Eden Prairie, MN

Located 12 miles southwest of Minneapolis, Eden Prairie’s first settlers arrived in the early 1850s. A long-time farming community, the population of Eden Prairie grew slowly, with a large increase in the 1960s and 1970s. As of 2010, roughly 60,800 people called the city home.

Residents can find numerous artistic activities in the city. The Eden Prairie Art Center features artwork from local artists, and exhibits change every six weeks. The Eden Prairie Players, a theater group of local residents, produces several plays throughout the year. Every summer residents enjoy the Minnesota Festival of Jazz on the Prairie, six hours full of the best jazz music from local groups.

Round Lake Park hosts a two-day Fourth of July Hometown Celebration every year. Families can enjoy a variety of entertainment, rides and a spectacular fireworks display at the end of the festival.

Eden Prairie has several restaurants located throughout the suburb, including many familiar chain restaurants and locally owned eateries. For fine dining choices, residents usually travel into the city, but midsized, affordable restaurants are located within the suburb.

Campeillo Ristorante and Bar serves both lunch and dinner and has a large wine selection. The penne pasta with spit-roasted chicken and artichokes in a lemon and garlic sauce wins raves from local diners, as does the braised rabbit with herbed spätzle.

For classic Texas barbecue, Baker’s Ribs does it right. Tender brisket and ribs where the meat falls off the bones hit the spot when you’re hungry for great Southern food, and the side dishes of smoky baked beans and homemade potato salad complete the perfect meal.

House of Kai has been serving up authentic Chinese fare for nearly three decades, and the locals agree it has some of the best Chinese food in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Serving large portions, diners can choose to eat in or carry out their orders. Local favorites include spicy kung pao chicken and beef with garlic sauce.

Hosting a relaxing happy hour with a large on-tap beer selection, The Prairie Tap House offers up great food and affordable cocktails. Happy hour runs from 4 pm to 7 pm Monday through Friday along with a late-night happy hour from 10 pm to midnight every evening. All tap beer is $2 off, and diners can get half-price appetizers such as maple-glazed pork belly or garlic sausage bites.

Many residents who live in Eden Prairie but work outside the neighborhood travel by car to their destinations. Public transportation is available through Southwest Transit bus service, which offers a park-and-ride option at the station on Technology Drive. Economical bus fare at $3 for adults during peak hours ($2.25 during non-peak hours) makes commuting by bus affordable for residents and visitors to the area. Taxi companies can take you from home to work or shopping, and there is Uber service for Eden Prairie as well. With over 240 bike trails in the community, residents can easily find a trail to take them where they wish to go in town. Interstate 494 runs next to Eden Prairie, making traveling to outside neighborhoods convenient for residents.

Eden Prairie has more than 120 miles of bike trails and 13 miles of nature trails within its more than 1,000 acres of park land, so outdoor enthusiasts have plenty to choose from. Staring Lake has ski trails and a 700-foot sledding hill that provide tons of winter fun for residents. The community has six off-leash dog parks for residents and their pets to enjoy, one that is open year round at Flying Cloud Dog Park and five others that are open seasonally. Baker Park Reserve has 2,700 acres of natural beauty where residents can enjoy fishing, camping and geocaching. In the wintertime, residents can snowshoe in the park, snowmobile with friends or put together a dog team and go dog sledding.

The overall cost of living in Eden Prairie runs 17.8 percent higher than the rest of Minnesota and 21.5 percent higher than the national average, with a one-bedroom apartment rent averaging approximately $1,100 per month. A monthly bus pass costs residents $70, and a gallon of gas runs approximately 7.5 percent less than the national average. The cost of a beer at a local bar costs between $3 and $4.

When residents want to shop until they drop, they head to Eden Prairie Center, located on Flying Cloud Drive. Shoppers can find a wide variety of national retailers and eateries to complete a full day of shopping. Teavana has a store inside Eden Prairie Center, and shoppers can find a large selection of teas from around the world. Kohl’s, Sears and Target have anchor stores in the center, as do Zales Jewelers and Scheels.

The Prop Shop sells gently used clothing, furniture and other useful household wares for shoppers looking for great bargains. The inventory changes frequently and all proceeds benefit the entire community.

If you’re in need of a new bike or snowboarding accessories, Erik’s has the items you need to enjoy the outdoors. In business for over 30 years, Erik’s sells new bikes for youngsters just learning to ride to commuter and off-road bikes. He also services equipment, making it your one-stop shop for anything cycling related.

For beautiful floral arrangements to decorate your home or as a gift for someone special, Belladonna Florist adds that personal touch to every item. With courteous service and helpful staff, this florist shop makes any occasion beautiful with either fresh or silk arrangements.

Marshall’s Farm Market sells its farm-raised produce and beef to the local community, which includes over 50 types of tomatoes and over 25 kinds of peppers. The farm is open daily from June through November, and families can enjoy photo opportunities with bright orange pumpkins or among the floral arrangements found throughout the farm.

Kowalski’s Markets features top-quality produce and meat departments in this neighborhood grocery store. Offering homemade sausages, brats and jerky, residents can stock up for a summertime barbecue or other special event. Fresh mozzarella makes the perfect topping for pizza, and Kowalski’s also makes this cheese in house.