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Minnesota Babies
Show off your city!
Hey Ladies! I'm jumping over from the Atlanta, GA bump board to ask some questions about Minneapolis! S/O and I are thinking about taking a trip up there to see what it's like--we keep hearing great things and we're ready to get out of the south.
So, tell me--where do you live in Minneapolis? What is the weather like--I hear it can get very humid in the summer and freeeezing cold in the winter? What do you do in the winter time with your LO's(I hear it stays cold for most of the year)? What is it like having a LO in the city? What are the public/private schools like (SO read that the graduation rate from high school is low)? Whats the cost of daycare? Whats the cost of living like there? Anyone a renter (we're thinking if we decided to relocate there we would probably get a 1 bedroom)? Do you need to own a vehicle? What is the public transportation like and does it go outside of the downtown area and into the suburbs? What are some good young family areas? And what is directly outside of the city--is it suburbs? is it mountains and lakes? And give me any other info/tips/advice you'd like!
TIA!! Hope to visit soon!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Show off your city!
I love talking about the city.
where do you live in Minneapolis? Northeast Minneapolis
What is the weather like--I hear it can get very humid in the summer and freeeezing cold in the winter? It is humid in the summer, a hot day is considered anything above 80. I used to live in DC, and the humidity in MN is nothing compared to DC, so I think it's really nice. It is freezing in the winter - no denying that. No one cares what you look like in the winter as long as you stay warm.
What do you do in the winter time with your LO's(I hear it stays cold for most of the year)? The fall and spring seasons are short, so the cold season is long compared to other areas (about 4-5 months). I don't have a LO yet - s/he is arriving in a month.
What are the public/private schools like (SO read that the graduation rate from high school is low)?Certain parts of the cities have better schools than others. Overall, the suburbs have really good schools. Some inner city schools aren't good, but it really depends on the area. I know the area we live, the high school is fine.
Whats the cost of daycare?This ranges a lot. It's safe to say that home day care is anywhere between 500-800, and a day care center can be anywhere from 800-1700.
Whats the cost of living like there? Anyone a renter (we're thinking if we decided to relocate there we would probably get a 1 bedroom)?It's my understanding that COL is similar to Atlanta. I think the median home price is around $200k. A 1 br in downtown Minneapolis would be the most expensive at around $800-$1200, but if you lived in the burbs it would be around $500-$800.
Do you need to own a vehicle? What is the public transportation like and does it go outside of the downtown area and into the suburbs?Yes, but one car could work. We recently got two because our jobs are not located in an area with easy public transportation. The metro area has been putting in light rail transit, which extends into the Northwest burbs. Other than that, the bus system is great if your job is located in downtown.
What are some good young family areas?South Minneapolis is popular (my opinion is that it's overpriced and squished, but there are a lot of walkable restaurants, lakes, parks, etc.). I love living in NE minneapolis and always see young families out and about - it's slightly cheaper and less congested.
And what is directly outside of the city--is it suburbs? The city itself is very small, but there are tons of suburbs. So outside of the suburbs, it's generally farmland to the south, and lakes/trees to the north. There is only one mountain in minnesota and it's located way north in Lutsen.
where do you live in Minneapolis? I don't live in Minneapolis, I live in a St. Paul Suburb of White Bear Lake
What is the weather like--I hear it can get very humid in the summer and freeeezing cold in the winter? Yes to all of it, it gets very humid, and is that way today in fact, and in the winter it gets really cold but not nearly as cold as we like to let people think.
What do you do in the winter time with your LO's(I hear it stays cold for most of the year)? We mall walk, do indoor things, there are community centers that have water parks, and I take him to the gym with me, etc...we keep busy.
What are the public/private schools like (SO read that the graduation rate from high school is low)? The inner cities are suffering school wise but the burbs are fine, its all about funding and higher income areas (ie suburbs) tend to have more funding for their programs.
Whats the cost of daycare? We are at a center in the outer ring suburbs and we pay $800 a month...we looked at an inner ring center and it would have been about $1300.
Whats the cost of living like there? Anyone a renter (we're thinking if we decided to relocate there we would probably get a 1 bedroom)? COL is median, if you're in the inner ring suburbs it'll be more expensive then the outer ring, and there are certain neighborhoods that no matter what command a high price for housing. We live in a 2br rental and it is over $900 a month for rent.
Do you need to own a vehicle? What is the public transportation like and does it go outside of the downtown area and into the suburbs? Public transportation is great if you live near a bus line or on the light rail, but currently the train either only goes from the warehouse district to MOA or Big Lake...I think they have a bus that I could take that would pick me up in the Cub Parking lot, but if i have to drive to the Cub lot I might as well drive to work, and that's what a lot of people do in the burbs...we just don't have the best public transit outside the city.
