9 Quirky And Unusual Things No One Tells You About Living In Minnesota

If you have never lived in Minnesota, you may not realize how much of a process saying goodbye can be. The goodbye starts well before you actually need to leave. With each step, you move closer to the door - and eventually out the driveway - with the conversation never stopping. Eventually, you get into your car and drive away - but not without waiving until you’re out of view. Basically, if you visit people in Minnesota, you have to learn to be patient!

Go to just about any Minnesota potluck, and you’ll find countless varieties of hotdish. The classic tater tot is a go-to, but just about any casserole qualifies. Spend enough time in Minnesota, and you’ll find yourself looking forward to these potluck staples - and even making them on your own!

They don’t call it the Great Minnesota Get-Together for nothing! By daily attendance, the Minnesota State Fair is the largest in the nation. Millions gather from all across the state to take part in shows, eat delicious foods on a stick, and watch the crowds go by. It’s our traditional way of finishing off the summer, and we wouldn’t miss it for the world.

We Minnesotans are used to out-of-towners putting MOA at the top of their must-visit list. But in reality, most Minnesotans don’t go there very often. The huge size makes it hard to find what you need, and Nickelodeon Universe is a once-in-awhile treat for kids. Most of us frequent other, smaller malls that are closer to home.

Throughout Minnesota’s warmer months - and even into the winter - going up north is a way of life for many Minnesotans. People buy or rent cabins, launch their boats on northern lakes, and enjoy some time away from the hustle and bustle of city life. It’s one of our favorite ways to unwind.

Okay, not everyone. But in general, Minnesotans prefer our home-grown businesses to nationwide chains. That’s what drives many of us to get our morning coffee at Caribou, do our grocery shopping at Cub, or browse the clothing and home decor at Target. Each of these companies has wormed its way into our way of life.

Many who have never lived in Minnesota assume that "Minnesota Nice" simply means that Minnesotans are friendly. And while that is generally true, the term "Minnesota Nice" is a bit more complicated than that. Minnesotans have a reputation for being standoffish. We’ll be friendly to all newcomers, but it can take a while for us to truly warm up. There’s also an element of passive aggression to "Minnesota Nice." We’ll go out of our way to avoid confrontation, but we’ll throw in little jabs that will let you know we aren’t happy about it.

Only one Minnesota professional sports team has won a championship, and that was 30 years ago. Since then, our sports teams have found spectacular ways to fail in every sport. While there have been some major disappointments, we are still holding out hope. It can be painful for diehard fans, but we can’t stop supporting our teams. One day, maybe we’ll find a way to make it to the top again.

If you live in Minnesota long enough, you start to wonder why anyone would want to live in the Dakotas, or Iowa, or Wisconsin. We can acknowledge that each of these states has its pros - nature areas, recreation, cheese - but we certainly wouldn’t want to live there. Minnesota is home, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.