Schmidt Lake - Inver Grove Heights, MN

In the middle of the 1800s, European settlers laid claim to the land west of the Mississippi that is now Inver Grove Heights. There, Irish farmed the east side of the area, and Germans razed the trees to the west for their farms. Along the river, French and English settlers built stately homes, and by the end of the century, the area housed 240 farms.

When the interstate system linked the area to the city in the middle of the 20th century, the population around Schmidt Lake boomed, as I-494 made commuting fast and easy. Primarily a bedroom community for people who work in the city, the Schmidt Lake neighborhood offers its residents culture through downtown St. Paul, home of the Science Museum of Minnesota, The Museum of Questionable Medical Devices, the Minnesota Museum of American Art and a host of other museums and theaters.

Inver Grove Heights and the Schmidt Lake area feature a range of restaurants scattered throughout the vicinity with a concentration of activity on Bishop Avenue near I-494. While the majority of the area's restaurants are chains, locals own a handful of eateries as well.

If you want pizza but don't want the burden of deciding on one set of toppings for the whole table, check out Old World Pizza. There, a pizza buffet serves up hot slices of cheese-laden pie for lunch and on select evenings. Alternatively, order a meat feast, a cheeseburger pie or a B.L.T. pizza for the whole table at this locally-owned establishment.

If you prefer an award-winning burger, check out B-52 Burgers and Brew. This winner of the Twin Cities Burger Battle draws people for its happy hour deals as well as its massive burgers and flat breads topped with everything from Thai peanut sauce to pesto.

In the evenings, live music rings out at Jersey's Bar and Grill. The establishment also brings karaoke nights and DJs to the area. As you sip down Jersey's ice cold draft beer, chow down on one of their enormous burgers, or snack on items from the app menu, such as cheese curds, Philadelphia wontons or sloppy Joe sliders. If you live near Schmidt Lake, you can also drive to music venues and bars in the surrounding areas, such as Boulevard Bar and Grille in West St. Paul, Mendoberri Cafe and Wine in Mendota Heights and Amsterdam Bar and Hall in downtown St. Paul.

Drivers find the Schmidt Lake neighborhood very convenient, and free parking abounds. US-52 takes drivers into downtown St. Paul in less than 15 minutes with low traffic levels, and from there I-94 links to downtown Minneapolis, 6 additional miles away. Ring road I-494 runs through the area as well, providing access to the surrounding suburbs and I-35 into downtown Minneapolis.

While the streets and paths of Schmidt Lake offer safety to residents, walking and biking exists primarily for recreational activity, rather than as a reasonable option for commuting or getting to commercial areas. Bus route 75 has stops near the lake along with service into downtown St. Paul and other areas. While you may not see cabs waiting to be hailed, you can call them to the area or use the Uber app to find a driver.

The area around Schmidt Lake has paths and spots for picnics, and other parks such as Lions Park exist in the community as well. Lions Park in Inver Grove Heights offers fun for the whole family. There, you can find playgrounds as well as walking paths, and thanks to the suburb's liberal leash laws, this park serves as an unofficial off-leash dog park. As long as you can control your dog with commands, your furry friend can run freely through this park, including taking a dip in its cooling pond on a hot day.

Dog lovers also frequent the Kaposia Landing Off-Leash Dog Park. Located in South St. Paul, this park offers stunning views of the Mississippi River as well as biking and running paths. Dogs have access to a huge off-leash area, which is clean but unfortunately un-shaded.

Whether you love beer, snow or string quartets, you can find a St. Paul festival focused on your passion. If you love drinking, brewing or both, check out the Beer Dabbler's Festivals. Spread throughout the year, these festivals celebrate samples of the best local brews. At the St. Paul String Quartet Competition, hear cellos and violins battle it out to claim the city's top prize.

Even in the winter, the fun doesn't settle down. During the coldest month of the year, bundle up, drive to St. Paul and watch the crowning of King Boreas at the St. Paul Winter Carnival.

Living around Schmidt Lake saves you money compared to living in other parts of the city. Rent for a one-bedroom costs an average of $782, compared to St. Paul's average of $839, and drivers save on their commutes as area gas stations charge about 12 percent less than the national average for a gallon of gas. During happy hour, beer can be found for $2 for domestic bottles or $3 for craft beers.

Shopping near Schmidt Lake consists mostly of chains and big box stores with a few independent shops such as Gerten's scattered between them. An independently-owned nursery in the area, Gerten's offers everything from tulip bulbs to live Christmas trees, and the store acts as a gathering place for locals by offering complimentary events, such as meetings with Santa Claus. Schmidt Lake locals in the mood for more intense shopping have easy access to I-35, which takes them into the heart of the Summit Hill District of St. Paul. There, Grand Avenue, an adorable street full of antique homes converted into small shops, brings shoppers a range of boutiques, including Bombshell for plus-sized women and BlackBlue for men. Alternatively, you can jump on I-494, drive for 10 miles and arrive at the Mall of America within 15 minutes in low traffic conditions. There, at one of the world's largest shopping malls, you have access to 400 shops, an indoor amusement park, a movie theater and lots of restaurants. Local residents can shop for groceries at local chains throughout the Minneapolis area, with stores like Whole Foods Market, Thrift-Way Supermarket and Cub Foods available. There are also numerous farmers market options, including the Minneapolis Farmers Market, which opens on weekends throughout the year.