Surrounding MetroGet Advice

Minneapolis Saint Paul is not only fortunate to have two healthy and unique core cities, but also to have many affluent communities surrounding it. The 10-county metro area spans approximately 64 miles east to west. Urban sprawl continues to draw in the outlying suburbs, such as Anoka, Lakeville, Stillwater, Andover, Rogers, Blaine, Bloomington, Chaska and Apple Valley. While Minneapolis Saint Paul is a driving metropolis, it doesn’t take long to get from door to door. Commuters have several options, our great highway system interconnects the community making for a quick commute to anywhere within the Twin Cities, including a commuter train that connects the northern suburbs to downtown Minneapolis and a metro train that connects St Paul, Minneapolis, and Bloomington. These efforts only bring more people to the already thriving downtowns, as well as curb traffic on our main freeways.

Surrounding Minneapolis Saint Paul are unique, suburban communities with histories and activities all their own. Stillwater, the picturesque first city in Minnesota, lies to the east of Saint Paul. Other growing communities to the east include Woodbury, Lake Elmo and Cottage Grove. To the north, you’ll find popular suburbs such as Anoka, Roseville, Shoreview, Blaine, Plymouth and Maple Grove. Each community continues to add attractions, shopping and health care options for its growing population.

Head west and you’ll reach the suburbs of Maple Grove, Edina, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Chaska and Shakopee, which house attractions such as Valleyfair, Canterbury Racetrack, Lake Minnetonka and several shopping malls. To the south, favorite spots such as Mall of America, the Minnesota Zoo and Buck Hill ski area in Bloomington, Apple Valley and Burnsville, respectively. No matter what community you choose to live in, all these attractions are within easy reach.

Vibrant Cultural MixGet Advice

The Twin Cities is a place filled with Culture. Immigrants have come here for a variety of reasons. Many say that we have a large Scandinavian population in the Twin Cities.  But that is not the only place we have come from.  We came from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia after the Vietnam War. They came from Ethiopia fleeing famine. They came from Liberia during a civil war there. In the late 1990s, they came from Somalia as that country fell into chaos. And they continue to come from Central and South America and Mexico in search of jobs and a better life.

Immigrants have come to the Twin Cities area for the job opportunities and because agencies like Lutheran Social Services and Catholic Charities have been here to help them.  This has created a melting pot full of cultures, traditions, and beauty from all over the world.  

Each culture has come to the Twin Cities to find a place to call home.  You often hear the old saying of "Minnesota Nice."  The Twin Cities truly represent this as we welcome people from all walks of life.  It has filled our cities with culture, color, arts, crafts, and fun events to keep you busy year round be in the Dragon Boat Races, the Cinco De Mayo celebrations in the Del Sol neighborhood of St Paul, and so many more.  You can get a real feel for the Twin Cities during the Great Minnesota Get Together known as the State Fair.

Lakes and ParksGet Advice

Minnesota wasn’t named the Land of 10,000 Lakes for nothing. You’ll find 13.3 miles of pathways that encircle the Chain of Lakes in Minneapolis, including Lake of the Isles, Bde Maka Ska (Lake Calhoun), and Lake Harriet. No matter where you are in Minneapolis, you will be able to easily find a park, considering that 94 percent of residents live within a 10-minute walk of one, and in 2013, Minneapolis was named to have the nation’s best park system. In St. Paul check out Phalen Lake Park and Como Lake Park in St Paul. Out west there is the mighty Lake Minnetonka and hundreds of more lakes scattered across the region. With large parks allowing public access, lots of boating access, public beaches, and many private lakes you know your time on the lake will be the time of your life. At the local parks you will have many festivals, concerts, art shows, and other events to always keep you entertained. Being the No 1 for biking in the country you can expect lots of both walking and biking trails to get around.  Our parks are filled with the beauty of nature like the Minnehaha falls or history like Fort Snelling.  With over 197 park properties there is so much to see any enjoy from the historic Fort Snelling to a fun of the local Dog park there will be plenty of time to get outdoors, stay active, and relax.

Don’t miss a visit to these local attractions. Stone Arch Bridge Get acquainted with Minneapolis Saint Paul by first visiting the Stone Arch Bridge—it’s recognized as a National Civil Engineering Landmark that spans 2,100 feet across the Mississippi River. You won’t get a better view of the Minneapolis skyline and St. Anthony Falls. You can bike, jog or blade over the bridge, but there are other paths with great views in the area as well. 

