It’s official. I’ve packed up my bags and moved across the river to the City of Lakes (Minneapolis). I’m stoked. Not only do I have my own place (and am not living with my parents), I’m so close to everything!

Here’s a rundown of my neighborhood:

Out my front door: Grand Rounds bike path. The path is about 50 miles long and winds throughout Minneapolis around the lakes, downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. I hope to bike the entire thing before the end of next summer.

Across the street: Lake Calhoun. It’s about three miles around, and is BEAUTIFUL. You can play volleyball at one of its courts, rent a boat, canoe or kayak, or enjoy one of its many little beaches and fishing spots. I love it. On the south end, there’s a perfect spot where you see the beach, lake and the Minneapolis skyline. LOVE IT.

With in walking distance: a ton of fabulous shops, restaurants and public library. Dunn Bros (my favorite) and Caribou Coffee are so close, I can smell the fresh coffee. And my favorite thing about Uptown is all of the quirky shops and boutiques. I can’t wait to do more exploring.

Other than that, the perks of living in Minneapolis is living so close to work and other friends. It’s been great. I’m excited.. and officially an Uptown girl!