Summer Guide 2024: Pontoons, Kayaks, Paddleboards, and Fancy Swan Pedal Boats
Live that boat life without buying a boat.
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It’s not just bike season, it’s boat season too. Think you’re not a boat person? Well, maybe you haven’t found the right type of boat yet. There are pontoons, which are kinda like a living room that you drive around a lake. There are fishing boats, where your adventure (hopefully) ends in dinner. There are kayaks and canoes for people who want an arm workout, and paddleboats for those who never skip leg days. There are night boats, like the neon-lit swan boats for rent. Or paddleboards, which is kinda like that skateboard of the lakes.
There’s a little bit of everything here, so explore and find something you like.
Baker Park Reserve
Canoes, kayaks, paddleboats, rowboats, and paddleboard rentals on 917 acres of water. 2309 Baker Park Rd., Maple Plain, 763-694-7860; threeriversparks.org/page/watercraft-rentals.
Bde Maka Ska
Canoes, solo and double kayak boats, and stand-up paddleboards via Wheel Fun Rentals. 3000 E. Bde Maka Ska Pkwy., Minneapolis; 612-823-5765; wheelfunrentals.com/mn/minneapolis/bde-maka-ska.
Lake Como
Choose from two-person swan-shaped paddleboats (they light up at night!), kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards via Wheel Fun Rentals. 1360 N. Lexington Pkwy., St. Paul; 651-487-8046; wheelfunrentals.com/mn/st-paul/lake-como.
Lake Harriet
Canoes, solo and double kayak boats, paddleboats (not the swan ones though), and stand-up paddleboards via Wheel Fun Rentals. 4135 W. Lake Harriet Pkwy., Minneapolis; 612-922-9226; wheelfunrentals.com/mn/minneapolis/lake-harriet.
Lake Nokomis
Rent one of those paddleboats that seats five and looks like a swan, or be boring and go for a kayak, canoe, or a standup paddleboard via Wheel Fun Rentals. 5022 W. Nokomis Pkwy., Minneapolis; 612-729-1127; wheelfunrentals.com/mn/minneapolis/lake-nokomis.