What are some good young family areas? Highland Park/Mac-Groveland of St. Paul, Como area of St. Paul, South Minneapolis...most of the suburbs are very family friendly, in the newer areas.
And what is directly outside of the city--is it suburbs? This is a tough one because while it might be technically called the "suburbs", its pretty much the cities, and if you get a map out it goes all the way East to Hudson, WI, west to Waconia/Monticello, South to Hastings/Northfield, and North to North Branch. And these are all places that I know people who commute in from, and they aren't short drives...beyond that it's farms/lakes/trees, and lots of green and mosquitos!
Where do you live in Minneapolis? I actually live in Eagan, a southeastern suburb. I work in downtown St. Paul, and it is 13 miles (about a 25 minute commute).
What is the weather like--I hear it can get very humid in the summer and freeeezing cold in the winter? It can get pretty cold here in the winter if you count windchill, etc. The summers can get pretty humid, but I can tell you that the heat and humidity is NOTHING compared to what southern summers are like (or at least Dallas where I have lived in the past). The spring and fall are usually really nice!
What do you do in the winter time with your LO's(I hear it stays cold for most of the year)? I am still TTC, so I can't tell you for sure, but I know a lot of folks take their kiddos to the Mall of America. There are also a lot of nice community centers with play areas and toddler gym etc.
What is it like having a LO in the city? Again, going on what I have heard from friends with kiddos, the Twin Cities is a great place for kids because there are tons of parks everywhere!
What are the public/private schools like (SO read that the graduation rate from high school is low)? The Minneapolis and St. Paul public schools are truthfully not that great. DH went to Minneapolis, and said we would never send our kids. However, most of the suburbs have great schools. I have heard that 196 in the south metro is one of the best if that helps.
Whats the cost of daycare? Can't help you with this one, sorry.
Whats the cost of living like there? Anyone a renter (we're thinking if we decided to relocate there we would probably get a 1 bedroom)? I have lived in downtown (Studio, 575/month+ Utilities) and in the suburbs (1 Bedroom, 719/month +Utilities). I will warn you, it is not common for rentals to have a washer and dryer in the unit up here, nor is it very common to have apartments that directly access outside, unless you pay for a townhouse (2 things that I noticed were very common in Dallas, not sure about GA)
Do you need to own a vehicle? It honestly depends. If you live downtown, probably not, but if you live in the burbs, probably. Driving is actually really easy around the area (and this is coming from a girl who grew up and learned to drive in a town of 2000 in the sticks).
What is the public transportation like and does it go outside of the downtown area and into the suburbs? The bus system is pretty extensive. It will take you between MSP and St. Paul, but will also go to most of the close by suburbs. There are also regional bus systems in the outerburbs that have expresses into downtown if you need them for work etc. There is a light rail that runs from the Mall of America in the south into downtown. They are expanding it, but it is not really useful for much right now honestly (though it will get you to the baseball games easy!)
What are some good young family areas? I am biased and like the suburbs. A coworker lives in the Riverside neighborhood with her kids and loves it.
And what is directly outside of the city--is it suburbs? is it mountains and lakes? There is a ring of suburbs that extends about 20 miles or so out of Minneapolis and St. Paul. After that, there is a lot of farmland to the south and some great lakes to the north. You can drive about an 2 hours to the "North Shore" (the part of Minnesota that touches Lake Superior). It's gorgeous up there, especially in the fall.
All in all, I absolutely love living in the Twin Cities. It's a bigger city that offers you all of the amenities you would expect, but is easy to get around, has great little neighborhoods and feels homey.
where do you live in Minneapolis? NW of the cities out of the metro, kinda small town, but close enough to commute in (about an hour commute)
What is the weather like--I hear it can get very humid in the summer and freeeezing cold in the winter? I'm a transplant from KC, so I don't think it's humid or hot at all here, DH is a native and thinks it gets humid. Summers are mild, 85 is considered hot, and by buying an appropriate coat, the winter wasn't bad. Just bundle up and you'll be fine, and the roads are cleared very well compared to what I grew up with, so driving isn't bad either.
What do you do in the winter time with your LO's(I hear it stays cold for most of the year)? My SS is 5, and I wasn't here when he was really little, but we like to go to Como Zoo (open year round), sledding, have snowball fights, make fires in the fireplace and play inside. And it really isn't bad too much of the year, maybe a month you really don't feel like venturing out.
What is it like having a LO in the city? Not much here since SS is older.
What are the public/private schools like (SO read that the graduation rate from high school is low)? Whats the cost of daycare? SS goes to a Montessori school and because of where we live it's very reasonably priced (under $150/wk), when he gets older we plan to send him to charter school. He didn't go to daycare until he started preschool and before and after care is only $20/wk....we're lucky we found a great school at a reasonable price.
Whats the cost of living like there? Similar to KC, slightly higher wages since it's a bigger city. Much cheaper than it is for friends on either coast.
