The suburbs west of Minneapolis offer everything from dynamic urban communities to peaceful small villages to year-round lakeside resorts. The first ring suburbs -- Edina, Golden Valley and Robbinsdale -- are immediately west of Minneapolis. Eden Prairie, Maple Grove and Plymouth are good-sized cities that offer close proximity to the Minneapolis – St. Paul metro area and offer the perfect balance of a thriving local economy and access to big city amenities. Numerous smaller communities offer a friendly small town environment. The Lake Minntetonka Area, which lies southwest of the Twin Cities, is anchored by Minnetonka. A dozen or more small towns around Lake Minnetonka are a great choice for a home that feels like a year-round vacation.
The suburbs northwest of the Twin Cities offer everything from dynamic urban communities to peaceful small villages to year-round lakeside resorts. The first ring suburbs -- Brooklyn Center, Fridley, Columbia Heights, and Saint Anthony -- are just northwest of Minneapolis. Brooklyn Park is a good-sized city in it's own right where residents can enjoy proximity to the Coon Rapids Recreation Area. Further north and west of the Minneapolis – St. Paul metro area are smaller communities that offer a friendly small town environment plus convenient access to urban amenities.