The University of St. Thomas

About the Twin Cities

About the Twin Cities

Sailboats Opportunities for outdoor activities are abundant during all four seasons. The beautiful wilderness of northern Minnesota, including the North Shore of Lake Superior, provides canoeing, fishing, sailing, rock climbing, camping and hiking within a few hours drive of the Twin Cities.

The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, with a total population of 2.5 million, offers a quality of life that is nationally recognized. Both Money and Fortune magazines have listed the Twin Cities in their top ten places to live, while Arthur Frommer cites the cities as one of his five favorite places to visit in the entire world.

Spoonbridge and Cherry The cities provide dozens of educational and world-renowned cultural options, including the Walker Art Center, the Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Ordway Music Theatre and the Science Museum of Minnesota. The Twin Cities are home to 12 four-year colleges and universities, and have the second-most theaters per capita in the United States, behind only New York City. Moreover, there are boundless opportunities for shopping, professional sports, numerous concerts, and dozens of parks and lakes.

Brief video about the Twin Cities lifestyle.

There is a wealth of ethnic and cultural diversity in the Twin Cities, with nearly 50% of the state's diverse population living in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Over the past two decades, the Twin Cities has enjoyed a significant rise its Hmong and Hispanic populations, and more recently there has been an increase in Somali immigrants to the area. There are French, Spanish and other language immersion schools in the community, and no shortage of ethnic and cultural restaurants to enjoy. There is also the famous Mall of America, with fabulous, culturally diverse shopping experiences and recreational activities for all ages.

Rice Park The weather? The Twin Cities enjoys four distinct, changing seasons with sports for all of them. It's cold in the winter, hot in the summer and beautiful in between. Minnesotans take pride in their attitude toward the weather. For example, St. Paul's famous Winter Carnival draws thousands of people outside in the last week of January. The weather is seen as a part of life that complements the outdoor culture.

Vanessa (intern from 2006-07) discusses her move to the Twin Cities.

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