Moving from France to Minnesota!?! (Minneapolis, St. Paul: house, YMCA, best school)

[golfgal]

Stillwater is it's own district, Stillwater Public Schools, dist 834 if I remember correctly from my youth there.

[Ackermom1]

wow, thanks everyone! Im definitely taking notes of this! The kids are getting a fantastic education here in France, and would like to keep that up. One thing...Ive been monitoring the weather there....kinda scarey! Im trying to be honest with myself here....I mean, at least theres snow and things to do there! (France pretty much shuts down, and we have no indoor skating rings, malls, Dave n Busters...) so Im thinking hard about that, I know what the grey and gloom is...not being outdoors makes me crazy!! I guess that is a personal decision. Other than that Minnesota sounds like a beautiful state, and I will still consider a look around...Im afraid If I go in the winter (when does the snow thaw..April?) I will drive non stop straight back to Florida, with my t-shirt, shorts and flip-flops in tow! but Im not giving up yet! Thanks for all the great advice...we have some thinking to do!

[Hoosier]

Oh, it's really not as bad as you might think. We do get lots of sunshine during the winter. Today is beautiful! We don't get near the snow we used to. It is definitely not Florida, but it's also not the Swiss Alps. The coldest months are Jan and Feb. Snow usually is gone by mid-March, but is still chilly of course. Warm-up comes mid-April, however it of course depends on the year.

There is so much to do here year round. If I didn't have to work I'd have so much fun doing all the cool things the Cities has to offer. When you do arrive definitely make it a point to visit Duluth (up on Lake Superior). It's about two and a half hours from the Cities. We waited a few years to go, no specific reason, but I wish we would've gone sooner. Lake Superior is gorgeous! And Duluth is just a neat and wonderful place!

And, a few hours into Wisconsin is the Wisconsin Dells. That little town is famous for its waterpark hotels. We go there annually and stay in a hotel and play in the awesome hotel parks!! One of the lodges there is Indoor Waterpark Resort - Family Vacations at Indoor Water Parks - Great Wolf Lodge I believe that will give you an idea. And don't foget that Chicago is only 8 hours by car.

And you will really enjoy the people here in Minnesota. They are so friendly! When we first moved here we stopped telling people we had just moved because, I kid you not, almost everyone said "Welcome to Minnesota"! It was unreal. While there are definitely strong family ties here, there are so many transplants from all over the country.

And yeah, I'd wait 'til it is May before coming to visit. But really I think I'd do that with almost anywhere I'd move since it's a nicer time of the year...well except maybe Florida!

[Ackermom1]

Hoosier...I am touched by your message, no really, sorry to sound so sappy, but I had almost given up on MN...Just today our friends who live up there told us how beautiful it was with all the snow, that it was a dry cold, not wet n soggy like here (they Know france) and also...sooo much to do! And that the summers were sunny and hot!!! yay! I thought they were mild!?!? well, thats worth the wait, right? While in France, I have learned to love the change of seasons...spring, all the wildflowers...a different color each week! ...the crops of sunflowers and corn planted..summer, farmers markets, sunflowers and colza (canola?) in full bloom...grapevines being tended to...autumn the harvesting of the grapes...and the crops, along with the festivals of thanks and fun, and wine tasting! winter...relax, sit by the fireplace and stay warm! -which i find very hard to do! but cozy! ok, back to the USA...yes, the change of seasons is a good thing...catching snowflakes on your nose is fun...iceskating! You Minnesota Nice people are contageous!...and wonderful! I am definately checking it out...in the spring...actually, we have an invitation to go up and visit, get the full tour! I...(because of this thread!!) will be prepared with good school information, nice lakes, good neighborhoods...but lets see it in person! Im ready! The more information, the better! Thanks everyone!

[Hoosier]

Originally Posted by Ackermom1

Hoosier...I am touched by your message, no really, sorry to sound so sappy, but I had almost given up on MN...Just today our friends who live up there told us how beautiful it was with all the snow, that it was a dry cold, not wet n soggy like here (they Know france) and also...sooo much to do! And that the summers were sunny and hot!!! yay! I thought they were mild!?!? well, thats worth the wait, right? While in France, I have learned to love the change of seasons...spring, all the wildflowers...a different color each week! ...the crops of sunflowers and corn planted..summer, farmers markets, sunflowers and colza (canola?) in full bloom...grapevines being tended to...autumn the harvesting of the grapes...and the crops, along with the festivals of thanks and fun, and wine tasting! winter...relax, sit by the fireplace and stay warm! -which i find very hard to do! but cozy! ok, back to the USA...yes, the change of seasons is a good thing...catching snowflakes on your nose is fun...iceskating! You Minnesota Nice people are contageous!...and wonderful! I am definately checking it out...in the spring...actually, we have an invitation to go up and visit, get the full tour! I...(because of this thread!!) will be prepared with good school information, nice lakes, good neighborhoods...but lets see it in person! Im ready! The more information, the better! Thanks everyone!

