Welcome to Waconia
Waconia is perfect for anyone who loves the outdoors and a rural, small-town vibe.
Waconia, a scenic town on the shores of Lake Waconia, is the epitome of small-town living. Downtown is walkable and bustling, strengthening their robust economy, but nature is just minutes away, where fishing, hiking, and other activities can be found.
Strong schools and excellent medical facilities make Waconia particularly appealing to families, but the friendly and open community is another reason why people love to live in the area. With Minneapolis less than an hour away, it’s a great location to live a small-town life with big-city conveniences.
What to Love
- Friendly town
- Solid schools
- Excellent fishing and water activities on Lake Waconia
- Geared towards an outdoors lifestyle
Local Lifestyle
Waconia is perfect for anyone who loves fresh air and peace and quiet. Far enough from Minneapolis to avoid the traffic and urban noise, Waconia is an outdoor person's haven. While the downtown area is full of shopping and restaurants, overall Waconia is rural and most residents spend their time fishing, hiking, or finding other adventures.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
Despite Waconia’s small size, it’s easy to find everything you need in the locally-owned stores. While furnishing your new home, visit Yetzer’s Home Furnishings, which offers flooring, furniture, and gorgeous home decor. They also have an interior designer on staff who can help you figure out how to perfectly decorate your space. While Yetzer’s is excellent for the overall vibe, infuse your house with personality by picking up some one-of-a-kind goods from Unearthed Arts. Their constantly-shifting stock means you never know what you may find. After a day of wandering downtown, you need to refuel, and there’s plenty of restaurants to choose from. If all you need is a short coffee break, consider stopping at Mocha Monkey Cafe for a Monkey Tail Mocha with bananas or a Rhesus Monkey Mocha with peanut butter to balance the bitter espresso.
For breakfast, Pangea Cafe has an extensive menu with delicious options like bananas foster french toast or the spicy fiesta egg skillet. Try to get there early on the weekends if you don't want to wait in line. If you want something upscale for dinner, head out to Lola’s Lakehouse — the Cajun-inspired seafood stew pot is a meal of creative genius.
Relaxing after work is easy with several small breweries in the area. Waconia Brewing, which opened in 2014, offers a truly special Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter that begs to be sampled and Iron Tap has over 38 craft beers on their menu, as well as some of the best barbecue in the area.
Things to Do
There’s plenty to do in Waconia, particularly for those who love to spend their free time outdoors. From playing a round on the links at Island View Golf Club to jet-skiing on Lake Waconia, there are watersports, hiking or biking on the Dakota Rail Regional Trail, or picnicking at the Coney Island Park. There are also plenty of vineyards, breweries, and distilleries where you can take tours, sample spirits, or just have a relaxing afternoon with friends. Schram Vineyards was the first winery in Minnesota and has since expanded to include a brewery. Art and wine come together at Parley Lake Winery where you can enjoy a glass while browsing the gallery filled with works from local artists. They even have an event space for your next major party. If you want to try something a bit stronger, J. Carver Distillery creates whiskey, bourbon, gin, vodka, and more, and offers tours of their facility so that you can learn more about the process.
Schools
Waconia is served by the Waconia School district and is home to strong public schools and excellent private schools.