Roseville, MN

Once home to the Dakota and Ojibway natives, Roseville saw its first white settlers in 1843 with the natives moving out roughly 20 years later. The town was established in 1850, and it experienced major growth during the 1930s and 1940s. During the following decades, it became a hub of retail activity while maintaining its beautiful residential areas. Several famous residents have come out of Roseville over the years, including actors Richard Dean Anderson and Peter Kraus.

Craft stores and a few performing arts theaters give Roseville its cultural identity. Despite the city's heavy development, you can still enjoy its Native American culture during the Wild Rice Festival each September. Celebrate the harvest of Minnesota's signature staple with traditional dancing, storytelling and fresh foods such as wild rice pancakes and frybread.

When you want to find some unique Christmas gifts, attend Roseville's Holiday Craft Fair to find hand-made crafts by local artisans.

Roseville's blossoming eco-friendly community has sprouted a selection of high-end natural restaurants with vegetable-based dishes, but you still find plenty of down-home Minnesota grills for your traditional restaurant fare. Add a rich assortment of exotic eateries from around the globe, and you have a diverse dining experience to please every taste. Stop into one of the malls or cruise along Snelling to browse Roseville's spread of mid-priced culinary offerings. Chianti Grill on Snelling Avenue features the best in fine dining, including a full wine list and plenty of beer. The specialty of the house features pork maque choux made with an award-winning recipe. Imagine tender pork medallions wrapped in bacon and seasoned with Cajun spices. The meat comes on a bed of roasted corn maque choux and is covered with a spiced sherry cream sauce.

For healthier fare, stop into Good Earth to enjoy a cashew chicken salad while sipping on a tall glass of green lemonade. This popular lunch spot attracts flocks of locals during the weekends, so visit during the week to guarantee a table and fast service.

For your go-to neighborhood Chinese restaurant, trust Szechuan to serve you some of the most authentic dan dan noodles this side of the Atlantic. Choose anything from the Szechuan side of the menu for hot and spicy Chinese favorites, and order the hot pot if you want to cook your own meat. If you're feeling adventurous, try the restaurant's oddities, such as sea cucumbers and jellyfish.

Aside from the mixed drinks and drafts served at your local grills, Roseville doesn't offer much in the way of nightlife. For a more exciting nocturnal scene, take a short drive down Interstate 35W into downtown Minneapolis.

A convenient location and close proximity to downtown means Roseville residents look forward to an easy daily commute. Car drivers have the most options in this suburban neighborhood with access to Minneapolis via 35W and Minnesota 36 cutting through the neighborhood for a fast drive to St. Paul. When you run errands around town, park your car in one of the large lots and garages. Just be ready for pricey street meters in the retail-heavy areas. For a quick ride home from the mall, call a cab or Uber driver for a pickup.

A few Metro Transit buses service Roseville, but the overall public transportation scene remains pretty sparse. If you do take the bus to work, be ready to pay an extra fee during rush hour. Pedestrians can easily explore the retail area, but a long walk awaits if you choose to run all your errands on foot. You can always bike along the bike-friendly roads and bike trails in the warmer months. Thanks to Minneapolis' green scene, expect to see growing opportunities for bikers in the coming years.

With 679 acres of natural and developed park land, residents throughout Roseville enjoy a peaceful refuge within a few blocks of home. Visit Pioneer Park to watch your kids play on the playground, have a picnic or take a walk through the shaded nature trail without taking a penny from your pocket. If you need to walk your pooch, stop by the Woodview Off-Leash Dog Area at Reservoir Woods.

Each public park has its own charm, but Central Park has become a local favorite for its lakefront biking trails and event-sized picnic shelter. The park's Frank Rog Amphitheatre holds a free entertainment series each summer with music and family-friendly activities.

Roseville's prime location near shopping centers and restaurants keeps its cost of living higher than other suburban areas. Combined with accessible amenities and low taxes, this places Roseville's overall cost of living lower than the city's average.

Renters can expect to pay an average of $850 for a one-bedroom apartment, but Roseville's abundance of older apartment buildings means you can easily find options for under $700.

Famous for being one of the biggest shopping hubs in the Twin Cities, Roseville supplies plenty of big-name department stores and high-end fashion retailers in its shopping centers. You see more national brands than independent boutiques, but you still find a few specialty retailers scattered around town.

Spend a day browsing Rosedale Center or Har Mar Mall for a retail selection rivaling that of the Mall of America without the throngs of tourists. If Roseville's upscale fashion selection doesn't strike your fancy, look for outlet shops such as MODE on Snelling Avenue, which sells designer denim at a discount, and several consignment shops, which supply below-market-price merchandise.

If you like Japanese pop culture, you find plenty to love in Rosedale Center's Tomodachi, a cute store with dolls, figurines, keychains and other collectible imports. Explore its Hello Kitty merchandise to find some adorable accessories for your office. For low-priced women's fashion, pay Francesca's Collection a visit. Walk around this little boutique to find formal dresses and tops, and rummage through the clearance section.

Pick up your weekly groceries at Cub Foods or Cost Plus World Market, or browse through local produce during the summer at the Roseville Farmers Market. Most grocers service the west side of Roseville.