Excelsior

Excelsior is a city in the Twin Cities.

Understand

Excelsior was founded in the 1850s as a destination for vacationers, primarily from the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Excelsior is located along beautiful Lake Minnetonka and offers numerous lake cruises and beaches. Throughout the years, Excelsior's Water Street has been the home to many businesses, including hotels, restaurants, and merchants. Today, Excelsior works hard to maintain its historical identity while renewing various elements of the downtown area.

Get in

By plane

The Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport is only twenty miles from Excelsior.

By car

Highway 7 runs through Excelsior and connects the city to Interstate 494, US 169, and Highway 100. Highway 7 also continues into Minneapolis.

Get around

Metro Transit runs express buses to and from Excelsior to Minneapolis

See

• Excelsior Commons, Lake St, ☎ [phone]. At the north end of town is The Commons park and recreation area with a swimming beach, playground, tennis courts, baseball diamonds, and picnicking. 
• Lake Minnetonka Historical Society, 305 Water St, ☎ [phone]. The Society’s museum and archives are free and open to the public, and hold the largest collection of historic artifacts and documents in the area. 

Do

While it is a smaller town Excelsior is filled with fun activities for all ages. Situated along Lake Minnetonka the city is filled with trails to explore and parks to enjoy all year round.

Trolley Rides

• The Excelsior Trolley, 305 Water St, ☎ [phone]. Old trolley No. 78, a streetcar that originally ran from Minneapolis to Excelsior in the 1920s, has been restored and now runs between the Bayside Grille and the Farmer's Market in Excelsior. It's a charming experience that no one should miss. Operated by the Minnesota Streetcar Museum, which also operates the Como-Harriet streetcar line in Linden Hills, Minneapolis. $2 single ride or $5 day pass (also includes rides on the Como-Harriet streetcar). 

Lake Cruises

• Lady of the Lake Paddle Wheel, 8 Water St, ☎ [phone]. Enjoy a beautiful Minnesota day or evening on the premier Lake Minnetonka charter boat, the Lady of the Lake. 
• The Queen of Excelsior Cruises, 10 Water St, ☎ [phone]. Every Sunday, May through September, the QE offers a public Sunday Brunch. Cruising the pristine waters of Lake Minnetonka with friends or family is a great way to spend a Sunday. 
• Excelsior Bay Charters, 436 Union Pl, ☎ [phone]. Sail through Lake Minnetonka gliding through bays and inlets, discovering the magnificent homes and historic estates. 
• Steamboat Minnehaha, 400 Lake St, ☎ [phone]. 100+ year old historic streetcar Steamboat Minnehaha operated by nonprofit charity, The Museum of Lake Minnetonka. 

Theaters

• Old Log Theater, 5185 Meadville St, ☎ [phone]. Recognized as one of the most popular theaters in the U.S., the Old Log offers contemporary plays and comedies year-round and the theater's company of Equity actors include some of the finest talent in the Midwest. 
• Excelsior Dock, 26 Water St, ☎ [phone]. 3 theater cinema offering stadium seating and delicious popcorn. 

Buy

Water Street in downtown Excelsior is lined with specialty stores and smart eateries. There are also shops located along 2nd and 3rd Streets, which run perpendicular to Water Street. Metered parking is available along Water Street, public parking is also available off 3rd Street. This historic shopping district offers a wide range of family owned and small town shops catering to many tastes.

Antiques

• Excelsior Coin, 449 2nd St, ☎ [phone]. Excelsior Coin and Collectibles has been in business for more tan 30 years. They have extensive knowledge of collectible coins, gold and silver and buy and sell on site. 
• Country Look Antiques, 240 Water St, ☎ [phone]. Country Look Antiques is your everything antique store that’s chock full of unique treasures and fun finds. 

Clothing

• Ooh La La, 274 Water St, ☎ [phone]. Two great store ideas within one place that truly compliment each other. Ooh La La features fashionable handbags, tees Voltage shoes and accessories at affordable-chic prices. 
• Meridian Boutique, 223 Water St, ☎ [phone]. A contemporary boutique offering an extrodinary hand-selected collection of contemporary designer apparel. 
• Big Island Swim & Surf, 229 Water St, ☎ [phone]. Big Island Swim & Surf offers a collection of swimwear not only from around the country, but around the world! From beach bags, handbags, handcrafted jewelry, flip flops, sunglasses and browning lotion, Big Island Swim & Surf has it all. 

