Lake Minnetonka Boat Cruises - By: Mark Peet

Lake Minnetonka Boat Cruises
Lake Minnetonka, located in Hennepin County Minnesota, expands over 14,000 acres and reaches a maximum depth of one hundred and thirteen feet. Lake Minnetonka has always been a favorite resort destination, even until today and hosts a large number of fishing tournaments each and every year. Species of fish that can be caught in Lake Minnetonka are sunfish, northern pike, walleye, yellow perch and muskellunge.
Lake Minnetonka was formed nearly 11,000 years ago. Large blocks of ice melted to form Lake Minnetonka, but it only got its name in 1852, from then Minnesota Governor Alexander Ramsey. Minnetonka comes from an American Indian phrase that sounded like minn-ni-tanka, meaning "big water," in reference to the lake. The first known groups of people who settled Lake Minnetonka were Cheyenne, Iowa, Ojibwa and Dakota Sioux Indians. They held the woodlands areas in high regard as a great spiritual place, as well as their burial grounds. Joseph Brown and Will Snelling were the first European people to come to Lake Minnetonka in 1822. In 1853, the Minnetonka Hotel was built not far from the lake, and in 1861 the Governor Ramsey, Minnetonka's first steamboat, was launched. After the civil war Lake Minnetonka became an extremely popular tourist destination, and in 1889 The Minnetonka Yacht Club was formed.
During the 1950s nearly forty one million fish were deposited into Lake Minnetonka with a majority of the fish being walleye fry. In 1976 Lake Minnetonka became a place of research and study when The Gray Freshwater Biological Institute was built on Lake Minnetonka's shores. The institute was later given to the University of Minnesota. There is currently a Museum located near Lake Minnetonka. The museum focuses on Lake Minnetonka, local businesses, Excelsior High School and the Excelsior Amusement Park. The Lake Minnetonka Museum is open from May to September.
Even today people just can't seem to get enough of Lake Minnetonka. The beauty of Lake Minnetonka is just too much to ignore. There are a number of different boat cruises available all up and down Lake Minnetonka. Most of these boat cruises are extremely affordable. Many of them provide tourists with catering, bar services and full amenities backed by a large number of well trained professional staff. A number of these boat cruises are able to charter groups from ten people all the way up to eighty people. Lake Minnetonka is also popular for sailboat racing. The Wayzata Yacht Club provides seminars as well plays host to a number of sailboat races each and every year. Overall Lake Minnetonka is a great place to take a boat cruise. A Lake Minnetonka boat cruise can be fun for the entire family, and is extremely affordable.
On your next holiday, try going on a lake cruise up and down Lake Minnetonka, for its scenic beauty beckons not only to boat and fishing enthusiasts, but to all those who find peace amidst the tranquil "big-water".

About the Author

Resource Box Info: Mark Peet is the proprietor of Wayzata Bay Charters, offering Lake Minnetonka Cruises on board a 3 level 53 foot lake cruiser that can host parties and gatherings of up to 80 guests. For more information visit http://www.wayzatabaycharters.com.

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