Welcome to Excelsior
Nestled on the shores of Lake Minnetonka, you’ll find the small, quiet city of Excelsior. Populated by less than 3,000 people, this one-square-mile area is dotted with restaurants, antique shops, and a quaint bed-and-breakfast inn.
Founded in 1853, this charming town has served as the crown jewel of Minnesota’s resort boundaries for decades, even serving as the main port for “The Minnehaha,” Minnetonka’s most storied steamboat.
Today, you’ll find plenty of walking trails and outdoor recreation, as well as a number of annual community events. Art in the Park, Fourth of July, and Apple Day festivities are among the town’s most popular gatherings.
Excelsior real estate consists of predominantly single-family detached homes. Apartment buildings, both large and small, make up most of the remaining housing stock. The median price for a home here is $525K.
What to Love
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Small and quiet, this town is full of cute boutiques and shops
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Beautiful, resort-town vibe
- Lots of outdoor recreation and a number of annual community events
People & Lifestyle
Life has a slower-pace in Excelsior. Thanks to an abundance of green space, residents are big on enjoying the great outdoors, and family-friendly events make it easy to keep the kids occupied all year long. The median age in this town is 41.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
Dining options are plenty in Excelsior. Local favorites include Maynard’s, a bustling wharf-side eatery offering apps, burgers, and more; Red Sauce Rebellion, which serves classic and creative Italian; Coalition, a swanky/industrial outpost offering New American plates and specialty cocktails; and Olive’s Fresh Pizza Bar, which features wood-fired pizza and an extensive wine list.
Things to Do
The Excelsior community gathers throughout the year for a number of events—each seasonal lakeside festival features locally-produced food, art, antiques, and crafts. Apple Day is hosted by the Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Chamber of Commerce each September, and Art on the Lake, which showcases the work of local artists, is held in June.
There’s a community Easter egg hunt in the spring and a “Concerts in the Park” series every summer. The Excelsior Farmers Market is held on Tuesdays from May through October, and a Luck ‘O’ the Lake 5K and Lake Minnetonka Half Marathon are respectively hosted in March and May.
A major fireworks show is displayed on the Fourth of July and a Memorial Day Parade marches from Excelsior Elementary to Oak Hill Cemetery.
Schools