EmploymentGet Advice

In 2013, the Bureau of Labor Statistics listed Minneapolis Saint Paul as having the lowest unemployment of large metro areas and Monster.com ranked our cities No. 4 for career advancement. In 2012 Ajilon Professional Staffing cited the Twin Cities as the best place to find employment in the U.S., and in 2011 The Business Journals placed us among the best for small business. With more than 90 percent of all major industries represented, the financial firm of Goldman Sachs once called Minnesota’s economy one of the most diverse in the nation. Nearly all of the state’s Fortune 500 companies are located in the metro area, including Target, Supervalu, 3M, Best Buy, Medtronic, UnitedHealth Group and Xcel Energy.

Minneapolis Saint Paul houses some of the nation’s fastest-growing companies, including Aveda Corporation, Caribou Coffee, Polaris and Carlson Companies (Radisson Hotels), and the state ranks second only to California for medical technology industry employment, with a concentration three times that of the nation. Additionally, with 32 being the approximate median age, it’s evident that a young, proactive workforce will fuel our industries for years to come.

It is also where Advice Homes Real Estate Services first got its start.

EducationGet Advice

Minneapolis Saint Paul has been voted as one of the countries top cities for intelligent people (Travel + Leisure, 2012). It is one of the most literate (Central Connecticut State College, 2013) and the No. 1 place for families to live (ZipRealty, 2013).

Through the state’s open enrollment program, your child can attend schools in districts outside of where you live. With high test scores, high-ranking teachers and an abundance of extracurricular activities, our public schools turn out well-rounded students ready for college. From the independent perspective, private school options (there are more than 200 in the metro area) are plentiful here, with focuses ranging from multicultural to college preparatory to religious studies, producing dozens of National Merit Scholars and promoting unconventional learning techniques.

With the University of Minnesota anchored between the two downtowns, educational excellence seems central to the makeup of the metro as a whole. The University of Minnesota serves more than 60,000 undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students at its four campuses—in Minneapolis Saint Paul, Duluth, Crookston and Morris, Minn. Besides the University of Minnesota, there are 11 others, including Macalester College, Hamline University, Augsburg College and the University of St. Thomas. St. Catherine University, located in Saint Paul, is the largest Catholic college for women in the country. There are dozens of local community colleges as well. So if you want to further your education than Minnesota is a great place to live.

Below you can search lots of great information on local schools in your neighborhood using the tools provided by greatschools.org. 

Health CareGet Advice

Minneapolis Saint Paul residents have the health care system to thank in part for their high quality of life. The Minneapolis Saint Paul area ranked No. 1 on The American College of Sports Medicine’s list of America’s Fittest Cities in 2013 and in 2012 Minneapolis ranked No. 4 in the nation for health care by The Commonwealth Fund. Minnesota enjoys top medical facilities and a strong emphasis on access to health care and medical technology. More than 8,000 health care companies line Minnesota’s 350-mile-long “Medical Alley,” which begins in Rochester and continues to northern Minnesota.

U.S. News and World Report ranked several of our hospitals—including St. John’s Hospital, Abbott Northwestern and the University of Minnesota Medical Center—among its Best Hospitals of 2013. The Mayo Clinic also made this list—on its Honor Roll. People from all over the world come to see the medical professionals at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Located just 80 miles away in the southern Minnesota city of Rochester, the Mayo Clinic offers residents easy access to one of the top medical institutions in the world, one that’s cared for high-profile patients such as former President Gerald Ford.

So don't miss outGet Advice

Living in Minneapolis / Saint Paul and surrounding Twin Cities Metro area of Minnesota is a rich and rewarding place to be. Contact me today at (763) 286-1295 and learn about how moving in and around the Twin Cities area is the best decision you and your family will ever make.

Sports fans just have to head down town Minneapolis to check out Target Field home of the Minnesota Twins Baseball, or Target Center home of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx basketball teams.  Across downtown is the newly constructed Stadium for the Minnesota Vikings.  Or head over to the University of Minnesota where you can cheer on the Minnesota Gophers at US Bank Stadium.  If Hockey is more your sport in St. Paul we have the Xcel Energy Center home of the Minnesota Wild.  St Paul is also not stranger to new stadiums with the newly constructed CHS Field home of the St. Paul Saints.  So if you like sports then the Twin Cities metro area will be the place to live.

For a different kind of park—one with twists, turns and hair-raising drops—spend the day at Valleyfair, the Midwest’s largest amusement park with an assortment of thrill, family and kid rides. Launch into 360-degree spirals on Steel Venom, hang out with the Peanuts gang at Planet Snoopy or unwind on the lazy river at Soak City Waterpark. Double up on shopping and thrill seeking by going to Nickelodeon Universe at Mall of America. While you’re there, shop and dine at the nation’s largest indoor mall, experience life under the sea at SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium where you can travel through a tunnel 14-feet below the water’s surface and spot more than 10,000 sea creatures, or splash at the nearby Water Park of America. 

