Thinking of relocating the family to a new city and settling down? Plant your feet in one of the friendliest cities in the Midwest. Minneapolis, Minnesota has increased in popularity for families looking for a fun and friendly place to call home. Known for popular attractions such as the Mall of America and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, there is so much more to this Midwest city. From excellent school systems to activities the whole family can enjoy over the years, Minneapolis is a secure choice.

Here are five reasons to pack up and move the family to Minneapolis.

Great School Systems

Your children’s education is a vital factor to consider when deciding where you choose to raise them. Having access to high quality education can be a huge contributor to your children’s future. Fortunately, Minneapolis is known for having a great choice of schools.

Being a big city means countless choices for both public and private education, so you can steer the ship of your child’s education. In the Minneapolis School District alone there are 98 schools that are fully equipped to give your children the education you’ve always wanted for them.

If you decide to plant down in the southwest region of the city, you’ll be set for good schooling from the moment your child walks into kindergarten to the moment they toss their cap at their high school graduation. Lake Harriet Lower Elementary School and Lake Harriet Upper School rank as two of the best schools in all of Minneapolis. Of course, there are many other acceptable schools in the city, regardless of where you end up.

Activities for Kids of All Ages

From toddler to teen, Minneapolis has a variety of fun opportunities...

No matter how big or small, backyards are our own sanctuary from a hectic world. They offer a retreat in which we can entertain friends and family or simply relax and enjoy being outdoors. This is especially true in warmer months.

Thanks to rising real estate prices, larger yards are less affordable and smaller yards are often designed with little concern for our neighbor’s proximity by penny-wise developers. Whether you are looking for a quiet place to enjoy a good book on a sunny day without hearing your neighbors electric lawn mower or an area you can easily gather guests makes no difference. Creating suitable privacy and an atmosphere you can enjoy is easily done with a few landscaping tips and a little know-how.

Solutions For Smaller Yards

Light-Colored Fences

High, solid board fences can make smaller yards feel hemmed in rather than like a private oasis. To reduce this effect, try painting fences white, or in another light tone to give your yard a feeling of added space and light.

Plant Some Greenery

These harsh lines can then be softened with additional plantings. Small shrubs, climbing vines, and vertical gardens will all provide additional interest, color, and scent to your outdoor space.

Build Climbing Planters

Smaller courtyards and patios with close neighbors can be given extra privacy with garden structures such as trellises, arbors, and open panels. These can each be planted with climbing roses or colorful flowers in hanging baskets. When combined with planter waterfalls, additional interest and privacy is provided as the sound of cascading water helps mask noisy neighbors...

Home and garden enthusiasts, mark your calendars! The Minneapolis Home + Garden show is coming your way for two weekends of inspiration and practical advice from more than 1,000 experts. Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of this must-attend event.

What Is The Show?

The Minneapolis Home + Garden show is one of the largest in Minnesota and features landscaping companies, remodeling contractors, interior design companies, plus more all at the Minneapolis Convention Center...

Minnesota is known for its abundance of professional sports teams. Specifically, for their deep and unconditional love of the Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Wild. Sports are at the heart of Minnesota’s passions, and the U.S. Bank Stadium is like a gift from the heavens. This stadium allows the state to host some of the nation’s most watched sporting events.

Since February 4th is the first Super Bowl in the U.S. Bank Stadium, we thought we’d shed some light on all of the sports action you at the U.S. Bank Stadium this year and in years to follow. But first, here’s what makes U.S. Bank Stadium so special.

History of U.S. Bank Stadium

June 17, 2016, the U.S. Bank Stadium opened its doors to the public and welcomed the Vikings to their new home. Previously, the Vikings played in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. However, the Metrodome closed in 2013. During construction of U.S. Bank Stadium, the Minnesota Vikings competed in the TCF Bank Stadium at the University of Minnesota.

This two-season wait was well worth it for the Vikings. The stadium is a glass beauty that reflects the skyline of Minneapolis. The facility also boasts a fixed roof that allows it to be used all year round, no matter the winter conditions. As a matter of fact, the stadium’s roof is actually the largest roof made from fluorine-based clear plastic in North America. This technology allows as much natural light in as possible. U.S. Bank Stadium also hold the world record for the five largest pivoting glass doors.

vFor large events, the seating capacity of the facility can be expanded to 73,000, making it an ideal venue for professional sporting events. That’s why it will be used for 2018 Super Bowl and several other marquee events.

