Dakota Far Southwest Suburbs - Lakeville, MN

In the 1600s, Mdewakanton Dakota arrived in the land now called Dakota County. A few decades later, French traders arrived, and eventually, the Dakota ceded most of the land to the European settlers.

While the area near the convergence of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers became extremely important for trade, homesteads popped up, and the milling and railroad industries boomed. At the turn of the century, meatpacking emerged as a central industry in the area, and Dakota County boasted the largest stockyards in the country.

When the interstate system linked the area to the cities in the 1950s, population boomed, and by the end of the century, nearly a quarter-of-a-million new residents had moved to the far southwest suburbs such as Burnsville, Apple Valley and Eagan. Residents enjoy proximity to the arts scene and museums of Minneapolis, as well as its annual events including Grand Old Days.

Restaurants can be found throughout Dakota County and the far southwest suburbs, but for a concentrated area of eateries, check out the small town of Rosemount. Try pasta at Giuseppe's Pasta Alforno where the chef serves classic Italian dishes including mostaccioli, capellini pomodoro, and sausage di sicilia.

Also located in Rosemount is the House of Curry, which dishes up Sri Lankan-Asian-fusion fare. Vegetarians love the lentil curry while meat eaters favor the lamb. If you've never tried Sri Lankan cuisine before, check out the lunch buffet so you can sample flavors.

For comforting chicken pot pie, blue cheese meatloaf, and other American classics, diners head to Rudy's Redeye Grill in Rosemount. The soothing and well-maintained wood-paneled decor reminiscent of the 1950s transports diners and adds a sophisticated flair to the ambiance.

Those seeking a pint of beer in the evening should follow the locals and frequent Celts Pub. This Irish bar hosts fabulous specials including a kids-eat-free night and discount drinks. When locals need a wilder night on the town, they contact the Pourhouse Party Bus to take them club hopping or pub crawling through Minneapolis.

Getting around the far southwest suburbs of Dakota County on foot or on bicycle offers safety for residents, but in most cases, locals need cars to access all of the services and amenities in these far flung areas.

The Metro Valley Transit Authority has bus routes throughout the region, and park-and-ride lots exist in some of the far southwest suburbs to take locals into the city centers. In cases where a bus route does not serve the area you need to reach, you may be able to book a ride through the dial-a-ride services provided by the Metropolitan Council. Alternatively, cab companies and Uber operate in the area, but don't expect to be able to hail a cab in the street. Plan to call ahead instead.

Parking in the residential and commercial districts of the far southwest suburbs costs nothing, and drivers can easily reach the city via US-52.

For recreation, Dakota County and the far southwest suburbs host a lot of parks and bicycling trails. When your dog needs a special treat, check out Dakota Woods Dog Park. With about 40 acres of space, this dog park features wooded and grassy areas for off-leash dogs to romp around in. To access the park, visitors must buy an annual pass or pay a small daily admission fee.

Animal lovers also head to the Minnesota Zoo. Located in Apple Valley near the far southwest suburbs, this zoo hosts aquariums, tigers, wolves and other animals as well as a daily dolphin show. To access the park, visitors must pay a small admission, but if you'd prefer to visit a free zoo, head to the Como Park Zoo in central St. Paul.

Annually, the Dakota County Fair attracts locals for its fun rides and competitions such as bull riding and hog tying. Other annual festivals in the metro area include the Minnesota State Fair, Grand Old Days and the Taste of Minnesota.

Living in the far southwest suburbs of Dakota County costs about the same as living in other parts of the metro area. While rent for a one-bedroom apartment averages $839 or $961 for St. Paul and Minneapolis residents respectively, residents of the far southwest suburbs pay about $922 for a one-bedroom apartment.

On special, you can find a pitcher of domestic brew for as low as $7 in Rosemount or the surrounding far southwest suburbs. Outside of specials, domestics cost about $4, and microbrews cost $5 or more.

Taking a ride with dial-a-ride costs up to $7, and if riders use public transit to reach the cities, fares range between $1 and $3. Drivers pay 7 percent less than the national average for a gallon of gas.

Farmington, Rosemount and the other far southwest suburbs of Dakota County offer residents everything they need in terms of essentials, and one shop, A Cat and the Fiddle a Fair, offers fabulous antiques, furnishings and accessories. However, the shop only opens two weekends per month, and locals in search of other unique shops, may need to pop in their cars and drive to the city. There, a host of high-end and vintage boutiques await.

In Uptown in Minneapolis, Cliche focuses on the trendiest fashions for women, while in Cathedral Hill in St. Paul, BlackBlue provides men with the rare treat of boutique shopping for themselves. At BlackBlue, you can explore well-curated shelves full of brands not normally found in the Twin Cities.

For groceries, locals have access to Cub Foods in Rosemount and Family Fresh Market in Farmington. Both shops offer name brand cereals and packaged foods, but Cub has their own off-brand items, making shopping there more affordable. Both shops have a deli, a bakery and a meat counter as well. During the summer, check out the organic vegetables and local artisan foods at the Farmington Farmers and Artisan Market.