808 25th Ave N

An hour northwest of Minneapolis on Interstate 94, Saint Cloud is a charming small city on the banks of the Mississippi River. Saint Cloud State University is central to the community, both literally and figuratively: in addition to the 15,000 students enrolled, the university is one of the city’s biggest employers, and a dedicated fan base supports the school’s hockey program (the legendary Herb Brooks coached the Huskies back in the 1980s and his name now graces the Saint Cloud State hockey arena).

Just north of campus, Downtown is a charming riverside district with a strip of restaurants, bars, galleries, and performance venues along St. Germain Street. The city is home to over ninety public parks, ensuring that you’re never more than a few blocks from trails, lakes, and relaxing green spaces. For weekend excursions into the great outdoors, Saint Cloud is only a short drive away from Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge and Mille Lacs Lake.