Anyone a renter (we're thinking if we decided to relocate there we would probably get a 1 bedroom)? Sorry no help here
Do you need to own a vehicle? What is the public transportation like and does it go outside of the downtown area and into the suburbs? I'd say you need a vehicle. In the city there is limited lightrail and a bus system, and to the NW is a commuter rail that connects with lightrail and bus systems in the city, but that's about it.
What are some good young family areas? I've only lived where I am and think it's wonderful (but I'm not really a city girl to begin with). I have friends that live everywhere, it just depends what you're looking for.
And what is directly outside of the city--is it suburbs? is it mountains and lakes? The metro is pretty large and like someone else said, many of the suburbs are considered in the cities. Once you get outside you get farms and smaller towns, and convenient lakes, camping, hiking, fishing, and biking in the summer, and ice fishing, hockey, skiing and ice skating in the winter. It really is a beautiful area with a lot of outdoor activities for a family.
where do you live in Minneapolis? I live in Eden Prairie (about 15-20 mins from center of Minneapolis)
What is the weather like--I hear it can get very humid in the summer and freeeezing cold in the winter? I have lived in MN my whole life so 'most' summer day's don't get me. Winter is winter it's cold but we all find things to do to keep us warm
What do you do in the winter time with your LO's(I hear it stays cold for most of the year)? My Son is 1 now but this past winter we want to MOA (the Mall) for fun events, the MNzoo (for the indoor areas), in a few of the community centers (&malls) they have indoor play lands that we loved, & we always want to story time at our local library. You will find a lot to do to keep you busy
What is it like having a LO in the city? Living out the outskirts I Love it so much for us to do.
What are the public/private schools like (SO read that the graduation rate from high school is low)? Whats the cost of daycare? Eden Prairie has some of the best schools in the states so he will go to public. The Graduation rate in the subs is really high
Whats the cost of living like there?
Anyone a renter (we're thinking if we decided to relocate there we would probably get a 1 bedroom)? Sorry we own our house
Edit - As sweet as that would be to have won our home I ment own
ops long crazy day makes for some crazy weird posts
Do you need to own a vehicle? What is the public transportation like and does it go outside of the downtown area and into the suburbs? I would say you need a car. I don't use public transportation becuse it is such a pain for where I live. I do use it when we are going to Vikings/ Twins games
or if we are going downtown for the night.
What are some good young family areas? I love the West & south subs (where I live now & where I grow up)
So, tell me--where do you live in Minneapolis?I live about an hour and 15 mins NW of the cities (central MN) and the commute (if I were to drive down there) really isn't that bad.
What is the weather like--I hear it can get very humid in the summer and freeeezing cold in the winter? Really, it's not that bad. (Speaking from a true MN, not a transplant). I prefer no humidity but it doesn't bother me; the cold really isn't that bad as what people say. Just as long as your car starts, that's all that matters!!
What do you do in the winter time with your LO's(I hear it stays cold for most of the year)? We have 3 seasons in MN. Winter, Fishing, and Construction. lol. Construction season is in full bloom at the moment!
What is it like having a LO in the city? Even though I don't live "in" the cities, it's just like having a child anywhere else.
What are the public/private schools like (SO read that the graduation rate from high school is low)? Not sure specifically but the HS I graduated from there was only 2 people out of our entire class that DIDN'T graduate
Whats the cost of daycare? I pay $100/wk in home daycare
Whats the cost of living like there? Anyone a renter (we're thinking if we decided to relocate there we would probably get a 1 bedroom)? I live in a 2bd/1bath apartment (about 900sqft) and my rent is $540/month + electric. It's not a snazzy place to live and doesn't have any fancy amenities (but all of my appliances and carpet are brand new)...the complex up the road that offers all inclusive living is $900+/month for a 1bd/1bath
Do you need to own a vehicle? What is the public transportation like and does it go outside of the downtown area and into the suburbs? Yes I would PREFER having my own vehicle but if you're ok with a few shady bus rides it isn't absolutely necessary....then again I wouldn't take the buses I would take lightrail. Here where I live they just implemented a charter bus that you can take (for $3/round trip) to Big Lake and hop on the light rail to get to the rest of the cities so I'd do that if I wanted to go to (say) MOA and didn't want to drive
What are some good young family areas? not sure And what is directly outside of the city--is it suburbs? is it mountains and lakes? no mountains...lots and lots of trees, flat land and lakes!!!!! (If you drive north to Duluth you get to see Lake Superior
)
And give me any other info/tips/advice you'd like!
I love love love the New Ulm/Mankato, Duluth, Red Wing/Winona area in the fall (beautiful colors!)
In my bag
d90
50mm f/1.2 * 28-85mm (Macro) f/3.5-4.5 * 70-300mm f/3.5-4.5
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