Foo - St. Paul, MN

Okay Foosters,

I've read many times over,and have seen the "reports" that St. Paul is one of the best places in the US to live. Tell me the truth, how is it really? I'm from Richmond where, the city council has been inept for 4 + decades, the rednecks and local TV stations worship NASCAR, when a new mall is built it stays in the media for 6 months. Heck we haven't even had any real snow for the past three years.

I've heard the St Paul has a bike friendly, educated, and progressive populace. What are your thoughts?

(I also have an ex-girlfriend in the area who I really don't want to run into....:twitchy:)

Gracias

you want snow? move to "pretty much canada"

Nah, it's a great city. There are fun neighborhoods in St. Paul and Minneapolis. There are also cool places to live just outside the city if you're into outdoors stuff. The ring of suburbs is hell though. Avoid them at all costs.

Why not head north my Southern friend? ;)

I've lived here most of my life, so perhaps a bit biased.... but I think its a great mix urban and outdoors. Great parks within the cities, and many more within a short distance. Minneapolis has a bit more variety when it comes to art, music, and culture in general, and st Paul is a beautiful city with a lot of history.

Due to the types of jobs, I'd say we're pretty educated on average- but hit up any major gathering (ex, minn state fair) and I'm almost embarassed to call myself a minnesotan ;)

Honestly, sometimes I think I can't imagine myself living anywhere else, bt wold love to give it a go for a few years just to see.

I've lived mostly in the "ring of hell" aka suburbs, and survived (always within 15 miles of downtown though) I am looking at property in/nearer the cities....

How can you people live without mountains? That would kill me.

How can you people live without mountains? That would kill me.

Not having mountains in my backyard would drive me nuts, and snow is a must in winter.

How can you people live without mountains? That would kill me.
yeah, I'd love to have mountains to ski on.. as opposed to the "speed bumps" out here. I suppose you can't miss what you've never had... I was lived on the Wasatch range in Utah, but moved when I was six.
Besides, gives me another reason to travel!

i live in the st lawrence river valley and that kills me! The mountains are about 45 mins away and thats just too far

i live in the st lawrence river valley and that kills me! The mountains are about 45 mins away and thats just too far

Um....I mean real mountains.

5000ft+ i know isnt much. But it is all we have out here in the east!!!

I've lived here most of my life, so perhaps a bit biased...

Of course, there's no place like home.



How can you people live without mountains? That would kill me.

When artifice posted a pic from a ski trip a few weeks ago, I looked up the highest point in Minnesota, and it is Eagle "Mountain" at 2,301 feet. :roflmao2: I live about a mile from the SF bay, at about 0' elevation. Riding out my door, in ten miles I can be at about 2,200 feet, and that's just the beginning of the ride, to get to the nice back roads. Or I could drive 20 minutes to the base of Mt. Hamilton and climb up to 4,360 feet. Having to ride on flat roads all the time would bore me to tears.

BTW, on July 4 I went with some friends to Yosemite. We were hanging out at Tuolumne Meadows, at 8,600 feet. Just casually walking around, your breathing gets a little elevated because the air is so thin. Makes you feel aliiiiiiiiiive. :)

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I spent a week there last January. I stepped outside once and thought I was going to freeze on the spot. The rest of the time I spent scurrying in tunnels and walkways that connected lots of the downtown buildings. It's probably a lot nicer in summer.

fwiw, I lived in uptown Minneapolis and loved it. There are a lot of great neighboorhoods in St. Paul though that are a little less in your face. It's a great city to ride in.

So yeah, there's no mountains but you're not far from Duluth. Just north of Duluth is the waters is the north shore and boundary waters canoe area which is utterly amazing. If you haven't done a canoe trip in the boundary waters, I feel sorry for you.

Wisconsin has some great areas too. North Dakota, my home state, is pretty much worthless unless you're really into sugar beats.

fwiw, I lived in uptown Minneapolis and loved it. There are a lot of great neighboorhoods in St. Paul though that are a little less in your face. It's a great city to ride in.

So yeah, there's no mountains but you're not far from Duluth. Just north of Duluth is the waters is the north shore and boundary waters canoe area which is utterly amazing. If you haven't done a canoe trip in the boundary waters, I feel sorry for you.

Wisconsin has some great areas too. North Dakota, my home state, is pretty much worthless unless you're really into sugar beats.

I haven't canoed the Boundary waters, but I have canoed through class 3 rapids in beautiful mountain canyons.

Be sure to check out a Saints game when you get there...

http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/19160729.html

Oh, it's in honor of National Tap Dance Day.

Past promotions have been just as clever.

fwiw, I lived in uptown Minneapolis and loved it. There are a lot of great neighboorhoods in St. Paul though that are a little less in your face. It's a great city to ride in.

So yeah, there's no mountains but you're not far from Duluth. Just north of Duluth is the waters is the north shore and boundary waters canoe area which is utterly amazing. If you haven't done a canoe trip in the boundary waters, I feel sorry for you.

Wisconsin has some great areas too. North Dakota, my home state, is pretty much worthless unless you're really into sugar beats.

BWCA, ftw!

I haven't canoed the Boundary waters, but I have canoed through class 3 rapids in beautiful mountain canyons.

I used to live near the Gallatin canyon in Montana and not far from the Yellowstone river. I learned to kayak on those rivers.

But the boundary waters is totally different.

I grew up within a short drive of the Blue Ridge, but once I saw the Rockies I knew that we only had hills in the east.

I'm not into skiing, so a flat Minnesota wouldn't be an issue.

Thanks for all the swell information though, if a move is coming for sure I'll let youze guys know!!