Oh, I know wet and soggy. Michigan is wet and soggy and that's just nasty. It is not like that in the least. Now you know that you should probably stop by the mall of amercia for a few hours of shopping. There is a light rail that goes directly from the airport to the mall. You can even go into downtown Minneapolis on the light rail.

If you like good old fashioned barbecue...kinda like Florida's restaurants, then you'll have to stop by Famous Dave's. It's a great restaurant and reminds us a bit of Sonny's (in Florida). There is a ton of shopping here! Here are a bunch of local links from a site I worked on.


SHOPPING:
Mall of America www.mallofamerica.com
Southdale Shopping Center www.southdale.com
Nicollet Mall twincities.citysearch.com/profile/11357242
Ridgedale Mall www.ridgedalecenter.com
Northtown Mall www.northtown-mall.com


[SIZE=2]NEWSPAPERS:[/SIZE]
Minneapolis Star Tribune www.startribune.com
St. Paul Pioneer Press www.twincities.com
Minnesota Christian Chronicle www.mcchronicle.com


[SIZE=2]CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE:[/SIZE]
Anoka www.anokaareachamber.com
Chisago www.chisagolakeschamber.com
Dakota www.ndcchambers.com
Hennepin www.twinwest.com
Isanti www.cambridge-chamber.com
Ramsey www.mnchamber.com
Sherburne www.monticellochamber.com
Washington www.saintpaulchamber.com (broken link)



[SIZE=2]TWIN CITIES AREA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS:[/SIZE]

ANOKA HENNEPIN - 763.506.1000 - www.anoka.k12.mn.us/
BLOOMINGTON - 952.681.6400 - www.bloomington.k12.mn.us
BROOKLYN CENTER - 763.561.2120 - www.brookcntr.k12.mn.us
BUFFALO - 763.682.5200 - www.buffalo.k12.mn.us
BURNSVILLE - 952.707.2000 - www.isd191.org
CHASKA - 952.556.6100 - www.district112.org
CENTENNIAL - 651.792.6000 - www.isd12.org
CHISAGO LAKES - 651.213.2000 - www.chisagolakes.k12.mn.us
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS - 763.528.4500 - www.colheights.k12.mn.us
COTTAGE GROVE - South Washington County Schools - 651.458.6300 - www.sowashco.k12.mn.us
DELANO - 763.972.3365 - www.delano.k12.mn.us
EDEN PRAIRIE - 952.975.7000 - www.edenpr.org
EDINA - 952.848.3900 - www.edina.k12.mn.us (broken link)
ELK RIVER - 763.241.3400 - www.elkriver.k12.mn.us
FOREST LAKE - 651.982.8100 - www.forestlake.k12.mn.us
FRIDLEY - 763.502.5000 - www.fridley.k12.mn.us
HASTINGS - 651.437.6111 - www.hastings.k12.mn.us/
HOPKINS - 952.988.4000 - www.hopkins.k12.mn.us
INVER GROVE - 651.306.7800 - www.invergrove.k12.mn.us
LAKEVILLE - 952.469.7100 - www.isd194.k12.mn.us
MAHTOMEDI - 651.407.2000 - www.mahtomedi.k12.mn.us
MAPLE GROVE - 763.391.7000 - www.district279.org
MINNETONKA - 952.401.5000 - www.minnetonka.k12.mn.us
MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS - 612.668.0000 - www.mpls.k12.mn.us
MONTICELLO - 763.271.0300 - www.monticello.k12.mn.us
MOUND - 952.491.8001 - www.westonka.k12.mn.us
NEW HOPE - 763.504.8000 - www.rdale.k12.mn.us/dist
PRIOR LAKE - 952.226.0000 - www.priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us
RICHFIELD - 612.798.6000 - www.richfield.k12.mn.us
ROCKFORD - 763.477.9165 - www.rockford.k12.mn.us
ROSEMOUNT - 651.423.7700 - www.isd196.k12.mn.us
ROSEVILLE - 651.635.1600 - www.roseville.k12.mn.us
SHAKOPEE - 952.496.5006 - www.shakopee.k12.mn.us
SOUTH ST. PAUL - 651.457.9400 - www.sspps.org
SPRING LAKE PARK - 763.786.5570 - www.splkpark.k12.mn.us
ST. LOUIS PARK - 952.928.6000 - www.slpschools.org
ST. PAUL - 651.293.5100 - www.spps.org
STILLWATER - 651.351.8301 - www.stillwater.k12.mn.us/
ST. ANTHONY.NEW BRIGHTON - 612.706.1000 - www.stanthony.k12.mn.us
ST. FRANCIS - 763.753.7040 - www.stfrancis.k12.mn.us
WACONIA - 952.442.0600 - www.waconia.k12.mn.us
WAYZATA - 763.745.5000 - www.wayzata.k12.mn.us
WEST ST. PAUL - 651.681.2396 - www.isd197.org
WHITE BEAR LAKE - 651.407.7500 - www.whitebear.k12.mn.us