Gifts

• Capers Excelsior Gifts, 207 Water St, ☎ [phone]. Capers is THE place to find the gift for that hard to buy for person. Filled with jewelry, scarves, novelty gifts, home accessories, and more. This store carries the charm and variety that every shopper loves. 
• The Soap Box, 350 2nd St, ☎ [phone]. Situated in Paris Tailors, The Soap Box carries a select range of scented soaps and oils from around the world. 
• Provisions Excelsior, 320 Water St (in the Excelsior Mill building), ☎ [phone]. As featured in Midwest Home magazine, Provisions offers you pure shopping enjoyment, offering thousands of creative and enjoyable gift ideas. 

Specialty

• Wilcock Gallery, 218 Water St, ☎ [phone]. Original oil, watercolor and pastel paintings by top regional and national artists. 
• Noahs Ark Pet Store, 40 Water St, ☎ [phone]. Noah’s Ark Fish & Pet Supply is a full service pet store. 
• Minnetonka Music, 250 Water St, ☎ [phone]. Minnetonka Music offers a complete selection of musical instruments, music education, instrument repairs, school instrument programs, sound equipment, sheet music and instrument accessories. 
• Sound Sisters, 234 Water St, ☎ [phone]. Sound Sisters Musical Equipment rental offer Sound System rentals, Stage Lighting, Effect Lighting, Video Projector rentals, Video screens and Backline Rental for Musicians, D.J.’s, Organizations, Events, Weddings, Parties both indoor and outdoor events and festivals. 
• Excelsior Bay Books, 36 Water St, ☎ [phone]. An intimate setting on picturesque Water Street. This bookstore stands out based on its friendly staff, well chosen book selection, and perfect location. If they don’t have it, they’re more than happy to find it and order it for you. 

Eat

• 318 Cafe, 318 Water St, ☎ [phone]. 318 is a quaint cafe located on Water Street and offers a small town feel with an urban vibe. Come for lunch or drop in later to catch a local artist and enjoy a glass of wine or beer. 
• Adeles Custard, 800 Excelsior Blvd, ☎ [phone]. At Adeleʼs, they make every batch of homemade frozen custard on-site with fresh, premium ingredients from their own unique recipes resulting in custard that’s rich, creamy and delicious. 
• Bayside Grille, 687 Excelsior Blvd, ☎ [phone]. Escape the ordinary and experience the Bayside Grille, Lake Minnetonkaʼs hot spot for unparalleled waterfront deck dining, fantastic drinks, and sunsets you wonʼt soon forget! 
• Hazellewood, 3635 Manitou Rd, ☎ [phone]. A neighborhood gathering place for your friends and family that captures the essence of hospitality in casual, comfortable surroundings. 
• Joey Nova's Pizza, 5655 Manitou Rd, ☎ [phone]. Joey Novas Excelsior Pizza is an East Coast style pizzeria & delicatessen offering and delivering exceptional, freshly prepared foods for their friends in Excelsior, Chanhassen, Shorewood and Tonka Bay. 
• Licks Ice Cream, 31 Water St, ☎ [phone]. A locally owned ice cream parlor that features homemade waffle cones, ice cream and soft serve yogurt. Just a short walk to the public docks. Lickʼs is open by the season (usually May thru October) and is a local favorite for both young and old. 
• Maynards, 685 Excelsior Blvd, ☎ [phone]. Maynards in Excelsior on Lake Minnetonka is the essence of American casual, with an expansive outdoor dining deck and bar adjoined to their own dock space that makes it a boating favorite for lunch and dinner alike. 
• Yumi's Sushi, 28 Water St, ☎ [phone]. Shhh! A true local secret! Yumiʼs bustling little sushi bar is located right in the heart of downtown Excelsior where it serves the highest quality, artfully presented sushi this side of Tokyo. 

Drink

• Haskells Bar & Grill, 1 Water St, ☎ [phone]. Offering a full bar, grill and happy hour Haskell’s is a great destination for a gathering after a day on the lake, and welcoming spot to meet and catch up with friends. 
• Jake O Connors Irish Pub, 200 Water St, ☎ [phone]. Jake Oconnors “A public house” with Irish hospitality in Excelsior! Come for the Irish flare and stay for the live music and a perfectly poured pint. Everything in this restaurant is authentic Ireland. 

Sleep

• The Bird House Inn & Gardens, 371 Water St, ☎ [phone]. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. 1858 Victorian Italianate inn located off beautiful Excelsior Bay of Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota. 

Connect

• Hennepin County Library, 337 Water St, ☎ [phone]. M,W,F-Sa 9AM-5PM, Tu,Th noon-8PM. Opened in September 2014, a modern library with all the services of a typical American library. 

Go next

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.

Routes through Excelsior

Montevideo ← Hutchinson ←

W  E

→ Hopkins → Minneapolis