Bloomington

With expansive nature preserves and parks nestled among the winding, residential streets, locals of the West Bloomington neighborhood enjoy proximity to green space and outdoor recreation facilities. “West Bloomington is home to a lot more greenspace and woodlands than surrounding neighborhoods,” which is a draw for many, says Karissa White, a Realtor and Bloomington resident. Bordering the northern banks of the Minnesota River 15 miles southwest of downtown Minneapolis, West Bloomington residents enjoy proximity to both modern amenities and expansive parklands and nature preserves, making for a harmonious blend of rural and suburban living. “Lots of folks who grow up in West Bloomington end up buying their own homes here,” says local Realtor and Bloomington resident Karissa White. The Highland Lake Park Reserve is a natural gem of the Bloomington area and provides locals with a wide range of outdoor activities. The park is home to a serene lake perfect for canoe launching, along with a ski area, an 18-hole disc golf course and over 17 miles of hiking trails that wind through peaceful woodlands and restored grasslands. Just west of Highland Lake Park Reserve is Bush Lake Park, where three picnic shelters and sandy beach welcomes visitors. For some off-leash exercise, four-legged friends can be found frolicking on the 25 acres of fenced in field, rolling hills and pond that make up the Bloomington Dog Park. Golfers find three courses within West Bloomington with Dwan Golf Course serving the community since 1970 with its public, beautifully maintained 18-hole course. After a full day of work or play, residents pass tall evergreens and familiar neighborhood faces before returning home to recharge. House styles in West Bloomington closely mirror others in the city, ranging from minimal traditional ranch-style houses and split levels to modern colonials and elegant Tudors. Most homes in the area feature front-facing, attached garages and residents enjoy a degree of privacy provided by the tall trees that adorn most of the neighborhood’s lots. West Bloomington home prices tend to be higher than those in East Bloomington and other surrounding neighborhoods, with homes ranging from modest $210,000 single-family houses to $1.2 million multistory homes – some on the water. A wide array of both public and private schools can be found throughout the West Bloomington area. Jefferson Senior High School provides its students with a multitude of course and extracurricular options from baking club to jazz band. It earns an A-minus grade from Niche. Oak Grove Elementary School has a C-minus from Niche and boast a 14 to 1 student-teacher while fostering a positive academic and social environment. Oak Grove Middle School earns a B-minus grade from Niche with a focus on motivating students towards success. Niche commends their performance in reading, with 48% of students exceeding proficiency. When it comes to groceries and other daily necessities, shopping is easy with the nearby Trader Joe’s, Sam’s Club, Walmart Supercenter or Lunds & Byerlys. Residents also head to Southtown Shopping Center on Penn Avenue to peruse through shops like Kohls, T.J. Maxx, and Bed Bath & Beyond. After an afternoon of shopping and running errands, stop for some refreshment at NorthStar Tavern. Here, patrons can be found enjoying menu items like shrimp po-boys, carnitas tacos and Thai-chicken pizza alongside one of NorthStar’s 24 refreshing draft beers. A short drive southwest will take you to Willy McCoys, a local chain where you can savor pub fare while watching the evening’s game. For medical care in West Bloomington, there are several options including TRIA on Northland Drive and Park Nicollet Clinic Bloomington on Hyland Greens Drive and M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital is located nearby in Edina. West Bloomington is considered a walkable neighborhood, even so, Bloomington has a public transportation system with a light rail line and buses.

