Why travel anywhere else, when you can enjoy a summer staycation in White Bear Lake, a city of lakes and legends? Whether you’ve lived here for 40 years or are new in town, there is plenty to explore. Here are six ideas for your summer fun fix.
White Bear Country Inn
Stay the night and dine at the White Bear Country Inn. Enjoy hometown hospitality, charming hotel rooms and a relaxed, casual dining experience. Hotel amenities include indoor pool, hot tub, fitness room, complimentary hot breakfast, free Wi-Fi and more. After a day exploring the town, come back and enjoy the hotel rooftop for dinner. Award-winning Rudy’s Rooftop offers a cozy fireplace with a full bar and comfortable seating. Try the coconut or New Orleans shrimp appetizer, pan-fried walleye entrée and chopped side salad, and top it off with a slice of carrot cake for a perfect end to a summer evening.
Your Boat Club
What is summer without going out on the lake? Your Boat Club, located near Admiral D’s restaurant, allows easy lake access with daily boat rentals. Spend quality time with family on a pontoon, fishing boat or speedboat. No boat experience? No problem! Helpful staff offer free boating orientation. Get out in the water and enjoy swimming, tubing and fishing. Summer-long memberships are available and may be similar in price to a weeklong vacation. The boats are clean, gassed up and ready to go. See you on the water!
White Bear Center for the Arts
Art is good for the heart. White Bear Center for the Arts is a nonprofit arts organization offering a broad range of art experiences for all ages. Come help celebrate its 50th Anniversary. Tour the art gallery, walk the labyrinth path and view an art show. It's free and open to the public. Capture the breathtaking view while taking an outdoor painting class. Children ages 6–13 can attend Imagine Art Camp, where they can experience visual art and work with different art media.
Tamarack Nature Center
Explore the great outdoors close to home. Tamarack Nature Center, a nature Lake Township nature preserve in White Bear Township, offers trails, parks and educational programs. Discovery Hollow, a nature playground, offers exploration and adventure. Experience rock climbing, crawling in the hobbit house and building a tree fort. On Saturdays, the kids can get down and dirty enjoying the free garden program or go on a guided nature walk. Go online today and check out the many nature-loving camps and programs.
Lakeshore Players Theatre
If the summer heat isn't your thing, relax and enjoy a show! Lakeshore Players Theatre, in the Hanifl Performing Arts Center, is wrapping up its 65th season with the Porter Project, an original Shakespeare-inspired production with a twist, produced and written by the Summer Youth Players (SYP), for kids grades 6–12. SYP created everything from the set designs, costumes and props to the sound cues. Performances are July 27–August 5. “We are the community stage leaders—a place to express, entertain and educate,” say artistic director Ben Ratkowski. "Buy tickets or tour our new theater today.”
Cup and Cone
This seasonal ice cream and sandwich shop is a walk-up-and-order spot with outdoor seating. It's a popular hangout with a small-town feel. Enjoy sundaes, candy bar malts, root beer floats, shakes, cones and more. Try the of crunch topping and sprinkles. Family friendly with lactose-free and dairy-free options, and 70-cent kiddie cones. Owner Rick Johnstone works hard at making Cup and Cone a happy and affordable experience. Johnstone donates all profits from sales of six-pack ice cream treats to the local food shelf. Meet friends, see neighbors and bring the whole family.
