Looking for a small town in SE Minnesota..

TornadoAlley · 10-16-2006, 10:47 PM

Any smalls towns with lakes close by would be great.

Thanks.

**T.S.** · 10-17-2006, 01:01 AM

I don't know any by name, I am more familiar with the Twin Cities area and the NW of the state, but I would look in about a 25 mile radius around Rochester. That way you can have your small town feel, but still have larger town entertainment, shopping, and jobs all within a reasonable driving distance. I haven't spent much time there, but I do like the looks of it when I drive though.

Olmsted County, where Rochester is located, is supposed to have the highest "quality of life" in the state according to something I remember reading.

**Corlyx** · 10-18-2006, 12:02 AM

I can't remember the last time I was in SE Minnesota. You might check out Winona, I've heard good things about it and have some friends from there. Never been there myself so I can't say much. I don't know if there are any lakes around, but you'll definitely be near the river.

MoiSr · 10-18-2006, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T.S.

I don't know any by name, I am more familiar with the Twin Cities area and the NW of the state, but I would look in about a 25 mile radius around Rochester. That way you can have your small town feel, but still have larger town entertainment, shopping, and jobs all within a reasonable driving distance. I haven't spent much time there, but I do like the looks of it when I drive though.

Olmsted County, where Rochester is located, is supposed to have the highest "quality of life" in the state according to something I remember reading.

Good answer; I can't think of anywhere within 25 miles of Rochester/Winona where there aren't lakes of a decent size, as well as the Mississippi. Was born and grew up in MN during most of my juvenile life; now live in North Texas...

mastertape · 10-19-2006, 05:06 PM

Well your choices are:
Lake Zumbro - Small River Flowage heavily used and not very clean, commonly referred to as the Scumbro River, about 15-20 miles from Rochester.
The Mississippi River is about an hour away from Rochester, and also a very busy place to boat, but a very pretty place to visit.
I live about 25 miles west of Rochester in Dodge Center (Dodge County) , and the neaest usable lakes are near Faribault, which is about 45 mins away. (My choice for lake visitation)
Unfortunately, living in SE Minnesota, is alot like living in Iowa, flat, no trees (generally speaking) and windy. But we have good medical access, and decent jobs.
Bottom line is that all the lakes are pretty much North or West of Rochester, and are more than 25 miles away, or the Mississippi to the North/East and about an 45mins to an hour away.
Thats the lake report in SE Minnesota.
However there are plenty of nice small towns to live in/or around, and thats another story.
Depending on what kinds of roads you want to drive on in the winter can be a variable.
Anyway, a friend of mine, in Florida asked me to post about this message, and I hope I helped out a little.

**T.S.** · 12-30-2006, 09:30 PM

TornadoAlley has been missing in action for a couple months now.

**kimbercuddles** · 01-05-2007, 07:14 PM

Hello Tornado!

Just out of curiousity, any particular reason you are only looking toward southeastern Minnesota? I lived in the western central part for the first 18 years of my life, so if you want to know more about that area or Duluth, (lived there for about 2 years) I would be able to help.

**T.S.** · 01-05-2007, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimbercuddles

Hello T.S.

Just out of curiousity, any particular reason you are only looking toward southeastern Minnesota? I lived in the western central part for the first 18 years of my life, so if you want to know more about that area or Duluth, (lived there for about 2 years) I would be able to help.

TornadoAlley was looking, not me. I grew up in MN and just moved away this past summer.

**kimbercuddles** · 01-05-2007, 08:44 PM

Sorry T.S. My sincere apologies...

**T.S.** · 01-08-2007, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimbercuddles

Sorry T.S. My sincere apologies...

No problem.

**T.S.** · 05-15-2008, 03:02 PM

I still wonder what ever happened to that TornadoAlley guy. He just disappeared one day and never posted here or at city-data again unless under a new name.

10-16-2006, 10:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
TornadoAlley Newbie Join Date: Oct 15th, 2006 Posts: 1	Looking for a small town in SE Minnesota.. Any smalls towns with lakes close by would be great. Thanks.

10-17-2006, 01:01 AM	#2 (permalink)
T.S. Member Join Date: Oct 12th, 2006 Location: MN to NC to FL to MN Posts: 716	RE: Looking for a small town in SE Minnesota.. I don't know any by name, I am more familiar with the Twin Cities area and the NW of the state, but I would look in about a 25 mile radius around Rochester. That way you can have your small town feel, but still have larger town entertainment, shopping, and jobs all within a reasonable driving distance. I haven't spent much time there, but I do like the looks of it when I drive though. Olmsted County, where Rochester is located, is supposed to have the highest "quality of life" in the state according to something I remember reading.

10-18-2006, 12:02 AM	#3 (permalink)
Corlyx Junior Member Join Date: Oct 14th, 2006 Location: Duluth, MN Posts: 95	RE: Looking for a small town in SE Minnesota.. I can't remember the last time I was in SE Minnesota. You might check out Winona, I've heard good things about it and have some friends from there. Never been there myself so I can't say much. I don't know if there are any lakes around, but you'll definitely be near the river.

10-19-2006, 05:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
mastertape Newbie Join Date: Oct 19th, 2006 Posts: 1	RE: Looking for a small town in SE Minnesota.. Well your choices are: Lake Zumbro - Small River Flowage heavily used and not very clean, commonly referred to as the Scumbro River, about 15-20 miles from Rochester. The Mississippi River is about an hour away from Rochester, and also a very busy place to boat, but a very pretty place to visit. I live about 25 miles west of Rochester in Dodge Center (Dodge County) , and the neaest usable lakes are near Faribault, which is about 45 mins away. (My choice for lake visitation) Unfortunately, living in SE Minnesota, is alot like living in Iowa, flat, no trees (generally speaking) and windy. But we have good medical access, and decent jobs. Bottom line is that all the lakes are pretty much North or West of Rochester, and are more than 25 miles away, or the Mississippi to the North/East and about an 45mins to an hour away. Thats the lake report in SE Minnesota. However there are plenty of nice small towns to live in/or around, and thats another story. Depending on what kinds of roads you want to drive on in the winter can be a variable. Anyway, a friend of mine, in Florida asked me to post about this message, and I hope I helped out a little.

12-30-2006, 09:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
T.S. Member Join Date: Oct 12th, 2006 Location: MN to NC to FL to MN Posts: 716	Re: Looking for a small town in SE Minnesota.. TornadoAlley has been missing in action for a couple months now.

01-05-2007, 07:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
kimbercuddles Cheery Chick Join Date: Jan 02nd, 2007 Location: Navarre, Florida Posts: 1,089	Re: Looking for a small town in SE Minnesota.. Hello Tornado! Just out of curiousity, any particular reason you are only looking toward southeastern Minnesota? I lived in the western central part for the first 18 years of my life, so if you want to know more about that area or Duluth, (lived there for about 2 years) I would be able to help.

01-05-2007, 08:44 PM	#9 (permalink)
kimbercuddles Cheery Chick Join Date: Jan 02nd, 2007 Location: Navarre, Florida Posts: 1,089	Re: Looking for a small town in SE Minnesota.. Sorry T.S. My sincere apologies...

05-15-2008, 03:02 PM	#11 (permalink)
T.S. Member Join Date: Oct 12th, 2006 Location: MN to NC to FL to MN Posts: 716	Re: Looking for a small town in SE Minnesota.. I still wonder what ever happened to that TornadoAlley guy. He just disappeared one day and never posted here or at city-data again unless under a new name.