The city of Gem Lake, Minnesota is a small city with an area of just one square mile. Home to around 500 residents, Gem Lake embodies a small-town feel while benefitting from the amenities found within the much larger cities surrounding it. When it comes to the community within Gem Lake, there are several businesses… Read more »

Justifiably known as the jewel of its county, the exceptional city of Gem Lake is conveniently located close to both downtown St. Paul and Minneapolis. Established in 1959, the city loves protecting its local history and natural environment. Gem Lake is by no means a large city, as it is just one square mile, and… Read more »

The city of Gem Lake, Minnesota shares much of its history with the larger, surrounding cities of White Bear Lake and Little Canada. Originally a wooded land covered with lakes, the area now known today as Gem Lake remained uncolonized until the 1840s. As early as 1843, French explorer Jean Nicollet drew a map depicting… Read more »

The city of Gem Lake, Minnesota is a tiny city located north of Maplewood and near the capital city of St. Paul. Encompassing an area of just 1.14 square miles, Gem Lake is a very tight-knit community. The city has one lake, of which it shares its name, Gem Lake, located within the middle of… Read more »

The city of Gem Lake, Minnesota belongs to the White Bear Area Schools District (ISD 624). A large district serving all or parts of Birchwood, Gem Lake, Hugo, Lino Lakes, Little Canada, Maplewood, North Oaks, Vadnais Heights, White Bear Lake, and White Bear Township, the White Bear Area Schools District includes four Early Childhood program… Read more »

Sunfish Lake, Minnesota is situated in Independent School District 197. All or some parts of Eagan, Inver Grove Heights, Mendota, Mendota Heights, Sunfish Lake, Lilydale, and West St. Paul are served by the West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan School District. The close-knit community of schools seeks promote an environment that: instills in each student a lifelong… Read more »

Forest Lake is located in the northwestern part of the Twin Cities Metro Area. Just a 30-minute drive from the Twin Cities, Forest Lake is fast growing community conveniently located off Interstate 35. The city covers 35.5 square miles of land and has a population of over 19,000 residents with over 7,000 households. Forest Lake… Read more »

The city of Forest Lake covers a total area of 35.54 square miles. Forest Lake has a total of 23 parks covering 251 acres developed and maintained by the Forest Lake Parks and Recreation Department. Forest lake features numerous different parks including mini parks, community parks, neighborhood parks, golf courses, and paved trails. Forest Lake… Read more »

White Bear Lake, Minnesota is situated in Ramsey County and Washington County, 11 miles north of St. Paul and 18 miles northeast Minneapolis. Founded in the 19th century, White Bear Lake presently has a population of 25,000 residents. The city, situated on White Bear Lake, maintains small town character within a metropolitan area while offering a… Read more »

White Bear Lake Area School District is located within Ramsey County and serves the students of White Bear Lake as well as the surrounding areas. The mission statement of White Bear Lake Area School District is to educate all students in a supportive and challenging environment to become empowered and responsible citizens. The City of… Read more »

With close to 56,000 residents, the City of Lakeville is the 16th most populous city in Minnesota. In recent years, the city has experienced a population boom and is one of the fastest growing cities in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro area. With around 38 square miles of land area and a location approximately 23 miles… Read more »

The city of White Bear Lake, Minnesota is located northeast of St. Paul and makes up the northeast corner of Ramsey County. A large suburban city, White Bear Lake occupies an area of 8.66 square miles and is home to nearly 25,000 residents. Located on White Bear Lake, the body of water to which it… Read more »

Medicine Lake, Minnesota is a very small city located just west of Minneapolis. Because it’s land area is only 0.2 square miles, there are not any parks located directly within the city limits. Medicine Lake, is located on the lake of the same name. Not only do residents enjoy access to the lake, Medicine Lake,… Read more »

Lake Minnetonka is a massive lake that stretches across numerous communities. While it’s residents refer to it as a singular body of water, Lake Minnetonka is actually a collection of several smaller, kettle lakes that are adjoined to one another via straits and channels. It is this unique, sprawling layout that causes Lake Minnetonka to… Read more »

Life on Lake Minnetonka is one of the most desired and treasured lifestyles in the state of Minnesota. While the scenic lake and picturesque shores offer a strong incentive to live there, it’s the dynamic community that exists on the lake which truly brings the most value. Lake Minnetonka has a very active and engaging… Read more »

The city of North Oaks, Minnesota is served by the St. Paul, Maplewood, Mounds View, and White Bear Lake school districts. Although the city of North Oaks is home to only one school, the city has access to numerous schools in several neighboring communities. Turtle Lake Elementary School in the Mounds View School District serves… Read more »

The city of Lauderdale, Minnesota shares much of its history with the surrounding area. A first ring suburb of Minneapolis, Lauderdale is a small community with a lot of heart. Originally founded as Rose Hill, Lauderdale belonged to a larger township known as the Rose Township. This settlement was named after a fur trader during… Read more »

Vadnais Heights is a part of the White Bear Lake Area Schools, also known as the independent school district 624. The White Bear Lake Area School District serves all or portions of  the cities of Birchwood, Gem Lake, Hugo, Lino Lakes, Little Canada, Maplewood, North Oaks, Vadnais Heights, White Bear Lake and White Bear Township… Read more »

The city of Bethel, Minnesota covers a total area of 0.97 square miles. Although the city itself does not have any parks, there are several nearby that all residents can enjoy. Bethel Wildlife Management Area: The Bethel Wildlife Management Area is a part of Minnesota’s outdoor recreation system was created to help protect the natural landscape and… Read more »

