Reviews & Comments
Dubuque, IA
Another depressed river city trying to survive on -
7/1/2007I have stayed in Dubuque twice recently, mainly in the downtown area. The city is chock full of old rundown warehouses and grand old houses badly in need of repair. This place has seen better days. The downtown has a very small night life catering to the beautiful people but in general it feels very dead and has lots of empty store fonts. It looks like a few years back the city decided to do something about the decline and like many river cities push for tourism with a focus on the river front and gambling. A poor substitute for the former manufacturing and trade that used to actually create wealth instead of pushing it around town. However the chamber of commerce paints it up as an exciting and vibrant place to visit. i wouldn't go that far unless you find abandoned warehouses and cracked sidewalks exciting.
St. Paul, MN
More laid back than minneapolis -
10/20/2006As a sibling in the Twin Cities, living in Saint Paul stands as the more quiet sister to minneapolis. in contrast it is cheaper, quiter, and slower paced. Many people say downtown is dead in at night despite attempts to transform it into mini-minneapolis. The east side is course and gritty, but the south west is like an idylic small town. Summit Avenue is a stately and historic boulevard that runs through the western center half of the city. Saint Paul is interesting and has a lot of nooks and crannies. It was built around the rivers and railroads which run through the area creating pockets of community and unusual topography. People from grid-based minneapolis can get hopelessly lost and fear crossing the river lest they drive around aimlessly and have to miss supper. A large influx of Hmong, Somali and Latinos in the last 10 years have changed the city dramatically with mixed results. An explosion of condos have been blanketing the city as well. Overall, it is OK. You could do worse, I s'pose. It is very midwestern and is kinda backward in some respects - but not like Duluth. There is the cold, snow and ice in the winter, which proves too much for the lazy - who do not live here. Transplants often complain that the people are nice but stand-offish. Indeed, it can be difficult to make friends here. Don't expect someone to accept your dinner date unless you offer several times! "No, thanks" is a genetic habit around here.
St. Paul, MN
More laid back than minneapolis -
10/20/2006As a sibling in the Twin Cities, living in Saint Paul stands as the more quiet sister to minneapolis. in contrast it is cheaper, quiter, and slower paced. Many people say downtown is dead in at night despite attempts to transform it into mini-minneapolis. The east side is course and gritty, but the south west is like an idylic small town. Summit Avenue is a stately and historic boulevard that runs through the western center half of the city. Saint Paul is interesting and has a lot of nooks and crannies. It was built around the rivers and railroads which run through the area creating pockets of community and unusual topography. People from grid-based minneapolis can get hopelessly lost and fear crossing the river lest they drive around aimlessly and have to miss supper. A large influx of Hmong, Somali and Latinos in the last 10 years have changed the city dramatically with mixed results. An explosion of condos have been blanketing the city as well. Overall, it is OK. You could do worse, I s'pose. It is very midwestern and is kinda backward in some respects - but not like Duluth. There is the cold, snow and ice in the winter, which proves too much for the lazy - who do not live here. Transplants often complain that the people are nice but stand-offish. Indeed, it can be difficult to make friends here. Don't expect someone to accept your dinner date unless you offer several times! "No, thanks" is a genetic habit around here.