Wadena, Sebeka, Park Rapids, Detroit Lakes (St. Paul, St. Cloud: appointed, real estate, renting)

[Alfonzo_LaMar]

Greetings:

I am currently waiting on a job offer from a company in the above area(s). I am single, male, 40ish and a committed christian. I am willing to be somewhat flexible with my activities.

So here is my question... What is the night life like?
What activities are there to do in the above areas?
Is St. Cloud a reasonably close option?
How about Brainerd or Little Falls?

I am thinking indoors since I am already familiar with the beauty of the outdoors in this area.

Any advice is appreciated....

Thanks
Alfonzo

[golfgal]

St. Cloud being a college town has a pretty active night life, the rest are going to be your typical small town hit the local restaurant type night life. Those areas are mainly going to be family oriented activities. St. Cloud isn't very close to any of those areas however.

[DaninEGF]

I am fairly familiar with those towns having live in northwest Minnesota. Golfgal is right....all of those are pretty small towns with local restaurants and bars and local bands a few times a week. During the summer, Detroit Lakes is very busy as it is the center of Lakes Country and lots of folks in the area and Fargo have cabins in the Becker and Otter Tail counties. During the summer, weekends have lots going on indoors and out with lots more activities. After Labor Day things go back to quiet. Most people who want to be busy to outdoor activities which are there are a lot of in the area....fishing, boating, and hunting summer and fall....and ice fishing and snowmobiling in the winter. Detroit Lakes is the largest of the towns listed and would be a better bet for someone looking for some bigger city nightlife. Also Detroit Lakes is closest to Fargo which is the biggest city in the area and has more activities. DTL would probably have the most expensive real estate with all the lakes in the area....and lake property has risen a lot in value in the last 5-10 years. Wadena and Park Rapids sit in mostly pine tree country and offer a very rural and quiet life.

[Alfonzo_LaMar]

Thanks for your input (both of you), it's appreciated.

- Alfonzo

[wildfan]

you'll hate wadena or sebeka 2nd choice would be PR then DL

[Mark S.]

I spent the night in Detroit Lakes back in May. Eeek! It was the scariest place in Minnesota I saw. I thought I had gone through some sort of portal into Night of the Living Rednecks.

Nearby Fergus Falls was a great town though. Wonderful little place.

Little Falls was...okay. It seemed kinda dingy and struggling to me. I was rather disappointed in it.

St. Cloud was too bustling for me --- but maybe that's what you're looking for. Very busy. Strip mall after strip mall after strip mall after strip mall.

[fishguy]

I raised my four children in the detroit lakes area. Dl is the bussiest of the towns you mention. There watter days parade is a great attraction. They just got a super walmart. They have long cold winters but a four lane highway. We moved north two years ago and miss the fact that stores are open latter in DL We miss the four lane highway and tar roads everywhere. As a Christian you carry all that is good whereever you go.

[jccarey]

I spent the night in Detroit Lakes back in May. Eeek! It was the scariest place in Minnesota I saw. I thought I had gone through some sort of portal into Night of the Living Rednecks.

Nearby Fergus Falls was a great town though. Wonderful little place.

Little Falls was...okay. It seemed kinda dingy and struggling to me. I was rather disappointed in it.

St. Cloud was too bustling for me --- but maybe that's what you're looking for. Very busy. Strip mall after strip mall after strip mall after strip mall.



Not quite sure how you can judge a town so harshly on one overnight stay. I was born and raised in NY and met my husband who is from DL (Detroit Lakes) in FL. We returned to raise our kids in DL and spent 16 of the best years of my life there. I'm not sure what problems you encountered, but in a town of 7000, I can't imagine they were much. We are down in FL again and plan on moving back to MN in a year of two. It won't be to the DL area only because I can make a better living closer to the cities, and although it was a fabulous place to raise our kids we want a few more options entertainment wise. Please, know of what you speak before you do.

[amerikanerin83]

I grew up in Park Rapids. The area is very conservative and quite Christian, so it would probably be a good fit for you in that aspect of life. However, night life really doesn't exist in the sense that it does in bigger cities. There are, of course, local bars; but the patrons are mostly regulars and the atmosphere would rival that of "Cheers." The town basically closes down at 10:00, especially to kids (which could be a good thing, depending on your parenting philosophy). The nearest place with any kind of night life would probably be Bemidji (pop. 12,000 50 miles North), which offers movies (an 8-plex) and some better bars. There are also numerous casinos in the area that feature top comedians and country stars monthly.

The other cities you listed are pretty far away (St. Cloud=2.5 hours, Brainerd=1.5 hours), but make good day trips. Mpls/St. Paul is about 3.5 hours away, depending on traffic, but reasonably close when you need a break from the quiet.

If you are looking for a rural, outdoorsy setting, Park Rapids is great. Things are cheap and everyone knows each other (which is the same for the other towns you listed). Beaches, trails, golf, and other outdoor activities are plentiful in the summer, but it dies down quite a bit in the winter.

[mmpomn]

Did you move to the area? I live near Sebeka, and I'm quite familiar with the whole area you mentioned. I formerly lived in the Cities. I wouldn't move back, but there are things I miss now and again.
Do you still have questions about the area?

Originally Posted by b.a.d.

My brother lives out there. Do you know the area yet? And do you know what you are getting yourself into? also where are you from?

What do you mean when you ask "do you know what you are getting yourself into"?