2018 Happenings at U.S. Bank Stadium

Super Bowl LII

This year, U.S. Bank Stadium is the host...

Are you considering moving to one of the Twin Cities and worried about the commute? Don’t fret, Minneapolis and St. Paul are wonderful places to live and work with significantly lower commute times than other large cities in the United States.

In fact, Minnesota workers have an average daily commute time of 22.1 minutes, which is shorter than the national average. The commute time for those living in Minneapolis is even shorter at 21.7 minutes.

If you’re moving from cities like Los Angeles, the commute for Minneapolis to St. Paul will seem like a breeze. Plus, living in the heart of one of these beautiful cities means being within walking distance to nightlife, museums and more.

Be prepared for any situation when commuting with these tips on traveling between the Twin Cities:

Best time to travel

The best time to travel between cities depends on where you’re coming from. Traffic tends to be slightly worse coming to and from the suburbs of the cities, however, there are ways to plan around traffic and save time.

According to TripSavvy, the morning rush hour is earlier between cities and will be at its worst around 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. The evening rush hour starts decently early at around 4 p.m. and peaks at 5 to 5:30 p.m.

If you plan to leave for work around 7 a.m. and go home after 5:30, you could shave about 20 minutes each day to your commute. The drive between St. Paul and Minneapolis is about 20 minutes without traffic, however, in rush hour you could expect that to double.

Keep an eye out for large events in either cities, as that will make the commute even longer. If driving isn’t your thing, check out the METRO Transit Line, which will get you...

Minneapolis, though nestled in the quiet Midwest, is an interesting, culturally diverse and thriving city. Among its many honors, Minneapolis is ranked as the third most literate city in the country, its Uptown neighborhood is immortalized in Prince’s “Everybody’s Goin’ Uptown,” and it’s home to more than 5,000 acres of park land. If you’re moving to or within the area, you’ve probably already found your reasons to love Minneapolis, but here are six other things you should know as a newcomer to the city.

The housing market is hot

How much you’ll pay for your Minneapolis home depends heavily on which neighborhoods you’re considering, but overall the median home price is $241,534 — beyond the national figure. The most expensive areas are downtown, the North Loop, and areas to the far west, near Lake Calhoun, while areas to the east and south of downtown are generally more affordable. This is also the case for rents: A one-bedroom in Minneapolis runs about $1,620 on average, while just across the river to the east, apartments near the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities are just $1,283. Although the housing market is hot, a recent report found that it’s shifting to a buyer’s market.

Its taxes are a bit high

Compared with the national average of $3,028 in annual taxes (based on an assessed home value of $250,000), taxes in Hennepin County are a bit high, at an average of $3,363. In Minneapolis, it’s a bit higher yet. According to the property tax estimator on the city assessor’s website, a $250,000 would accumulate an estimated $3,849 in annual taxes. This shouldn’t discourage you...

Shopping In and Around the Twin Cities

Serious shoppers know that heading to the store is more than just a chore, it’s a way of life. Still, it can be frustrating living in a town that has few options to choose from. This is why the Twin Cities area is the place to be. This shopper’s heaven has a variety of stores for every need, and let’s not forget clothing is tax-free in the state of Minnesota.

You can’t mention shopping in the Twin Cities without pointing out Minnesota has the Mall of America, one of the largest malls in the United States. The mall recently celebrated its 25th anniversary with it first opening in 1995. It takes up a total area of 96.4 acres, enough to fit seven Yankee Stadiums inside. It fits more than 500 stores, an amusement park and an aquarium. The mall even has a stop on the METRO Blue and Red Lines. Popular retailers include the LEGO store, Macy’s, Fabletics and the virtual reality sports entertainment center SMAAASH. The mall hosts an annual holiday music festival from November 26 to December 26 with several different types of performances.

There are plenty of things to do in Minneapolis besides going shopping, but those looking for deals have to visit Nicollet Mall and the Uptown district. Located in downtown Minneapolis, Nicollet Mall and the surrounding area is sometimes referred to as the “lunch break.” It’s not uncommon to see someone leave for a snack at the farmer’s market and come back with a shopping bag or two. This area has been a primary shopping district for downtown residents since the late 19th century. It has since expanded to include shopping staples such as Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue and the local men’s clothing boutique Hubert White. The mall is nearing the end of a $50 million makeover project. The area has been...