Wayzata Beach Park and Playground is a super fun, beachy destination in the heart of upscale Wayzata.

What kid (or parent) doesn't want to play by the beach?...None that I know! This playground and park is unique in that it's set directly on the shores of famed Lake Minnetonka. It's a playground, right on the beach! Wayzata is a really popular spot in the summer, so this is a playground and just a general area that can get pretty busy. If you prefer to have a bit of space to yourself at the playground, I recommend visiting this one either on cooler and windier days, or in the off-season...not necessarily winter, but even fall is far less busy.

This town and this spot are so beautiful, and so classically Twin Cities, I'm glad that this park has been preserved. It was actually gifted to the townspeople by the very first mayor, back in 1930. I'm always happy to hear when little patches of nature remain like this for everyone to enjoy, rather than being paved over or built upon.

This playground on the beach has plenty of equipment for the kiddos to play on. And, a fun feature here is that the main playground piece is shaped and created to be a ship, so this invites the kiddos to become a swashbuckling captain of a good (or bad) pirate crew, a passenger on Titanic, or a sailor learning the ropes. I love that. It's the first playground we've found that has a ship as play equipment.

Of course, the playground is literally built upon the sandy beach, which is so fun. In the summer months, you can bring your swimsuits and beach toys, and make an afternoon of it. In the shoulder seasons, I highly recommend wearing layers, and laying out a picnic blanket with a picnic lunch. Kids love picnics by the water. They also love watching the boats going by, feeling the waves lapping the shore, and of course playing in the sand. There is a lifeguard on duty here during the summer months, on days that the temperatures are above a certain temp.

I highly recommend this super fun park and playground. After you've had your fill of sunshine and waves, head over to Benedict's and grab your kiddos a cute little kids meal for a great price.