Spend the Day on One of these Enchanting Minnesota Cruises

In a place nicknamed the Land of 10,000 Lakes, we have to have some cruises around those amazing bodies of water! All around Minnesota there are some great day cruises (or night cruises if you'd prefer) to make your summer unforgettable.

I have 6 different spots that I found all around Minnesota that offer cruises and each offers different types of cruises too depending on what you'd like to experience.

So whether you're looking for a day out with friends, an educational cruise with the kids, or a date night with your special someone, there are lots of options.

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I've never been on one of these cruises myself but they look so fun that this has been added to my list of things I want to do.

Day Cruises You Can Take in Minnesota

All of these cruises last a maximum of a day, none of them are overnight cruises. The first place we'll talk about is on beautiful Lake Minnetonka.

Al and Alma's Lake Minnetonka Cruises

Al and Alma's offers all kinds of cruises around Lake Minnetonka. Each cruise is on a beautiful, luxury yacht where you'll hear stories about the lake and see the incredible homes that line the shoreline. The captains will be able to point out specific homes too and tell you who owns them.

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You'll also be treated to some delicious food during your cruise. The food all depends on which cruise you book, and there are lots of options. You've got:

Sunset Dinner Cruise

Sunday Brunch Cruise

BBQ Picnic Lunch Cruise

Minnetonka Surf and Truf Signature Sunset Cruise

Fajitas and Margaritas Cruise

and finally, Sips and Sights Small Plates Cruise

All of them sound amazing but I'm especially interested in the Fajitas and Margaritas Cruise.

Padelford Riverboats on the Mississippi River

Up next we have the Padelford Riverboats in Minneapolis and St. Paul. You can hop on a riverboat and explore the Mississippi either with some delicious food or for sightseeing.

There are lots of cruise options here, too, like:

Sightseeing Cruises

Rib Dinner Cruise

Lunch and Lock Cruise

Sunset Cruise

and Margaritas on the Mississippi Cruise

So whether you want to learn more about the area on your cruise or sip margaritas with friends, you've got options!

Stillwater River Boats

Going to the east just a bit to Stillwater you have the Stillwater River Boats that offer cruises. They offer a unique way to see Stillwater with either lunch or dinner. The food varies depending on which cruise you book, so you'll want to take a peek at the menu.

Also, some of the cruises will have live jazz music on board. Those will be offered on the Saturday dinner-time cruises, Sunday lunchtime cruises, and Saturday dinner-time cruises. They'll also be doing a special 4th of July fireworks cruise!

Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours

A bit north of Stillwater in Taylors Falls are the Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours. You'll hop on a paddlewheel boat and relax on the St. Croix River.

Typical excursions are 80 minutes total but some days have special events. For example, there are special cruises on Mother's Day, Father's Day, and on most Saturday nights during the summer, there will be live music on board.

Winona Tour Boat

Hopping down to southeast Minnesota, you've got the Winona Tour Boat. These tours are all educational so while you're enjoying a relaxing time on the water you'll also get to learn about the area and the wildlife that live there.

On board, they also have beverages (adult and NA) and snacks for purchase. You're also able to rent a boat for a private event if you'd like!