Why the Twin Cities is the Best Place to Live in 2018

|| Why the Twin Cities is the Best Place to Live in 2018

|| 2/17/18

You Betcha. Uff Daa. Minnesnowta. While all funny attributes of the 32nd state to join the Union, Minnesota is a diamond in the rough of the Midwest. Surrounded by Tim-Horton-loving Canucks to our North, heads of our former presidents carved in a mountain to our West, vast and flat corn fields to our South, and cheeseheads to our East, 'sota' is the place I call home and have fallen in love with. At first glance, Minnesota might not seem like the best place to plant roots, but nothing could be further from the truth- and yes, contrary to popular belief, Minnesota DOES actually have 4 seasons- not just winter. 

As a preface, I don't want this article to be a "Twin Cities vs. the US" piece, but rather a candid conversation sharing my experiences and observations as someone that has lived in the state a little less than 3 years. I come from the neighbor to the east, Wisconsin. I lived there for 13 years and there's simply no comparison. You know what? Let's just jump right in...

WEATHER
Like I mentioned above, Minnesotans enjoy the 4 seasons in their entirety. The springs are cool and pleasant, our summers are hot and sunny (perfect for visiting one of our 11,842 lakes), our falls are colorful and cool- incredible sweater weather btw, and last but not least, our winters are actually not that bad. Just...don't look at our temps last year. While our winters may be brutal, the super frigid temps don't last long and make way for "comfortable" outdoor activity weather.

FOOD
Where do I start? We've got some of the best food trucks in the country, incredible hole-in-the-walls such as Blue Door Pub in St. Paul, unique concepts like New Bohemia, and places you would have never thought would create incredible spins on basic dishes like the American favorite- cheeseburger at Saint Dinette. Thirsty? MSP has got you covered with a wide array of breweries, distilleries, and bars. Snagging the #6 spot in USA Today's Best Bar Scene poll, MSP has found a niche and they're doing well at it so well in fact, there's been a 355% (that's not a typo) growth in breweries in the past 5 years. Suggestions? You have to try the Minnesota giant, Surly, newly minted Barrel Theory, and Bauhaus Brew Labs.

STATE FAIR
Fortunately for Minnesota, no other states can claim top-spot for the largest state fair by daily attendance and second-largest to the Texas State Fair (only because it runs twice as long). It's no wonder why it's called the Great Minnesota Get-Together. You'll find fried-everything here and the best corn-on-the-cob ever. Got a sweet tooth? You'll love Sweet Martha's cookies where you can take a bucket home with you. Did I mention the fair is HUGE?! I know I can say more about the "great Minnesotan get-together" but you should visit and experience it for yourself!

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Depending on what you're in to, Minneapolis and St. Paul while only miles apart, are actually quite different from each other and offer plenty of things to do for anyone. The biggest thing that differs the Cities is St. Paul is generally the more business-centric city while Minneapolis boasts a more artsy and diverse vibe. Think of it like PC and Mac. During the summertime, the city of Eagan hosts one of the states largest softball leagues with games being played pretty much every night with huge tournaments some weekends. Minnesota is also home to arguably the best mountain bike trails in the mid-west. With Duluth being only 2 hours North of the Cities, Spirit Mountain (and soon to be Welch Village) offers fantastic lift-service riding. Closer home, Lebanon Hills bike trails offer a more balanced approach for riders of all ages and skill levels. Of course, I have to bring up our lakes. During the summer, it is rare to see a lake bare during any given weekend. That 11k figure I mentioned before? That's lakes over 10 acres- plenty big for skiing, wake surfing, jet-skiing, and other water sports. Last but certainly not least, because we have such great winters, skiing and snowboarding are huge in Minnesota. Not only do the Cities offer plenty of hills to shred some powder, but our northern sister cities offer great options as well such as Duluth and Lutsen.

ART/CULTURE
The Minneapolis side of the river offers incredible options to see art up close, and the city itself gives off a very culturally diverse feeling. Who doesn't like music? MSP offers some of the best venues to watch your favorite acts such as First Avenue, Varsity Theatre, and if we're talking huge acts, the Xcel Energy Center and Target Center offer ample seating for just about any big name. One weekend in July, there also is the Basilica Block Party. A two-day block party with up-and-coming artists and those we all know and love.

ECONOMICS
Sure, fun and games is great and all, but everyone needs a job to pay for all of the fun stuff. Job growth in MSP has been steady and offers plenty of options to just about anyone looking. It's not rare to be driving in one of the Cities and not see several "now hiring" signs. In November of 2017, our unemployment rate hit a 17-year low. Heck, in many cases, "Minnesota is on the verge of not having enough workers."

SPORTS
What state would be complete without an array of sports played in every season. While some teams aren't doing so hot at the moment, there's a lot of potential for Minnesota to become a powerhouse for top-tier sports. Starting with the Minnesota Wild, every game is electric to attend. The atmosphere, fans, and stadium mix to create a unique and incredible experience. We're not called the 'State of Hockey' for nothing! Next up is the Minnesota Twins. While barely breaking .500 in the 2017 season, off season moves have the Twins looking up for the 2018 season. Thirdly, the Minnesota Lynx. You may not have heard of them, but what they've accomplished is no easy task. The Minnesota WNBA team have won 4 WNBA championships in the past 7 years. While on the subject of basketball, the Minnesota Timberwolves have created a stir in the NBA with their young roster and ability to hand Lebron James his worst game of his career. Last but certainly not least, the Minnesota Vikings have turned their entire organization around in the past couple years under Coach Mike Zimmer. While they missed their shot to be the only team in NFL history to play in their own stadium for the Superbowl, they have become a force to be reckoned with in the NFC North (and that's coming from a Packers fan!).

OVERALL
It's hard to describe the feeling with your windows down, driving on 35E at night on a cool summer night. Or laying on your back on a boat in the middle of a lake at night under the stars. Or walking down Grand Ave at Christmas time with snow falling. Or being surrounded by the most vibrant fall colors you've ever seen in Duluth. Or the atmosphere at the Minnesota State Fair. I love my home. I love this state. It truly is the best place to live.