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Bloomington Homes for Sale

Bloomington

 

Bloomington really has it all – three square miles of water, over 1,000 square feet of parkland per capita and more jobs per capita than either Minneapolis or Minnesota. Home of the famous Mall of America and home to a number of major corporations, Bloomington offers the excitement, economy and convenience of a big city and the comforts and privacy of a suburb. From upper-tier households in the west of the city near Bush Lake to middle-class single-family homes in the east, the variety and opportunities of Bloomington housing provide anyone looking to buy a home in Bloomington with a place they will love.

One of the things that distinguish Bloomington homes from other Minneapolis-St. Paul homes is the city-like economy of Bloomington. Bloomington is home to over 100,000 jobs and major corporations including HealthPartners, the Donaldson Company, Cerdian, RSM McGladrey, Toro and Thermo King Corporation. As a result, the city is the largest suburb of Minneapolis-St. Paul, with its 85,000 residents, and more people commute into Bloomington than commute out – making it a great place to find employment and a convenient spot for many who have already found employment.

The city-like economy also affords Bloomington a huge number of things to do for residents. We have already mentioned the Mall of America, which makes Bloomington an international hub for shoppers. The Mall is also home to Nickelodeon Universe and the SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium, in addition to being a major employer. Buying a home in Bloomington simply means unbeatable shopping, not only for anywhere in Minnesota, but arguably for anywhere in America.

But the Mall of America isn’t the only attraction in Bloomington. Bloomington is also home to the Water Park of America, America biggest indoor water park. The Water Park of America soars 90 feet above the Minneapolis-St. Paul skyline and features a wave pool, a flow riding simulator, a ten-story high and mile-long family raft ride, and, for those looking for relaxation rather than adventure, a spa and restaurants as well. The water park and the mall are just two examples of all the fun and excitement available to those who buy a home in Bloomington.

But there’s more to Bloomington than fun and games: Bloomington’s beautiful location on the banks of the Minnesota River makes an extraordinary spot for nature lovers. Bloomington is home to the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, which spans over 14,000 acres and features miles of hiking along hills and woodland and gives residents a year-round opportunity for biking, jogging, bird-watching and more. Bloomington’s many lakes and rivers, as well as its abundant parkland space, make it a great spot for relaxation, as well as for fun and excitement.

All these accommodations are conveniently located. Bloomington is nestled right alongside highway 494 and interstate 35W, the two major highways of Minneapolis and St. Paul, making it very easy for residents to get into Minneapolis or St. Paul or to navigate around the other suburbs. Bloomington is also very close to the Minneapolis-St. Paul international airport, making any kind of travel, whether into the city, around the state, or around the world, easy and convenient.

Of course, one might never need to get out of Bloomington – it’s many jobs and outstanding economy, unparalleled shopping, exciting list of things to do, and beautiful location along the banks of the Minnesota River makes it a great place to buy a home. It is hard to beat buying a home in Bloomington; this Minneapolis-St. Paul suburb offers the beauty and privacy of a suburb and the excitement of the city.

Bloomington Schools

 

Bloomington homeowners take pride in their excellent school systems. Each of their 20 schools offers an outstanding education, and parents have the option of sending their children to a variety of public and private schools. Public schools in the area include the following:

 

  • Hillcrest Community Elementary School
  • Indian Mounds Elementary School
  • Normandale Hills Elementary School
  • Oak Grove Elementary School
  • Olson Elementary School
  • Poplar Bridge Elementary School
  • Ridgeview Elementary School
  • Seven Hills Classical Academy
  • Valley View Elementary School
  • Washburn Elementary School
  • Westwood Elementary School
  • Oak Grove Middle School
  • Olson Middle School
  • Valley View Middle School
  • Thomas Jefferson High School
  • John F. Kennedy High School

 

For more information on these schools and the public school district, visit Bloomington Schools at http://www.bloomington.k12.mn.us/.

 

Bloomington is also home to four private schools, including the following:

 

 

Bloomington is also home to three institutions of higher education: Normandale Community College, Northwestern Health Sciences University, and Bethany College of Missions.

Bloomington Hotspots

Restaurants

  1. Ciao Bella: This Bloomington hotspot is home to mouth-wateringly delicious Italian lunches and dinners, and makes a great spot for business lunches or a romantic night out.
  2. Tandoor Restaurant: Tandoor is home to delicious and authentic Indian food including an unbeatable Tikka Masala and other great buffet options. The prices are pretty great too, so many Bloomington homeowners make themselves regulars.
  3. Sawatdee: This Thai place features a number of delicious Asian lunches and dinners, with Pad Thai and spicy curries and a number of other delicious options.
  4. Chez Daniel: Featuring French ambiance and delicious French cuisine, this restaurant, with its full bar and on-site music, makes a great place for dates, lunch, dinner, happy hours, or anytime.
  5. Wally’s Roast Beef: Wally’s is famous for its beef, and makes mouth-watering roast beef sandwiches. It’s a great stop for lunches, though its menu is also great for dinners as well.

