Living & Nursing in Minneapolis-St. Paul

TWIN CITY APPEAL: MINNEAPOLIS―ST. PAUL

Combining the bustle of a big city with the intimacy of neighborhood life, Minneapolis―St. Paul is a metro area full of contrasts and unexpected combinations. A “green” environmental movement blends with contemporary architecture, interweaving natural beauty in a sophisticated pattern. Big enough to attract world-class theater, sports teams, and businesses, yet small enough to avoid the crime and overcrowding of bigger, denser urban centers, these cities by the Mississippi have it all.

Target, 3M, United Health Group, Best Buy and Medtronic are just a few examples of the Fortune 500 companies which, along with strong local businesses, bring a low rate of unemployment and a high tax base to the area. The good public schools and many options for higher education (including the University of Minnesota) mean an educated, skilled workforce resulting in good business recruitment to the cities.

There are more Fortune 1000 companies here than any other state. Wide-reaching public facilities and investment in transportation and infrastructure have yielded a city that’s good for business.

And companies here, both big and small, have a tradition of giving back to the communities that help them succeed.  Private funding and corporate philanthropy help keep Minneapolis vibrant and exciting.

Iconic attractions are found in Minneapolis like the Mary Tyler Moore statue just across the street from where the hat-tossing scene at the end of her show was filmed. And where else can you find a skyway highway? The Minneapolis skyway system links hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, office building, and performance venues via glass-enclosed walkways one floor above street level. The skyways connect 80 blocks, 1,000 businesses, 2,000 condos, 4,000 hotel rooms and accommodate 200,000 pedestrians every day.

Shopping Galore

Minneapolis―St. Paul is a world-class shopping destination. Mall of America may be the biggest draw, but there are many other retail reasons for moving here.

Shopping is easy in downtown Minneapolis where you’ll find scores of popular merchants within steps of hotels and hip eateries. The retail beat sounds loudest along Nicollet Mall, the pedestrian-friendly thoroughfare where Mary Tyler Moore tossed her cap. Neiman Marcus, Macy’s and the Target flagship store (just down the street from the Target world headquarters building) anchor this thriving corridor.

Virtually every building including Block E retail and entertainment complex, offers a climate-controlled skyway connection, while convenient light-rail transit speeds power shoppers on a quick 35 minute trip to Mall of America.

Mall of America is the country’s largest shopping and entertainment complex. Home to more than 520 stores, unique shops, national flagship stores, and emerging retail concept, the Mall has something for everyone. Plus, you can’t forget The Park inside the Mall—the nation’s largest fully enclosed theme park, a giant walk-through aquarium called Underwater Adventures; an appetizing range of restaurants and bars, and a 14-screen movie theater. 

Uptown, original boutiques and signature retailers add charm and entice shoppers into the city’s many distinct neighborhoods. Hipsters prowl for high-voltage clothing and trendy home furnishings while sophisticates ponder elite labels and luxe housewares in the 50^th and France area. Packed with locally owned gift shops, bakeries and bookstores, Linden Hills in southwest Minneapolis personifies the independent spirit of the city’s neighborhoods where ethnic flavors and lifestyles vary.

Exceptional Neighborhoods

Neighborhoods ranging from eclectic to ethnic, historic to hip, create the colorful fabric of Minneapolis where there’s a place for every personality.

In the Riverfront District, parks and pathways, landmark restaurants, and historical attractions line the bank of the Mississippi River which once fueled Minneapolis’s flour milling boom and now defines downtown’s northern edge. Many milling-era buildings have been reborn as housing, cultural venues and hotels, while concerts and festivals along historic cobblestone Main Street further enliven this ever-evolving neighborhood.

Located on the southwestern edge of downtown Minneapolis, Loring Park revolves around its namesake green space. Its popular restaurants offer city skyline views, and intimate theaters present original productions. An eye-catching suspension bridge connects Loring Park to the Walker Art Center and Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.

In the Northeast (pronounced Nordeast), ethnic churches and restaurants highlight this long-established, newly imagined neighborhood located just across the Mississippi River from downtown Minneapolis. New immigrant populations add flavor to the global dining scene, while artists living and working in the area’s brick warehouses shape the city’s visual arts scene. Dance clubs, wine bars and polka lounges create a vibrant come-one-come-all nightlife scene.

East of downtown, the University of Minnesota straddles the Mississippi supporting dining, shopping and entertainment on two banks of the river. The Cedar-Riverside neighborhood offers multicultural restaurants, shops and theater along the river’s West Bank. On the East Bank of the river, Dinkytown epitomizes the urban university experience with bookstores, music shops, and energetic eateries and nightlife. A covered pedestrian bridge spans the river to unite the campus.

Medical Industry

Healthcare is exceptional in the Twin Cities. The area offers its residents the most modern

Medical facilities and health care anywhere. Thanks to the presence of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, 75 miles south of Minneapolis-St.Paul, Minnesota has an international reputation for superb health care. But the Mayo Clinic is far from the state’s only world-class medical facility. The University of Minnesota Hospital was responsible for the first open-heart surgery in 1954, and is recognized as a leading organ transplant center.

Excellent hospitals, clinics, counseling services, rehabilitation centers and nursing homes make the pursuit for superior health care in this area relatively trouble-free. Nurses with access to state-of-the-art and updated equipment furnish the very best medical service to the community.

Find Your Place

With a diverse, educated population and an emphasis on cultural taste and the cosmopolitan lifestyle, Minneapolis-St. Paul is inviting to both visitors and new residents. You’ll fit in perfectly in an environment that offers a stable economy and nationally recognized healthcare. Live and work in the Twin Cities, and discover a whole new world of possibilities!

Content and photos for this article courtesy of the Minneapolis Convention & Visitors Association (www.minneapolis.org), the St. Paul Convention and Visitors Authority (www.stpaulcvb.org) and the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce (www.minneapolischamber.org).