HELP! Minneapolis/St. Paul DISers

[tink2020]

Hey there. DH and I are passing your way for a medical residency interview a few days in December (7th-10th). Sell me on where you live!

What do I need to see to get a feel for your city? While he's interviewing, I'm going to cruise around town, because we have to eventually rank these places and may end up there for at least 4 years!

Thanks in advance! Oh, and I HAVE been to the MSP area before... I already know how to get to the Mall of America

 

[ElizaB39]

Don't forget those state income tax levels!

 

[golfgal]

The Twin Cities metro area really varies by where you live. You could live around the lakes in Minneapolis and have neighborhood after neighborhood of huge turn of the century houses, miles of walking/biking paths around the lakes, etc. You could live out in Lakeville where you will find your typical suburban developments. Look to Stillwater to find mid 1800's Victorian homes along the St. Croix river and all the antique shopping one could ever want. Downtown St. Paul and Minneapolis offer your typical urban loft living.

Pretty much every town you chose will have at least one lake/river/body of water. You will find everything you need, including top notch medical care here. The people are friendly and neighborly. For the most part, crime is VERY low unless you choose to live in some of the less desirable neighborhoods in Minneapolis. The schools are the best in the nation year after year. The state university system is also good. There are several TOP notch private colleges/universities around the state, including Carleton College that is Ivy League level.


Like you mentioned before, we have the Mall of America, that alone should be enough, right .
Yes, we get snow in the winter, but because we do, the state is equipped to handle the snow removal. We have 4 distinct seasons and might have temps as low at -40+ but summers we will have 100+ temps, too. The good thing is that we don't have weeks on end of these extreme temps.

We don't have things like Black Widow spiders that someone else posted about. You won't find rattlesnakes and fire ants in your yard. We don't have termites.

What else do you want to know. Property taxes vary depending on where you live. Our income taxes are a little high BUT with those you get a lot of services so it is worth the higher taxes (we have lived in states with no income taxes and you sure can tell that with the quality of the schools, roads and general offerings to the public).

 

[tink2020]

The Twin Cities metro area really varies by where you live. You could live around the lakes in Minneapolis and have neighborhood after neighborhood of huge turn of the century houses, miles of walking/biking paths around the lakes, etc. You could live out in Lakeville where you will find your typical suburban developments. Look to Stillwater to find mid 1800's Victorian homes along the St. Croix river and all the antique shopping one could ever want. Downtown St. Paul and Minneapolis offer your typical urban loft living.

Pretty much every town you chose will have at least one lake/river/body of water. You will find everything you need, including top notch medical care here. The people are friendly and neighborly. For the most part, crime is VERY low unless you choose to live in some of the less desirable neighborhoods in Minneapolis. The schools are the best in the nation year after year. The state university system is also good. There are several TOP notch private colleges/universities around the state, including Carleton College that is Ivy League level.


Like you mentioned before, we have the Mall of America, that alone should be enough, right .
Yes, we get snow in the winter, but because we do, the state is equipped to handle the snow removal. We have 4 distinct seasons and might have temps as low at -40+ but summers we will have 100+ temps, too. The good thing is that we don't have weeks on end of these extreme temps.

We don't have things like Black Widow spiders that someone else posted about. You won't find rattlesnakes and fire ants in your yard. We don't have termites.

What else do you want to know. Property taxes vary depending on where you live. Our income taxes are a little high BUT with those you get a lot of services so it is worth the higher taxes (we have lived in states with no income taxes and you sure can tell that with the quality of the schools, roads and general offerings to the public).

Thanks so much! That's exactly what I was looking for... I'll have to look some of those neighborhoods up! The city we're in now has sky high taxes as well, and I totally agree -- the schools, roads, and community services are WELL worth it. I've seen tax dollars put to good use, so I don't mind paying them in those instances

If I have any specific questions I'll definitely ask! I really enjoyed Minneapolis the times I've been there, but it's nice to know details about LIVING and not just visiting!