[Ackermom1]

OMGosh Hossier!!! Where did you get all that info!?!? fantastic!! Cant thank you enough, Im like a kid in a candy store looking at all the sites! Really helps me get the "feel" of your great state! My husband is going up (over?) in Feb to check it out..our friend will give him the grand tour...now I can really narrow it down for him thanks to everyones help! Im getting a good feeling about this! We would probably move over for the summer when the kids finish school here. I am quite satisfied about the schools, and the kids are excited too! If we stay here in France, my 14 yr old daughter would have to go to a "boarding school" only come home on weekends!!! at 14!!! not fair! Thats how it works here...at least if you dont live in a big city. Right now both kids are in a small school (2 classes of 21 for the 9th grade) They are quite strict, and they are getting a good education...they are in class from 9am-5pm...with 2 (at least) hours of homework each night, so I think they will be ready for american schools...plus Id love to see them going to school dances, football games etc. (not included in french schools) should be fun for them to get involved in some fun again! well, Im staying buisy with all these tips! Thanks! And getting quite excited for a possible big change!

[Sparky85]

Minnesota has its ups and downs However remember houses in the area esp. the good neighborhoods you'll be lucky to find a nice home in an area like Stillwater or Minnetonka for under 500K. And remember that even though the neighborhoods may not seem cookie cutterish doesn't mean that the people aren't. I am from Las Vegas and have lived here for 4 years and I am leaving for many reasons which I will not go into here. But this last week wind chills were down to -30. To be frank IMO the Twin Cities are a dream come true for the Stepford Wives enthusiasts.

Note about MN nice - It means IMO - nice to your face but horrible behind your back - beware.

[excelsiorgal]

Bonsoir!

With the drop in the housing market, you can definitely find a house for under 500k in Minnetonka. This is my bias -- but we love living in Excelsior, a small town on Lake Minnetonka (in the wonderful Minnetonka school district). We are within easy walking distance to the lake and beaches. Getting right on the lake around here will cost a lot more -- but close is good enough for us! It is a wealthier area, but we haven't encountered too much snobbiness thus far. We have great neighbors and we love the small town feel of Excelsior, where people say "Hello" on the street. There are also a lot of older homes here -- you won't find much of the cookie-cutter variety. It is about 25 minutes west of downtown Minneapolis, and 25 minutes in the other direction will definitely get you into a rural area with sheep grazing on the hillsides.

As for Minnesota nice...well, everyone has a different opinion about that. But I tend to think you get what you look for, i.e. if you are friendly and polite and make an effort to break the ice, most people will respond in kind.

[Hal Evans]

Live in Anoka.

[oconnorcm3]

Ackermom,

We're sort of in your situation, moving from Europe to Minnesota. I read the answers to your question about where to live with interest. While I grew up in Minnesota (Winona, small town about 2 hours south of the Twin Cities), I have not lived in Minnesota for over 25 years. I have been living in Europe for most of that time (Iceland, Germany, The Netherlands, Portugal and I currently live in Ireland).

I will be interested to hear what your husband thinks after 'the grand tour of Minnesota', what areas you narrow in on. Minnesota is either #1 or #2 for best schools in the U.S. and the cost of living is going to be lower than many other places in the States. Our main concern in finding a place to retire to in Minnesota is good schools and services (for our disabled son) offered. We hope to be near a medium sized town (for services) but in a rural setting.

Please do post where you are narrowing in on. I'm curious about what you find.

Mari O'C