Visit Lake City 

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Lake City, located next to Lake Pepin, the widest spot of the Mississippi River, is the birthplace of water-skiing, invented in 1922 by Ralph Samuelson. This location provides great parks for walking, swimming, and fishing as well as some of the best boating in the Midwest. Docking and refueling areas are available to boaters at Lake City Marina or Hansens Harbor. It also has the largest amount of 19th century homes for a town this size in Minnesota, providing great sightseeing. Lake City is located along the shoreline of Lake Pepin, an outwash formation of the Chippewa and Mississippi River, approximately 3 miles wide and 21 miles long, with the magnificent Mississippi running through it.

Lake City is a beautiful historic river town where you can enjoy all the natural splendor of the surrounding bluffs, the lake, and numerous parks and vistas our city has to offer. Our largest park, 250-acre Hok-Si-La Park, has walking trails, an interpretive center, tent camping, cabins, screened shelters, a dining hall, and a beach. Frontenac State Park is only a few minutes north of town, and a drive south from Lake City on Highway 61 offers the most dramatic scenery found anywhere on the Mississippi. 

Attend one of our annual festivals including the 100-Mile Garage Sale in May, Tour De Pepin Bike Tour and Water Ski Days in June, Fourth of July Fireworks and Fireman's Street Dance in July, Float-a-Palooza and Y-Knot Tri in August, and Fall Fest in September and October, along with our Market by the Lake in summer, and retail events throughout the year.

You'll find plenty of ways to get on the water in Lake City. Rent a pontoon, kayak, paddle board, or e-bike or take a ride with Lake City Sailing and feel the relaxing breeze of the waters. Lake City has two of the largest small-craft marinas and only operational light house on the Upper Mississippi River, with some of the greatest boating in the Midwest on these waters. 

If you’re looking to play a round (or two) of golf, The Jewel Golf Club was designed by three-time U.S. Open winner Hale Irwin, and winds throughout 800 acres of the river valley. The course offers five sets of tee boxes to accommodate golfers of any ability. Make it a weekend with a round at Lake Pepin Golf Course, Lake City Golf, and Mount Frontenac Golf Course. 

For lunch or dinner, eat at one of our many restaurants that offer a variety of different menu items unique experiences and expansive views, and shop at one of our unique small town shops for all your shopping needs. Be sure to visit Pepin Heights Orchard Store on your leaf peeping autumn outings, and Lake City's Historic downtown year-round. 

Stay in one of our hotels, condominium rentals, cottage-style house rentals, or bed and breakfasts, you’ll enjoy it all, and many have beautiful Lake Pepin views.

Whether you want to fish, sail, motorboat, swim, golf at one of our three golf courses, just relax, or partake of our birthright, the sport of water skiing invented by Ralph Samuelson in 1922, we promise you that you will not want to leave this magical place. Whatever you choose to do, there is something for everyone.