Nestled against the northern banks of the Minnesota River 10 miles south of downtown Minneapolis, East Bloomington is known for its shopping destinations, big box stores and outdoor recreation facilities. “One of the big draws of homebuyers to the area is accessibility to downtown,” says Karissa White, a local Bloomington resident and Realtor with Re/Max Advantage Plus. “You can get on the highway and reach either of the twin cities in a matter of 15 minutes.” The community provides residents with proximity to a wealth of amenities, including the Mall of America, many of the area’s major highways and Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, which is only about 5 miles away. There is no shortage of things to do in the area, whether residents want to spend the day outdoors or go for some retail therapy. Residents of East Bloomington enjoy a wealth of shopping options. Mall of America, the largest shopping mall in the western hemisphere, is home to over 400 shops and restaurants. Locals also don’t need to travel far to find big box stores and chain grocers, with stores like Sam’s Club, Walmart Supercenter, Aldi and Menards all being located off of 78th street. After a full day of shopping or running errands, stop for a bite to eat at Hazelwood Food and Drink. Located just outside of the mall, this restaurant provides patrons with a range of contemporary American menu items from the blackberry brie burger to lightly fried garlic butter wings. Additionally, you can wash down your meal with one of Hazelwood’s refreshing cocktails or draft beers. Traveling three miles southwest will take you to local favorite, Shantytown Grill. This small, pub-style restaurant features weekly sandwich specials along with their consistently delectable burgers and refreshing draft beers. East Bloomington is also home to a wide range of sit-down chains and fast-food restaurants. Walking the pine-lined streets of East Bloomington will take you past a wide range of house styles, from Cape Cods and minimal traditional ranch-style homes to Tudor-style cottages, modern colonials and craftsman style builds. Prices range from $150,000 ranch-style homes to $600,000 multistory houses near the river. Additionally, most houses in the area sit upon quarter-to half-acre lots and were largely built between the 1940s and ’80s, with a few newer homes sprinkled throughout. East Bloomington is conveniently located near many of the area’s major roadways, including Interstate 35 West and Interstate 494. There’s also public transportation through the Metro Transit throughout the community. There are a number of both public and charter schools within East Bloomington. John F. Kennedy High School provides its students with a range of extracurricular activities and clubs including bowling, guitar club, robotics and jazz band. Before then, students might attend Indian Mounds Elementary School followed by Valley View Middle School, which both have overall C-plus Niche ratings. For some engaging weekend learning, visit The Works Museum, where young learners can engage with hands-on exhibits and activities to explore topics across engineering, science and technology. Along with the plethora of restaurant and shopping options enjoyed by residents of East Bloomington, neighborhood locals also enjoy proximity to a range of parks and outdoor recreational facilities. Local sports lovers can often be found at the Gene C Kelly Playfields using the park’s baseball diamonds, soccer fields, tennis courts and basketball court. The park is also home to an ice-skating rink in the colder months. Looking to have a relaxing picnic with a pond view? Smith Park is home to a picnic pavilion, playground, sports facilities and walking trails that surround the park’s serene fishing pond. Hikers and bikers alike of East Bloomington enjoy access to Bluff Trail. Running along the shores of Long Meadow Lake and the banks of the Minnesota River, this trail will take you through the quiet woodlands and mossy wetlands that border the neighborhood to the south. After an afternoon full of outdoor recreation, residents can return home past tall pine trees to the quiet, suburban streets of East Bloomington to recharge.

The South Loop neighborhood of Bloomington is a chic urban center best known as the home of the Mall of America, one of the most visited tourist attractions in the country and the primary retail and entertainment anchor of the city. The Mall is a retail behemoth boasting more than 520 stores, 60 restaurants, a 7-acre indoor amusement park, an aquarium, world-class entertainment centers and a variety of family attractions and nightlife options. There's no shortage of options to keep the kids busy, including Nickelodeon Universe, a theme park with wild rides and the opportunity to meet some of their favorite characters. At the LEGO Store there are larger-than-life models, including a LEGO robot towering over 34 feet. Flyover America is a flight simulator that takes you on a breathtaking aerial tour of some of the greatest landmarks in the country. Dining and drinking options are abdudant both in the mall and outside of it. Hazelwood Food and Drink is a bright, airy mainstay with a contemporary interior serving New American plates. WhirlyBall Twin Cities is an upbeat sports bar with indoor bumper cars, laser tag and bowling. Some say it’s one of the best places to have a birthday party. Fun at the mall isn't the only thing that makes this neighborhood attractive. “What brings people here is an ease of life,” says local resident and Compass Realtor Joseph Perriello.. “It’s either young professionals who use the light rail to get to work or the airport or sometimes a second, third or fourth home for people – it’s a lifestyle thing with having everything closer to you and not needing a car as much.” In fact, Bloomington Central Station is the beating heart of this bustling Midwest metropolis, shuffling people in and out day and night. Just 10 miles from downtown Minneapolis and five miles to the airport, South Loop is one of the most convenient locations in the metro area with its multiple light rail stops and unparalleled connectivity. Housing inventory in this area primarily consists of two condominium buildings: Appletree Condominiums and Reflections at Bloomington. Appletree was built in the late 80s, but many units have been rehabbed and refreshed. “A big benefit of this building is that its back is facing the Minnesota Wildlife Refuge, so you have a patio overlooking untouched nature right next to the biggest mall in North America,” Perriello says. Units at Appletree average $250,000. Reflections is a contemporary condo building built in 2005. This modern industrial building has 263 heavily concrete units that provide insulation from neighbors. Units here average $430,000, with penthouse units selling for as much as $750,000. Kids in South Loop will have to travel to a surrounding community for school. Indian Mounds Elementary and Valley View Middle both receive overall grades of C-plus from Niche and Kennedy Senior High receives a B. For those wondering what it’s like to live next to the Mall of America, Perriello insists it’s it’s more relaxed than one would imagine. “There are no residential areas to the east, so it’s actually a quiet area, which is surprising, but you don’t get the overflow of traffic. In the evening, you can sit outside and not see anyone sometimes. It’s quiet over there and it’s really a hidden gem, to be perfectly honest with you. This is an area I love. If I hadn’t had kids, I’d still be living there.” With water features, walking paths and picnic tables, Bloomington Central Station Park is a small, modern park that will be part of Minnesota’s first mixed-use urban village situated on a light-rail transit line. The city has big plans for South Loop, which will see two-thirds of Bloomington’s growth potential over the next 40 years.