found in the communities of Excelsior, Maple Plain on Lake Independence, Minnetonka, Minnetrista, Orono and Wayzata.

This area holds a reputation for a particular type of celebration known as Crazy Days. Most towns in this area host crazy days of some sort. Retailers place tables of clearance merchandise out in front of their stores; residents and services offer special deals, and the evening usually brings a pub crawl, live music or a girl's night out. Crazy days generally occur early to mid-August and usually run three days over a weekend. Wayzata and Excelsior each host a crazy days event.

Not surprisingly, Independence Day on the lake ranks as a favorite holiday. Most communities host celebrations with 5-kilometer events, fun runs, food booths, parades and more. Almost all host firework displays, and the best way to see the displays are on the shore or in a boat where you can literally have a 360-degree view of the fireworks. If you want a spot at a public beach, bring your chair, and set up camp early as prime spots are long gone well before sundown.

Rush hour fares on the express bus routes run around $3, while non-peak hours cost $2.25 per ride. Gas in this part of the suburbs hovers at about 6 percent higher than the national average. Since the area around Lake Minnetonka features a large and varied landscape, encompassing several towns, rentals can be found in almost every price range. There are small, mid-century apartment buildings with studios and one bedrooms for rent around $700 a month to luxury rentals with lake front views for over $3500 a month. Much depends on how close you want to be to the lake and all it has to offer. On an evening out, a specialty beer runs you about $6 or $4 for domestic.

In general, the cost of living in one of these lakefront communities ranks above the national and state average. Housing and utilities costs you more here than other communities in the metro area.

Check out the pretty town of Wayzata for boutique shopping on Lake Street that faces the cerulean waters Wayzata Bay. Darling boutiques, such as Blanc de Blanc, have many one-of-a-kind gifts, bed and bath items, bridal registry, children's and women's clothes, accessories and home decor.

Five Swans sits just down the block, specializing in wedding and gift registries. This store carries distinctive gifts in addition to home and kitchen products.

Across the lake, Excelsior offers more shopping and restaurants. Boutiques and clothing stores line Water Street. Stop in at Lakeside Yarn for knitting needs, Que Sera for home furnishings and accessories, or Brightwater Clothing and Gear for a family wide selection.

Minnesotans fully appreciate their summers after a long winter, and farmer's markets full of locally grown produce can be found in almost every town around the lake during summer months. Minnetonka holds its on Tuesdays, Plymouth on Wednesdays, Excelsior on Thursdays and Mound on Saturdays.

Lund's grocery store, a local favorite, features locations in Wayzata and Navarre. Lund's offers terrific specialty foods and many variations of wild rice, a Minnesota favorite. Two Cub Foods locations also supply the area with groceries, one in Minnetonka and one in Shorewood.