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One of 10,000 Lakes

One of 10,000 Lakes

Harriet: Jewel in the crown

It's the gem in Minneapolis' sparkling chain of lakes, mixing big-city splendor with small-town charm. An added bonus: It has its own little elf. Updated Dec. 7, 2011
- The jewel in the crown

Join us as we explore the many unique lakes in the Twin Cities area. Each weekend, we profile a new body of water perfect for an in-town day trip -- whether you want to swim, paddle, fish, hike or just hang out.

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Nicholas Case, 2, nuzzled up to his dad, Alex, in Lake Minnewashta.

Minnewashta: A sweet retreat
Article By: JESSICA BAKEMAN ,Star Tribune Publish August 27, 2011 2:00 AM / Update August 29, 2011 11:12 AM
You have to follow the ambiguous signs on the winding dirt roads in Lake Minnewashta Regional Park to get to the lake, west of Excelsior. But it's worth the journey.

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Back in the water at Shady Oak Beach.

Shady Oak Beach: Making a splash
Article By: KERRI WESTENBERG , Star Tribune Publish August 20, 2011 2:00 AM / Update August 25, 2011 10:28 AM
Plenty of diversions fill the grounds of this Minnetonka beach and its park. But none is as enticing as the diving dock, dominated by teens and tweens.

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Buffalo Lake basketball courts.

Buffalo: An eclectic mix
Article By: JEFF STRICKLER , Star Tribune Publish August 13, 2011 2:00 AM / Update August 19, 2011 9:23 AM
There's always somebody doing something at Buffalo Lake. In fact, most families are doing several things all at once.

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An 800-foot boardwalk reaches out on Wood Lake.

Wood Lake: Getting back to nature
Article By: LYNN UNDERWOOD , Star Tribune Publish August 6, 2011 2:00 AM / Update August 8, 2011 9:06 AM
The Wood Lake nature preserve in Richfield is a wooded oasis in the middle of the city.

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Long Lake Beach is a popular hangout for area teens.

Long Lake: To a teen, it's paradise
Article By: AIMÉE TJADER , Star Tribune Publish July 30, 2011 2:00 AM / Update August 1, 2011 2:44 PM
New Brighton's Long Lake is prized for its setting inside a regional park. But the hundreds of teenagers who fill the parking lot with bumper-stickered cars make the daily trek to the beach for one thing only: to see and be seen.

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Emilio Campo, 6, takes a jump into Lake Nokomis

Nokomis: It's all child's play
Article By: BILL WARD , Star Tribune Publish July 23, 2011 2:00 AM / Update July 22, 2011 2:15 PM
Once considered the last link on Minneapolis' chain of lakes, Nokomis has shed its gearhead image to become a mecca for children.

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Debbie Inwood of Arden Hills skis on Lake Johanna.

Johanna: Following her wake
Article By: JESSICA BAKEMAN , Star Tribune Publish July 16, 2011 2:00 AM / Update July 15, 2011 8:52 PM
More than 100 waterfront homes dot the perimeter of Lake Johanna in Arden Hills. To those residents, the 214-acre body of water acts as "the neighborhood."

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A great egret at Como Lake.

Como: Different by night and day
Article By: LAURIE HERTZEL , Star Tribune Publish July 9, 2011 2:00 AM / Update July 14, 2011 3:08 PM
Early in the morning, St. Paul's Como Lake belongs to the wildlife. As the day burns on, the lake becomes all about the people.

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Family fun at Lake Phalen.

Phalen: Urban tapestry and oasis
Article By: KIM PALMER , KPALMER@STARTRIBUNE.COM Publish July 2, 2011 2:00 AM / Update December 7, 2011 10:24 AM
The crush of urban life sometimes bumps up against nature at Lake Phalen. In many ways, the lake is where old St. Paul and new St. Paul meet, where the bustling city gives way to a green, watery oasis.

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A family paddles past "Minne" at Brownie Lake.

Brownie: The little lost lake
Article By: KRISTIN TILLOTSON , Star Tribune Publish June 25, 2011 2:00 AM / Update July 14, 2011 3:09 PM
Little-known Brownie is the fourth sibling in Minneapolis' famous Chain of Lakes. This is the second in our weekly summer series spotlighting lakes in the Twin Cities.

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Whaletail Lake is part of Gale Woods Farm Park.

Whaletail: Where time unravels
Article By: KIM ODE , Star Tribune Publish June 18, 2011 2:00 AM / Update July 14, 2011 3:09 PM
The quiet lake in Minnetrista is perfect for nibbling and purling. This is the first in our weekly summer series spotlighting lakes in the Twin Cities.

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