WHERE TO SHOP

Located in the Colonial Lakes shopping center, Lotus Lake Gifts & Home Decor is owned by a mother and daughter duo. They love to support local makers and offer more than 50 local vendors. This local shop has everything you need from birthday gifts to little trinkets you never knew you needed.

Another family endeavor, LaRose & Co., is owned by twin sisters who made it their mission to create a safe place for women to build confidence and find unique and trendy clothing for all sizes.

WHAT TO DO INDOORS

Pay tribute to Minnesota royalty with a tour of Paisley Park, Prince’s legendary recording studio, residence and performance venue. After his passing in 2016, Paisley Park was turned into a museum cataloging the life of The Purple One.

Daily public tours take you through the extensive main floor of Paisley Park, including studios where Prince recorded, produced and mixed most of his biggest hits, exhibit spaces showcasing films such as "Purple Rain" and "Graffiti Bridge," and Prince's private music club and rehearsal rooms. You'll also see artifacts from Prince's personal archives, including his iconic outfits, awards, instruments, rare recordings and other memorabilia.

Self-guided and VIP options are available, as well as special events throughout the year. Learn more about visiting Paisley Park here.

WHERE TO GO OUTSIDE

The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is part of the University of Minnesota and the largest public garden in the Upper Midwest. Its lovely grounds include woodlands, ponds, prairie, model landscapes and extensive gardens of annuals and perennials. Summer flowers bloom into September, and asters and mums are fall highlights. By early October, the trees display brilliant fall color.

Many gardens are close to the visitor center, and other gardens and plantings are along Three-Mile Drive. Explore them on foot or by bike or car; tram tours are also available. A highlight is the Maze Garden, an intricate network of closely planted trees and shrubs. Visitors try to find their way through the winding paths to the Lookout Tower, which they can climb to watch others navigate the maze. 

There's a gift shop and cafeteria in the visitor center, and you can preorder a picnic basket to enjoy lunch on the grounds. The Arboretum is four miles west of Chanhassen on Hwy. 5 and is open daily.

Play an easy round of golf at the par 29 golf course, Halla Greens which is designed to be played in 90 minutes or less. Tack on some time with a bucket of balls at the driving range or try their on-site golf simulator.

Another good place to visit in the area is Carver Park Reserve, farther west, a few miles off Hwy. 5. From its hiking and biking trails, you can watch for deer, foxes and a variety of birds; on the lakes, look for migrating waterfowl and trumpeter swans. The Lowry Nature Center offers a variety of naturalist programs.

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK

A favorite spot for locals, Hackamore Brewing offers a variety of beers, hard seltzers, and hard slushies on tap and host a variety of local food trucks daily. They even host live music nights and have a golf simulator on site.

Sample one of the most popular pizza places in the state at Red’s Savoy Pizza or Gina Marie’s Pizza. For a spin on traditional favorites, Dog Park serves up gourmet hot dogs, polish sausages, poutine, and more.

For delicious Mexican food, visit Tequila Butcher to snack on small plates, tacos, enchiladas, mole, and more. Their extensive tequila and mezcal menu offer delicious margaritas, tiki-inspired drinks, and barrel-aged cocktails.

Find scones, muffins, donuts, caramel rolls, pies, cakes, and more at From Scratch Baking. They also offer an extensive gluten-free menu.

WHERE TO STAY

With multiple hotels in town, there are plenty of places to stay. Many offer theater packages or special rates for visitors to the iconic Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, which has staged top-rate productions for more than 40 years. There is also more lodging in nearby Eden Prairie, Chaska, and Edina including Country Inn and Suites, AmericInn and Holiday Inn Express.

FESTIVALS & EVENTS  

Paisley Park hosts a variety of live music events, including the annual Celebration series of events to honor Prince. Find seasonal events like their popular 4th of July Celebration, annual outdoor summer concert series, and the February Festival celebrating all things winter.