 

Entertainment

  1. The Mall of America: Minnesota’s biggest tourist attraction brings millions of visitors each year from all over the world. The Mall of America remains the largest shopping mall in America and features restaurants, activities, and of course, shopping.
  2. Nickelodeon Universe: Within the Mall of America is a full-sized theme park, great for children and even better for the whole family. With roller coasters and more, Nickelodeon Universe is worth a visit to the Mall of America on its own.
  3. Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium: The aquarium is the perfect destination for family fun and makes a great date spot as well. With over 10,000 sea creatures, including sharks, sea turtles, rays, jellyfish, seahorses and more, visitors are sure to have an exciting time.
  4. AMC Theatres –Southdale 16: Homeowners and residents in Bloomington have two major options for theatres. Those who want to avoid the parking and crowds at the Mall of America’s movie theatres have a great option in Southdale’s 16 large, clean theatres.
  5. The Water Park of America: America’s biggest indoor water park soars almost 100 feet above the Minneapolis-St. Paul skyline and features a wave pool, a flow riding simulator, a ten-story high and mile-long family raft ride, and, for those looking for relaxation rather than adventure, a spa and restaurants as well.

 

Leisure

  1. Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge: The nature reserve offers a beautiful sanctuary for range of birds, waterfowl, and other wildlife. Activities, programs and exhibits are available for those looking to learn more, and the more independent can enjoy the scenery while running, skiing, biking, or hiking.
  2. Fort Snelling: This historic fort marks the birthplace of modern Minnesota and is a wonderful spot for families and for visitors looking to learn more about our own history.
  3. Wood Lake Nature Center: The nature center features beautiful walking trails across the lake as well as informative programs that are great for kids or for a nice day out.
  4. Minnesota Zoo: The Zoo, located in nearby Apple Valley, feature hundreds of kinds of animals for visitors and is both an educational and exciting way to spend time with family, friend and loved ones.
  5. Hyland Lake Park Reserve: This park is a local favorite for Bloomington homeowners, featuring opportunities for fishing, swimming, picnic spaces, Kayak rentals, trails for biking and running and much more.

Churches

  1. Bloomington Baptist Church
  2. Bloomington Lutheran Church
  3. Emmaus Free Lutheran Church (AFLC)
  4. Christ Presbyterian Church
  5. Oxboro Evangelical Free Church
  6. Hillcrest United Methodist Church
  7. Nativity-Mary Catholic Church

 

Bloomington Community Events

 

One of the greatest things about living in Bloomington is that there are always events going on that bring families and the community together, whether it’s with a play, a festival, or a farmers market. Here’s a quick snapshot of some events throughout the year:

 

  • The Guthrie Theatre frequently hosts shows for Bloomington residents, from Arsenic and Old Lace to Shakespeare plays. As well as shows, the Guthrie holds events for families, children and a wide range of audiences.
  • The Grand Old Day Festival, on June 5th, is an annual community celebration complete with a parade, an art fair, musical performances, contests, and street vendors.
  • The Annual Twin Cities Jazz Festival hosts tons of free music for jazz fans and for their friends who don’t know that they are jazz fans yet.

 

This is only a small sample. For a more complete list of upcoming events, visit the city calendar at http://www.bloomingtonmn.org/page/1/event-calendar.jsp.

Bloomington Parks and Lakes

 

With a grand total 124 parks (and counting), it’s a difficult task to summarize all that Bloomington has to offer in terms of recreational amenities. Between all the playgrounds, ball fields, and walking/biking trails, Bloomington has it all to offer. Here are just a few examples of the wonderful parks in Bloomington:

 

  • Tarnhill Playground is 37 acres in size and has playgrounds, a park building, two tennis courts, two soccer fields, three softball diamonds, a basketball court, a volleyball court, a hockey rink, a general skating rink, picnic tables, and much more.
  • Smith Park features a pond, a gazebo, a picnic shelter, a sledding hill, and dozens of sports courts and fields.
  • Wright’s Lake Park is a 14-acre park with a playground, two tennis courts, a soccer field, a baseball diamond, a lighted hockey rink, picnic tables, trails and more.
  • The Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge covers 4,146 acres and features bird-watching and wildlife viewing as well as a visitors center with interpretive displays and hiking and biking trails.
  • Hylnd-Bush-Anderson Lakes Park Reserve features over 2,600 acres and in additions to sports courts and fields and playground equipment, it features a large lake with canoeing, fishing, boat rentals, a nature center, a visitor center, trails, picnic areas, and more.

 

This is just a short sample of all that Bloomington has to offer; for more information on these and many, many other parks, visit http://www.ci.bloomington.mn.us/cityhall/dept/commserv/parkrec/parks/parkinv/parkinv.htm.

 

As a city on the banks of the Minnesota River, Bloomington also has access to a number of wonderful natural bodies of water. Besides the river, Bloomington has a number of lakes and ponds amounting to a total of three square miles of water. Some of the larger lakes in the area include the following:

 

  • Bush Lake
  • Long Meadow Lake
  • Blackdog Lake
  • Penn Lake
  • Marsh Lake
  • Lake Girard
  • Oxboro Lake
  • Mt. Normandale Lake

 

Besides these lakes, there are a number of smaller lakes and ponds in the area.