 

[golfgal]

If I remember correctly from previous posts he will be working at Hennepin County Medical Center and the Minneapolis Children's hospital, right? For commuting purposes, the western side of the twin cities would be the easiest to get to (Minnetonka, Wayzata, Edina and surrounding areas) unless you want to live IN Minneapolis, the urban loft kind of deal, then you could probably find an apartment within walking distance to the hospital. You could even get buy without a car with the new light rail system that goes from downtown Minneapolis to the Mall of America.

 

[tink2020]

If I remember correctly from previous posts he will be working at Hennepin County Medical Center and the Minneapolis Children's hospital, right? For commuting purposes, the western side of the twin cities would be the easiest to get to (Minnetonka, Wayzata, Edina and surrounding areas) unless you want to live IN Minneapolis, the urban loft kind of deal, then you could probably find an apartment within walking distance to the hospital. You could even get buy without a car with the new light rail system that goes from downtown Minneapolis to the Mall of America.

Um... he is interviewing at the University of Minnesota - Minneapolis, so are those the hospitals? I'm not really sure

 

[golfgal]

Um... he is interviewing at the University of Minnesota - Minneapolis, so are those the hospitals? I'm not really sure

Ok, no, the University has their own hospitals, they have several around the twin cities so it would depend on which one he would be at. What kind of town would you like to live in, rural, suburban, urban. I could give you some places to look based on what kinds of places you like.

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

I don’t know if the Twin Cities area is a great place to vacation, but IMHO, it’s a great place to live.

We have big city amenities, but still have a lot of small town civility. We’re not spectacular, we’re “nice”.

Taxes are high; our legislators seem to favor any tax that doesn’t go toward a stadium, but there is definitely ROI.

If you’re a runner or biker, you’ll love the trails/paths to which golfgal referred. It seems like most of our lakes and rivers have well-maintained paths.

We’re only 2-3 hours from some beautiful scenery on the North Shore of Lake Superior. We get up there at least once a year. In fact, my sig picture is on the North Shore!

 

[tink2020]

Ok, no, the University has their own hospitals, they have several around the twin cities so it would depend on which one he would be at. What kind of town would you like to live in, rural, suburban, urban. I could give you some places to look based on what kinds of places you like.

We are planning on looking at suburbs. We won't really look in TOO much detail until we visit everywhere and rank in February. At that point, I'll definitely take some leads if Minnesota ranks high on our list! For now, it's just nice to know there are all kinds of options available.

What (besides The Mall, of course) should I do on my day around the town?

 

[tink2020]

We’re only 2-3 hours from some beautiful scenery on the North Shore of Lake Superior. We get up there at least once a year. In fact, my sig picture is on the North Shore!

It does look beautiful!

 

[castleview]

Oh, you guys are getting me nostalgic. I'm a New Englander who graduated from the U of M 13 years ago (WOW!). Although I moved back east, Minneapolis really was a wonderful experience for me. I often used those hospitals as a warm short cut during the winters. The people were so positive and the neighborhoods really are fantastic.

There's enormous pride in the University system and the public schools are top rate. One day, I want to go back there with DH and the kids or maybe one of my kids will go there. I can really miss it sometimes and highly recommend the area.

My only gripe was feeling short and unattractive among lots of Scandinavian goddesses

 

[Beth76]

Minneapolis is a lot colder than St. Louis!

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

Minneapolis is a lot colder than St. Louis!

... but the Twins beat the Cardinals in the World Series a few years ago!

 

[golfgal]

Minneapolis is a lot colder than St. Louis!

St. Louis had more snow then we did last year.

The big plus St. Louis has over Minnesota is no mosquitoes!

 

[hercamore]

Hi,

Is your DH interviewing at Fairview Medical Center at UM?

My DD (student at UM) works at the UM medical library next to the hospital. Driving and parking aorund there can be a hassle. Give yourself extra time and you'll probably need to park in a ramp. On st parking is limited.

Good luck with your search.

herc.

 

[tink2020]

Fairview-University Medical Center
Children’s Hospital & Clinics- St. Paul
Children’s Hospital & Clinics- Minneapolis
Hennepin County Medical Center
Regions Hospital & Clinics
Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Those are the hospitals affiliated with the med school. He technically interviews with the schools (not the hospitals) and then rotates through them over 4 years. I think during his interview he will be in Fairview and Minn. Children's

 

[golfgal]

I should add that every major metro area is going to have roughly the same offerings, theater, shopping, employment, other forms of culture. What is going to make or break where you want to live is the "extras" like the quality of schools if you have kids, the relative age of the population where you will live (you don't want to move into a retirement community if you are 35 years old) and if there are things you like to do. If you want to surf, well, not much chance of that in Minnesota, but if you like to ski, Missouri isn't going to be top of your list either.