To see other creatures and animals, visit the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley, which encompasses 500 acres with close to 3,000 animals and 504 species. Don’t miss the Penguins of the African Coast, the bird show, Discovery Bay where you can touch a stingray, or a chance to catch a movie at the adjoining Great Clips IMAX Theatre. At Saint Paul’s Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, the whole family will enjoy seeing polar bears, zebras, lemurs and 1,000 other animals that call the Como Zoo home. Also check out Como Town, the adjacently located kid-centered amusement park, or the beautiful displays of exotic plants at the conservatory gardens. 

Historic Twin Cities Have a grand time experiencing our rich history. Minnesota History Center is rich in history and character. Discover the Minnesotan roots through a variety of interactive displays of the state’s struggles, landmarks, successes and past through the interactive museum filled with both changing and permanent exhibits throughout the year including Minnesota’s Greatest Generation, Then Now Wow, Grainland, and The U.S-Dakota War of 1862. Minnesota State Capitol MN State Capitol The beautiful architectural design by Cass Gilbert has captured a classically styled building boasting 23 different types of stone and marble from around the world including Minnesotan granite and limestone for the last 110 years. Discover the architectural masterpiece of our State Capitol and explore the House and Senate chambers; maybe even see the legislature in action. Please note: The Minnesota State Capitol is undergoing a three-year preservation project. Free tours are available Saturdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and Sundays from 1-3 p.m. only. Weekday tours have been suspended due to construction. For updates please call 651-296-2881. Cathedral of Saint Paul  The majestic incarnation looking over downtown Saint Paul is the historic Cathedral of Saint Paul. The fourth building to occupy this name—from a humble wood cottage overlooking the river to the stately structure we have today—the history and character of this place of worship creates a rich landmark. The Cathedral’s museum provides an opportunity for visitors to see and appreciate historic photographs, paintings, drawings and artifacts. Free tours Monday-Friday at 1 p.m. Basilica of Saint Mary More than a place of worship and a beautiful building, the Basilica of Saint Mary is a defining landmark of our state. Serving as a foundation for the community of Minneapolis for more than a century, the Basilica is one of the most recognizable landmarks on the city skyline, serving as a center for community outreach, a venue for the arts and a spiritual home to a diverse perish. The Basilica is the historic heart of Minneapolis. 

History Tours History Tours Whether you want to ride, bike, walk or cruise, many local tours offer a peek into our history. Take an Award-Winning City Tour aboard a motor coach through the unique architecture of Minneapolis, the stately stonework of Saint Paul and the diverse neighborhoods between with the Twin Cities Highlights Tour. The Minnesota Historical Society leads walking tours to special landmarks in both cities, while also offering fun outings like the History Pub Crawl. The Fit Tourist takes you past landmarks on either bike or foot. Take a Wabasha Street Caves Tour or a Gangster Tour, or hop a Segway to see the historic spots in either Saint Paul’s Summit Hill neighborhood or Minneapolis’ Riverfront District. 

Summit Avenue Named one of America’s Great Streets, it’s only necessary that Summit Avenue offers 90-minute walking tours of the beautifully historic neighborhood. Guided by those with insights about the Gilded Age architecture, social history and current preservation, the tours of the historic avenue become an awe-inspiring experience of the longest remaining stretch of Victorian homes in the country. The tour covers more than a mile, beginning at the James J. Hill House and continuing on through the cobblestone side streets and historic stone curbs of the breathtaking avenue. The homes are beautiful, but paired with the large, old trees that line the stretch, Summit Avenue is picturesque, making it a favorite jogging route for many and a must-stroll in the fall as the leaves transform into a canopy of colors. 

Mill City Museum Take a trip through Minneapolis’ history as you tour what was once the world’s largest flour-mill at Mill City Museum. Built on the historic riverfront of the Mississippi, the museum offers a number of exhibits and tours all colliding history with fantastic sightseeing. Explore the nooks and crannies of the Washburn A Mill, learn of the hardships endured by men and women who milled flour, see expansive views on the observation deck or learn about brands like Pillsbury and General Mills. Join a guide from Mill City to visit a railroad landmark, or wet your beer and historical palate as you discover the richness of Minneapolis’ history through a Pub Crawl tour down Washington Avenue. Who says learning can’t be fun… and delicious. 

Stone Arch Bridge The bridge’s 2,100 feet of native granite and limestone arch over the Mississippi River below St. Anthony Falls. Built by railroad tycoon James J. Hill in 1883, the Stone Arch Bridge is a historic landmark connecting both ends of our downtown. Mill City Museum, St. Anthony Falls, and boats and barges passing through can all be enjoyed as you walk, bike or run atop the 23 arches of history. Enjoy the trail on your own or take advantage of the many walking tours of St. Anthony Falls and the Stone Arch Bridge.