Moving to Minneapolis-St Paul area this Summer!!!

[Clifford63]

Originally Posted by rcsteiner

Shorthand for "please spare me the melodramatic overstatements"...

I grew up in Minnetonka, we played in the snow all winter long, and it was fine. My mom used to put plastic bread bags on our feet over the wool socks (but inside the boots) to keep out feet dry, and it actually worked quite well.

I lived in Minnesota for 41 years, and I never saw -50 degrees F. Maybe in terms of windchill, but even that isn't at all common in the Twin Cities proper. If you talking about outstate MN, you might have a case, but not in the TC metro...

Coldest temp recorded in MN is -60 F in Tower in 1996. In the twin cities, it is rare to see -20 although we did have a couple days this past winter that were - twenty something.

Every place has the pros and the cons. The long cold winter makes you enjoy and cherish wonderful days like today. I am out on the porch drinking coffee and watching the birds. The doggies are soaking up the sun and having a great time too. No clouds, no rain, no wind. Just awesomeness.

[landisfam]

I want to let everyone know that I originally was born and raised in ALASKA!. I moved when I was 18 to CA. Now mind you I drove to the snow to par take in winter activities, and during my holiday fixes for the snow. My husband I I both agree that the first winter there is going to kick mod cut, but we are ready! There was a reason that we both have kept our winter clothes they are in storage an ready for the move I knew I would eventually be retuning to the cold someday.

[landisfam]

Again I repeat living here and vacationing here are like comparing apples to boogers, if you chose to both can be eaten.....

[cdubs3201]

Originally Posted by rcsteiner

Shorthand for "please spare me the melodramatic overstatements"...

I grew up in Minnetonka, we played in the snow all winter long, and it was fine. My mom used to put plastic bread bags on our feet over the wool socks (but inside the boots) to keep out feet dry, and it actually worked quite well.

I lived in Minnesota for 41 years, and I never saw -50 degrees F. Maybe in terms of windchill, but even that isn't at all common in the Twin Cities proper. If you talking about outstate MN, you might have a case, but not in the TC metro...

It's easy for people like us who GREW UP in MN and know what to expect from the cold winters. But someone from Hawaii does not.

Hawaii residents will put on a light coat if it gets below 60 degrees (if it ever does get below 60 in Hawaii, I don't even know).

If they find below 60 a little chilly, I have a hard time believing that they will be willing to put up with -50. Sure, put a coat and warm clothes on your kids, but while you're out there scraping the ice off your windshield at -20 at 6am before work you will be saying to yourself (and we all do) "god I need to live somewhere warmer".

I'm not saying you will hate MN, but you will hate the cold. I've just saying from experience, growing up in a newly developed neighborhood. People from Carolinas, Texas, Florida, all moved in during the summer and survived the winter. It was just hard not to notice the edina realty sign in front of their house the next summer.

[Clifford63]

Originally Posted by cdubs3201

It's easy for people like us who GREW UP in MN and know what to expect from the cold winters. But someone from Hawaii does not.

Hawaii residents will put on a light coat if it gets below 60 degrees (if it ever does get below 60 in Hawaii, I don't even know).

If they find below 60 a little chilly, I have a hard time believing that they will be willing to put up with -50. Sure, put a coat and warm clothes on your kids, but while you're out there scraping the ice off your windshield at -20 at 6am before work you will be saying to yourself (and we all do) "god I need to live somewhere warmer".

I'm not saying you will hate MN, but you will hate the cold. I've just saying from experience, growing up in a newly developed neighborhood. People from Carolinas, Texas, Florida, all moved in during the summer and survived the winter. It was just hard not to notice the edina realty sign in front of their house the next summer.

IF you read carefully, the OP stated they are from Alaska originally. Some people choose not to stay, which is a personal thing. My wife is from Florida. She misses ocean, but enjoys many things we have here that they don't there. For example, she can grow flowers that she only saw in magazines. They won't grow in Florida because it it too hot. A more relevant example is they have much less in the way of good career type jobs unless you like cutting grass or working at tourist traps.

Just to be clear, I am not ripping on Florida. I am just trying to point out that every place has pros and cons.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by Clifford63

Coldest temp recorded in MN is -60 F in Tower in 1996. In the twin cities, it is rare to see -20 although we did have a couple days this past winter that were - twenty something.

And it should also be noted that those low temps are generally happening at night when kids are not likely to be playing outside. Yeah, there are a few days where it's still well below zero in the daytime, but on those days you can stay inside and do something constructive. Read. Play with legos. Tease your little brother. Whatever.

I'm not saying the winter isn't long or cold. It can be both. But for a kid, it isn't that hard to dress properly, and there are lots of things to do even in your own yard, and the winter clothing you wear can make some sports and games a lot more fun because you have extra padding. When I was growing up in the suburbs we used to slide, make snow forts, play football or kickball (or kick the can) in the snow, play broomball on the neighborhood pond, etc.

It isn't more difficult to play outside in the wintertime. You just have to adjust to the weather. Creative kids can find all sorts of things to do...

[Clifford63]

Originally Posted by rcsteiner

And it should also be noted that those low temps are generally happening at night when kids are not likely to be playing outside. Yeah, there are a few days where it's still well below zero in the daytime, but on those days you can stay inside and do something constructive. Read. Play with legos. Tease your little brother. Whatever.

I'm not saying the winter isn't long or cold. It can be both. But for a kid, it isn't that hard to dress properly, and there are lots of things to do even in your own yard, and the winter clothing you wear can make some sports and games a lot more fun because you have extra padding. When I was growing up in the suburbs we used to slide, make snow forts, play football or kickball (or kick the can) in the snow, play broomball on the neighborhood pond, etc.

It isn't more difficult to play outside in the wintertime. You just have to adjust to the weather. Creative kids can find all sorts of things to do...

Kids are much more adaptable. It is not until later in life that we become opinionated and obstanant!

[landisfam]

So my husband had meet people who had good friends from MN who say that the absolute best school district there is in Apple Valley. Now I know based on all of my research that MN has #1 school districts and health care. I also have been told, and read that you can't go wrong with most of the districts, but is this true about Apple Valley? Also are there any school districts to stay away from? Thanks.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by landisfam

So my husband had meet people who had good friends from MN who say that the absolute best school district there is in Apple Valley. Now I know based on all of my research that MN has #1 school districts and health care. I also have been told, and read that you can't go wrong with most of the districts, but is this true about Apple Valley? Also are there any school districts to stay away from? Thanks.

In my opinion, yes, the 196 schools are the best in the state. The thing to keep in mind is that the number 2-20 districts are not far behind at all. Honestly, most people figure out where they are going to work and then find a district close by that has the activities that their kids like and move there. We are very lucky that we have so many choices. There are a handful of districts to stay away from or rather are just not as good as neighboring districts.