As more and more people move to Minnesota, it’s becoming clear that something has to be done. There simply aren’t enough lakes to accommodate every single Wisconsinite or Iowan who thinks he can just waltz into Minnesota to enjoy our beauty and culture on a whim. It’s time to take a stand. Next time you hear an out-of-stater talking about living in Minnesota, send them these 19 reasons why they should never, ever move to Minnesota.

1. Minnesotans are just too nice.

MJI Photos (Mary J. I.)/Flickr
Seriously, it's inescapable. Any time a Minnesotan suspects you need help, they'll come running. Looking for bad things about living in Minnesota? This one takes the cake, for sure.

2. Except when they're not.

Mitch Kezar / Design Pics/Design Pics via Getty Images
When you move here, you won't be able to tell the difference. Was that a real invite to your new acquaintances's party, or was it a classic Minnesota brush-off?

3. We're so far from the ocean.

Eric/Flickr
We make do with our thousands of lakes, but do you really want to have to do that? No, best to stick to the coast.

4. We don't have any mountains, either.

Always Shooting/Flickr
All in all, it's pretty flat here. How could our landscape ever compare with the rugged Rockies or hilly Appalachia?

5. There's just not much to do here.

Steve B/Flickr
Move right along, folks. Nothing to see here but pine trees and water.

6. We're just a bit too close to Wisconsin.

Jim Hickcox/Flickr
Do you really want to live with the stigma of having Wisconsin as your eastern neighbor? Trust us, it's for your own good to steer clear of the Badger State.

7. Except on Sundays, that is.

John/Flickr
In Minnesota, we got it bad. Real bad. Do you really want to have to cross state borders just to buy beer on a Sunday? Not even fresh cheese can cure that hurt. (okay, so this isn't an issue anymore, but still...)

8. Speaking of beer, what's up with all the breweries?

Drew Geraets/Flickr
Unless you want a beer gut, best to stay clear of Minnesota.

9. Your pockets will fill with Canadian coins.

JulieAlexK/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
We're just south of the border, so we have plenty of Canadian travelers passing through. That means plenty of Canadian coins passing hands. But if it doesn't work in a vending machine, is it really money? Come to Minnesota and you might find yourself shortchanged - literally.

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10. It's unbearably cold.

Alan Turkus/Flickr
Think about the coldest you've ever been. Then, subtract 10 or 20 degrees. That's what Minnesotans have to look forward to for six months of the year.

11. It's unbearably hot.

jpellgen (@1105_jp)/Flickr
Don't let the nice beach scene fool you. Those people are surely melting in the humidity Minnesota deals with for the half of the year that we aren't approaching absolute zero.

12. Year after year, we forget how to drive in the snow.

Ruin Raider/Flickr
Without fail. The Minnesota commuter's drive time doubles the second a single snowflake flutters down from the heavens. Every. Single. Time. That's life in Minnesota for you!

13. If you can't swim, you'll be miserable.

MoxyJane@Spiral Bound Images/Flickr
Did we mention the 10,000+ lakes? The ones it would take over 30 years to visit if you saw one each day? Yeah, unless you like to swim - and canoe and kayak and fish - you just aren't going to fit in here.

14. You can literally shop till you drop.

Aaron Brown/Flickr
And not in a good way. The Mall of America is a sprawling mall/amusement park/purgatory that Minnesotans hate to visit. Chances are, you'll be one of them. But guess what? You're going to have to take every single out-of-town visitor there. Have fun!

15. There's no culture to speak of.

Mike Procario/Flickr
Nothing to see here. We definitely don't have dozens of museums, concert venues, and galleries. Or great public universities. Or large, diverse companies. Move along, folks. Nothing but farms and snow here.

16. Someone might make you eat tater tot hotdish.

srsldy/Flickr
And you'll definitely like it - or at least pretend to. Making friends here depends upon it, after all. Say goodbye to your waistline.

17. Even worse, you'll eat lutefisk.

mtcarlson/Flickr
This one you'll hate. Luckily, no one will fault you for that. But there's no recovery from the taste of lutefisk permanently etched in your memory.

18. You'll probably pick up the Minnesoooota accent.

Ted/Flickr
Yeah, sure, you'll keep your hometown accent - for a while. But dontcha know, one day you'll be slinging out those long vowels with the rest of us. Will other people mock you for it when you travel? You betcha.

19. After a while, you won't want to leave.

Michael Janke/Flickr
There's a thing they say about Minnesota: it's hard to get someone to move here but impossible to get them to leave. Once you enjoy life in Minnesota, you're never going to want to be anywhere else.

Why live in Minnesota? The answers are pretty clear. Do you have unique things about living in Minnesota to add? If you’re looking for more reasons not to move to Minnesota, consider this list of the 12 biggest risks living in the state of Minnesota.

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More to Explore

Living In Minnesota

Sarah | December 09, 2021

What's it like living in Minnesota?

Living in Minnesota is the best, and here are just a few reasons why:

  • In addition to being spectacularly stunning, Minnesota is lucky in that it has four distinct, equally glorious, seasons. (That's right -- we don't *just* have winter weather here!) Being located in the upper Midwest, Minnesota can experience a pretty unique set of seasons throughout the year, each with its own characteristics.
  • The seasonal activities in Minnesota are nothing short of spectacular, and include everything from watching Monarch butterflies migrating through the summer to finding the best pumpkin patches in fall. And we celebrate each season with gusto.
  • From sleigh rides and Christmas trains to apple orchards and flower farms galore, Minnesota knows how to celebrate the changing of seasons in the most wonderful way.

Here are the very best seasonal activities in Minnesota, so you can plan a year full of fun! Warning: this list may have you packing your bags to move to the Land of 10,000 Lakes...

Why is Minnesota called the Land of 10,000 Lakes?

Minnesota is called the Land of 10,000 Lakes because we have a ton of lakes! We actually have 14,380, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. And that's probably not all of them, either -- the list didn't count any waterbodies under 10 acres. So yes, our name is well-earned, because we do have that many glorious lakes... and then some!

What are some weird things people from Minnesota do?

There are so many weird things people from Minnesota do. Where to begin? We Minnesotans are a weird bunch -- and we like it that way! Here are a few weird things we do:

  • For starters, we drink *pop* -- not soda.
  • We're quick to jump on the shorts-and-flip-flip train as soon as temps hover above freezing (can you blame us, though?).
  • We like to linger with our goodbyes... seriously, saying "adios" to a Minnesotan takes for.ever.
  • We love potlucks, especially those with tater-tot dishes.
  • And if you think Southern hospitality is a thing, definitely visit Minnesota. We are the kindest, friendliest people around, always willing to lend a helping hand and "You betcha" when necessary.

These things aren't weird; they're what make us, us.

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