The City of Scandia is a part of the Forest Lake School District. The district itself serves the cities of Marine of the St. Croix, Forest Lake, Wyoming, Linwood, Lino Lakes, Bethel, Columbus, Ham Lake, Stacey, and the northern region of Hugo. The community of Scandia realizes the importance of education with almost 1,800 families residing… Read more »

The first inhabitants of West St. Paul were the Sioux and Mendota Indians. The Sioux people lived in the villages of Kaposia in what is now the east side of the city, while the Mendota people lived on the west. The date of their settlement is believed to have been several years before any white… Read more »

The city of Scandia, Minnesota is located northeast of St. Paul and in the northeastern corner of Washington County. A rural community with a rich, Scandinavian heritage, Scandia is a medium-sized suburb (population-wise) with around 4,000 residents occupying an area of 40 square miles. Situated on the very edge of the Twin Cities metro area,… Read more »

The North End is predominantly a residential neighborhood of 26,000, with convenient access to shops and restaurants along Rice Street and other small retail corridors. The North End neighborhood is home to several schools, parks, and recreation centers, resulting in a family-oriented neighborhood. The 18-mile Gateway Trail that attaches Saint Paul to Stillwater begins in… Read more »

The Promenade neighborhood is situated in the Southeast quadrant of the city of Edina. It is bordered on the north by 70th Street, on the east by the properties on York Ave, on the south by 73rd Street and Yorktown Park, and on the west by France Avenue. The promenade itself, from which the neighborhood… Read more »

Como, which is also commonly referred to as Southeast Como, is named after Como Avenue, which travels along the neighborhood. Como Avenue took its name from Lake Como in northern Italy, a prevalent tourist objective. Como neighborhood is in the University community, just north of the Dinkytown area and the east bank campus of the… Read more »

The Victory neighborhood is located in north Minneapolis and within the Camden Community. The neighborhood got its name from the Victory Memorial, a memorial dedicated to World War I veterans. Victory is positioned 5 miles northwest of the downtown area and has quick access to many major highways. With a population of around 3,500 residents,… Read more »

East Calhoun is a neighborhood that is a member of the Calhoun-Isles Community and a part of the Uptown area. On the neighborhood’s western border is the popular Lake Calhoun, which is the area’s main attraction. The neighborhood includes shops, restaurants, nightclubs, theaters, shopping areas, and coffee shops. The housing consists of apartment buildings, duplexes,… Read more »

The Calhoun Area Residents Action Group, a neighborhood within the Calhoun-Isles community in Minneapolis, or CARAG is the heart of the Uptown area. This neighborhood is often bustling with an array of activity, and is just walking distance from Lake Calhoun. The majority of the housing was built before 1920, as the neighborhood has been… Read more »

The University community is located in the central-eastern section of the city of Minneapolis. A collection of 6 distinct neighborhoods, University is known for its idyllic location near the downtown metro area and the University of Minnesota. While each of the neighborhoods found within the community are unique and offer varying amenities they all contribute… Read more »

The Camden community is home to a wide array of parks and outdoor recreational spaces for residents to enjoy. There are 11 main parks throughout the community in addition to multiple small, natural areas. The parks include: Cleveland Park: A 1.4 acre park that was developed in conjunction with its neighbor, the Lucy Laney at… Read more »

The city of Minneapolis is the largest city within the state of Minnesota. Home to over 400,000 residents, the lifestyle found within Minneapolis is largely dependent on the community in which you find yourself. With 11 distinct communities, each showcasing their own neighborhoods, lifestyle options and amenities are widely varied. The following article will outline… Read more »

The city of Minneapolis, Minnesota contains 11 unique communities, each with their own distinct neighborhoods. Among all of these separate areas are countless parks and recreation opportunities. Ranging in size from massive, regional parks to small, neighborhood treasures, residents of Minneapolis have plenty of options when it comes to life in the outdoors. The following… Read more »

The city of St. Paul, Minnesota is home to a wide array of parks. Ranging from massive, regional parks, to tiny, neighborhood offerings, residents and visitors alike have plenty of options to explore. With amenities available for those seeking both active and passive forms of outdoor recreation, there are seemingly endless opportunities to have fun… Read more »

Self-described as a “rural gem” in the midst of an extensive metropolis, Independence, Minnesota is a small town located west of the Twin Cities metro. With a population of just over 3,600, Independence embodies a small-town feel while still being considered a city. It’s large, 34.56 square mile area forms a square with the cities… Read more »

The small city of Minnetonka Beach is located on the shores of Lake Minnetonka. As one of the lakeshore cities surrounding Lake Minnetonka, Minnetonka Beach holds a special reverence for the beautiful lake and the lifestyle that it offers. By far, Lake Minnetonka is the reason that residents choose to reside in the area. Lake… Read more »

Chaska prides itself in maintaining a small town feel, and yet the city offers endless recreational opportunities.  One of these opportunities, that Chaska is known for, is golf.  The city is home to three separate golf courses: Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska Par 30, and Chaska Town Course. Hazeltine National Golf Club is known as… Read more »

The Jonathan Community in Chaska, Minnesota is a community of about 8,000 people nestled among 2,200 acres of woods, lakes, and rolling farmland. Chaska is a historic Minnesota River community of over 24,000 residents. The community borders the Hazeltine National Golf Course, Chaska Town Course, Jonathan Elementary School, Clover Ridge Elementary School, Chaska Commons, and the… Read more »