Shoreview, MN

Once the home of Dakota and Ojibwe natives, Shoreview received its first white settler in 1850. Immigrants arrived over the following decades to start their own farms, and the town continued to grow as part of the Mounds View Township. Shoreview officially became its own village in 1957, hitting another milestone in 1963 with the opening of Interstate 694 through the community. Another milestone came in 2011 when the renovated Shoreview Maintenance Center became the first in the nation to receive the LEED Gold Certification by the Green Building Council.

Although you don't find many museums or art galleries within Shoreview's borders, the town houses the Oratorio Society of Minnesota, and several other music and dance schools. For a taste of Shoreview culture, be sure to attend the Slice of Shoreview Days annual festival in July to explore the arts-and-crafts fair, watch a parade, play some carnival games and sit down with your family to watch the fireworks display.

Shoreview places greater value on residential communities and parks than retail development, so you only find a few restaurants within its borders. Fine dining awaits in nearby neighborhoods, but a small variety of cheap eats dot Shoreview. Along with basic fast-food fare and a neighborhood Chinese restaurant, Shoreview offers a few down-home Minnesotan sandwich shops and grills where homemade dishes and chatty staff might trick you into believing you're eating at grandma's house.

When you're craving some kung pao chicken, stop into Red Ginger China Bistro for portions big enough to supply today's dinner and tomorrow's lunch. Don't let the hole-in-the-wall atmosphere fool you; this little restaurant serves up some of the best Chinese in the region. You can also swing by for the affordable lunch buffet to sample all the restaurant's perfectly spiced dishes. If you're looking for a good happy-hour special, sit at the bar from 3 to 6 PM for cost-saving beer and wine.

For a taste of old-time Minnesota, stop by Marianne's Kitchen to order a bacon club with a side of dirty sweet-potato chips. The restaurant specializes in sandwiches, but you can also buy one-of-a-kind jars of pickles and homemade jams.

Mark Meisters Bar & Grill on your list of neighborhood favorites for basic burgers, wings and homemade-cake slices for dessert. Although the food rarely disappoints, the grill's real draw is its entertainment and nightlife. Stop by to watch a comedy act, play a game of trivia or belt out your favorite tunes during karaoke nights.

Aside from Meisters, you don't find many nightlife options or music venues in Shoreview. For a bigger variety, take a short drive down Interstate 694 to check out all the clubs and bars offered by downtown St. Paul.

Shoreview residents look forward to a fast work commute with two major freeways cutting through the suburb. Hop on Interstate 694 for a quick drive to St. Paul, or take 35W into downtown Minneapolis. You can reach either location in about 20 minutes in light traffic. When you get home, enjoy free street parking readily available throughout the neighborhood.

Residents face fewer public transportation options in this outer suburb, but can travel around town on the Transit Link buses and vans. Reserve a spot in advance to secure your seat. The Metro Transit also makes a stop at the Shoreview Community Center for access to downtown Minneapolis. While cabs are readily available, make sure to call ahead, and for a fast ride into town, you can always use Uber.

If you prefer the greener option of traveling by bike in the summer, take advantage of the town's extensive trail systems that skirt the border and wrap around some of the lakes. Both bikers and pedestrians can travel safely through the neighborhoods, but be sure to hop in the car for a grocery run, as scattered amenities make owning a vehicle a necessity.

Shoreview's parks and recreation facilities are its crowning glory, with more than 1,400 acres of park land connected by 55 miles of walking and biking trails. Like many of the town's public parks, Island Lake Park perches on the shore of its namesake water body with a fishing pier and boat launch offering easy access. Have a lake-shore picnic under one of the peak-roofed shelters, or watch your kids climb around on the playground. If you're looking for an off-leash dog area, head to the Rice Creek Regional Trail Corridor to play with your canine friend in 13 acres of fenced land.

Minnesota's winters are known for their ferocity, but the snowfall doesn't phase residents who swim and splash in the Shoreview Community Center's Tropics Indoor Water Park. The center also houses a full fitness area and other low-cost activities, and you can enjoy free outdoor concerts in the Commons during the summer.

Apartments in Shoreview offer below-average costs with monthly rent averaging around $800 to $1,000 for a one-bedroom dwelling. The town's affordable housing combined with other costs, such as groceries and transportation, keep Shoreview's overall cost of living below average for the Twin Cities.

Retail districts along Highway 96 and west of Island Lake house your basic amenities, along with stores and services geared towards professionals and home builders. You don't find many boutiques, high-end fashion retailers or even discount stores in the area, but some of the best shopping in the Twin Cities' metro area awaits just a few miles south in Roseville.

Be sure to check out Odds & Ends Again when you're shopping for furnishings and decorations to fill your new home. Get a great deal on a gently used dresser or one-of-a-kind dining room table. Stop in regularly to rummage through the little shop's ever-changing selection. If you're looking for a gift to celebrate a special occasion, check out the family-owned Hummingbird Floral and Gift shop for professional flower arrangements and specialty gift baskets.

You never have to travel far for your weekly groceries with options such as Fresh & Natural Foods and Cub Foods waiting at your doorstep. Don't forget to stop by the local Farmers Market at the community center during the summer.