Town and Country

Apple Valley seems to have the best of both worlds; town and a bit of country thrown in for good measure. There’s a variety of housing options from townhomes, row houses, Co-op Housing, apartments and condominiums. New York City it’s not, and that’s a good thing.

The on-going debate, discussion, and smack-talk about the benefits of living in the city verses the suburbs has been around forever. Comparisons between city living and countrified-gentility have been bantered about in newspapers and magazines since the great Western expansion of the 1700s.

As a third-tier suburb, Apple Valley shares the same amenities as most other suburbs with its housing, shopping, limited entertainment and employment opportunities. What it can brag about are some special assets not found in most other suburbs. Valleywood, our own golf course, The Minnesota Zoo, Lebanon Hills Regional Park and so much more.

Within easy driving distance are a whole host of other attractions aimed at a variety of patrons. Cross the Cedar Avenue Bridge and an entirely different world unfolds. Beginning with the Mall of American and a quick escape along 494, there is an abundance of attractions calling in either direction. You can venture west to the western suburbs and Lake Minnetonka or roll down 35W and downtown Minneapolis is at your doorstep. You can also head east down old Fort Road toward downtown Saint Paul in the distance.

Some might argue that there is more mental stimulation in the city verses a more suburban environment. Opportunities certainly seem more abundant among the high rise set rather than tract homes inhabitants. And the variety of attractions can’t be beat.

Certainly the city, any city, is a great melting pot of sights and sounds and smells and adrenaline rush. Cities remain a great gathering spot for sharing information and ideas. There are ton of activities to do.

But now in the year of COVID-19, the internet has proven to be the great equalizer in workforce contributions, education, shopping, etc. The ‘working from home’ phenomena have proven that employees don’t have to be clustered in some high rise building downtown to be productive and team players. Apple Valley is fortunate in that it has old but solid housing stock as well as new.

For many of us, the perfect place to live is in a more country-like setting but close enough to town that one can survive without a car. It’s still possible to live in the suburbs without a car with bus, Uber, Lyft and bicycles taking up the slack. It’s a challenge but it’s doable.

You look out your window each morning and see what some people from the city drive for hours to enjoy.  It really is the best of both worlds