• River cruise boatcruise image by Alexander Glagolev from Fotolia.com
  
  Known as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes," Minnesota has no shortage of bodies of water. Residents and visitors take advantage of Minnesota's abundant lakes, participating in fishing, water skiing, swimming and other water activities. Another way to enjoy Minnesota's lakes is via a dinner cruise. Dinner cruises are available on various lakes and rivers throughout the state, and most offer a gourmet meal under a summer sunset.
  
  

Spicer Castle Inn Dinner Cruise

• Spicer Castle Belle is a single-deck, 27-passenger boat operated by the Spicer Castle Inn in Spicer, Minnesota. For two and a half hours, guest enjoy a relaxing cruise around Green Lake while dining on a gourmet meal. Dinner includes salad and rolls, beef tenderloin tips, apricot and basil chicken, roasted potatoes and green beans. Dessert is your choice of chocolate or lemon pound cake served with coffee or tea. Although the dinner cruise is included with some lodging packages, it is open to the public on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from June through Labor Day. The Spicer Castle Belle can be reserved for private parties.
  
  Spicer Castle Inn Dinner Cruise
  11600 Indian Beach Road
  P.O. Box 307
  Spicer, MN 56288
  320-796-5870
  spicercastle.com/cruise.html
  
  

Breezy Belle Cruises

• Breezy Belle Cruises offers two-hour dinner cruises on its paddle wheel boat on Brainerd, Minnesota's Pelican Lake. Cruises are available from May through October and operate seven days per week. The boat has a fully-enclosed main deck and an open-air upper deck. Dinner cruise guests enjoy a three-course meal starting with a garden salad and rolls, followed by a grilled steak or chicken entree and topped off with cheesecake and ice cream for dessert. After dinner, guests can watch the sunset from the upper deck or enjoy a cocktail from the bar. Breezy Belle Cruises formed in 2003 and is operated by Breezy Point Resort.
  
  Breezy Belle Cruises
  9252 Breezy Point Dr.
  Breezy Point, MN 56472
  218-562-7176
  brainerdboat.com
  
  

Padelford Riverboats

• Padelford Riverboats offers dinner cruises down the Mississippi River on Tuesday and Friday evenings from June until September. The cruise departs from St. Paul's Harriet Island. Guests enjoy a two-hour cruise aboard the two-story paddle boat. Dinner includes salad, breadsticks, vegetables, baked manicotti and pot roast. After dinner, dessert and coffee are served. The main deck is fully-enclosed and air conditioned. The upper deck offers a dance floor, bar and open-air seating. Reservations are required and can be booked online.
  
  Padelford Riverboats
  205 Harbor Raise Road
  St. Paul, MN 55107
  651-227-1100
  riverrides.com
  
  

Afton Hudson Cruise Lines

• Afton Hudson Cruise Lines is operated by Afton House Inn, located in Afton, Minnesota. The dinner cruise operates Friday evenings from May through October and lasts two and a half hours. Dinner guests sail into the sunset of the St. Croix river, enjoying a buffet-style meal of pasta salads, baked chicken, beef bordelaise and dessert. Alcoholic beverages are served at the cash bar. A Friday night comedy dinner cruise also is available on select nights throughout the year and features a performance by local comedian Scott Hansen. Both cruises require advance reservations and tickets are non-refundable. Guests are welcome to park at the Afton House Inn and can board the boat from the Afton city dock.
  
  Afton Hudson Cruise Lines
  3291 St. Croix Trail South
  Afton, MN 55001
  651-436-8883
  aftonhouseinn.com