I have traveled throughout the US and personally I find the upper mid-west to be the "perfect" place to live for me. I like having the seasons, I like the people, the work ethic overall here is much higher then most places around the country so for the most part the people you will work with are going to be doing their jobs and put in a full days work. The pace of life here is a bit slower then say New York but for me that is a positive. Minnesota as a state ranks high in the number of college graduates living here so the population, contrary to popular belief that we still live like things in Little House on the Prairie, is fairly well educated which then translates into better places to work, better schools, etc.

While you are visiting everywhere you go, drive around the town, stop at some local businesses, small stores talk with some people around town. Walk down main street in some of the towns, does it feel friendly to you, do people smile when they walk past or say hi? Use your senses to get a feel for a place. One example, there is a suburb of St. Paul that is a pretty rapidly growing place, I shopped over there frequently during the day but something about that town at night just gave me the creeps and I wouldn't go over there at night. Do the communities you are looking at give you that feeling? Those are the things you will find on your mission. What it will eventually come down to is where you end up living. My Dad lives outside of St. Louis and loves the location and a lot about where they live, but their neighborhood itself is very unfriendly. No one sits outside and chats in the evenings, etc. They have tried to have some parties for the neighborhood so people can get to know each other, no one comes. Our neighborhood is the exact opposite of that, everyone knows everyone, everyone looks out for everyone.

 

[golfgal]

Fairview-University Medical Center
Children’s Hospital & Clinics- St. Paul
Children’s Hospital & Clinics- Minneapolis
Hennepin County Medical Center
Regions Hospital & Clinics
Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Those are the hospitals affiliated with the med school. He technically interviews with the schools (not the hospitals) and then rotates through them over 4 years. I think during his interview he will be in Fairview and Minn. Children's

With those hospitals I would look into living in Stillwater, Inver Grove Heights, Mahtomedi, White Bear Lake, Mendota Heights/West St. Paul (not to be confused with the west SIDE of St. Paul), Highland Park in St. Paul, Eagan. These, with the exception of Stillwater, are considered "inner ring" suburbs, all well established towns and easy commute to these hospitals. Stillwater is the farthest out, but a very charming town (besides the fact I grew up there it is still a great town). It would be about 35 minute commute to the farthest hospital on the list which would probably be HCMC or the Univeristy hospital. Inver Grove Heights is probably the easiest to all of the hospitals and about a 15-20 minute commute to the farthest.

I said earlier that the western sub's would be good, but not to these hospitals. I would stay south or east of St. Paul. Woodbury would be convenient but I don't like Woodbury that much personally. If you aren't worried about schools, Maplewood, North St. Paul, Oakdale are also choices.

 

[tink2020]

...does it feel friendly to you, do people smile when they walk past or say hi? Use your senses to get a feel for a place. ... do the communities you are looking at give you that feeling?

This is EXACTLY what I'm hoping to do. I just needed some direction as to WHERE to wander to get a feel for everything! Thanks so much for all of your help!

 

[golfgal]

This is EXACTLY what I'm hoping to do. I just needed some direction as to WHERE to wander to get a feel for everything! Thanks so much for all of your help!

I would start with Stillwater and work my way toward St. Paul. Stillwater is going to have the most "home town" feel in the twin cities mainly because they still have a downtown, the town goes to the football games but they also have their own shopping areas and again, you are only 1/2 hour or so from everywhere else in the twin cities. Highland Park area is a little more upscale/urban feeling, but each neighborhood feels small townish. There are two distinct populations in Highland Park, the under 40 professional crowd and the over 50 retired, semi-retired fairly well off crowd. The houses are on the small side, but ok for 2 people. Mahtomedi has great schools and is a pretty affluent community. Most of the people there are families with kids but families that started having kids later in life. I know several doctors that live in this area because it is VERY convienent to all the hospitals you mentioned.