Worthy of your summer: Rent a paddleboard on Lake Nokomis
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Would you guess this is in the middle of Minneapolis? Photo: Torey Van Oot/Axios
One of my summer goals is to spend more time by — and on — the water. So when we decided to launch a mini-series on ways to take advantage of the warm weather, I knew where to start.
What I tried: I'd long been interested in taking a paddleboard out on Lake Nokomis. Signage promising buoys with yoga poses to try on the board sealed the deal.
How it works: I showed up with a friend at the Wheel Fun rental stand next to the main beach around 11am on a recent weekday.
- After handing them a license and paying $22 a piece for our boards and life jackets, we were off.
My thought bubble: While I was a bit wobbly at first, the oversized boards feel much more stable than the inflatable ones I've tried before.
- Our lap from the main beach to the bridge and back was a nice, low-impact workout and a much-needed moment of serenity.
The catch: We forgot to recheck the map before we departed and once on the water, we couldn't find the buoys!
- It turns out they were on the other side of the bridge.
Yes, but: Given that we went about 20 minutes over our rental time, I doubt we could have made it there and back and had time to try the poses in an hour.
Pro tip: The attendants were kind enough to let us leave our bag and keys with them in the kiosk on the slow day.
- But it would be best to bring a dry bag or waterproof phone container on a lanyard.
The bottom line: Worth it! It's a bit pricey for an hour — at $52, a half-day is probably a better deal if you have the time — but it was a pleasant escape.
If you go: The kiosk at 5022 W Lake Nokomis Pkwy is open 10am to 10pm on weekdays and 9am to 10pm on weekends.
- The chain has locations at Bde Maka Ska and Lake Harriet, too.
- All three also offer kayaks, canoes, swan boats, and "surrey" bike carriages.