Lisa B. reports in this review:
| Weather | | How much crime? | | What are the neighborhoods like? | | What are the people like? |
| In Lindstrom, it is either ridiculously hot (July-September) or below zero freezing (November-April). Spring gets sprung during the months of May-June while Autumn enjoys the solidarity of October. | | Crime in this town is relatively non-existent. This is a place where doors are often left unlocked and children are able to bicycle down the street safely. There may be a random theft in the middle of town, but even that is a rare occurrence. | | Just west of the town is a trailer park area which seems to have a few interesting characters who live there. Other than that, you are left with brand new houses by the high school, or a house on the lake with land. The home prices are very reasonable and affordable; however, if you are commuting to the Twin Cities, that driving time is about an hour each way.
On the north-side of town, you are pretty much guaranteed to have a lake-front property or be within a few blocks from water.
| | People are Minnesota-friendly. There is an overall kindness to the population, but there is also a sense of reserve.
The ethnic mix is virtually non-existent, A vast majority of the town is as white as the snow that covers the ground. Although, I do not sense that there is an opposition or racial bias here.
This is a place where you will see the neighborhood kids shoveling snow from the parking lot of a Pump House Park in order to be able to play there. Near there, a dog likes to roam the streets, so watch out for him. He is apparently someone's pet, but gets out of the house daily to walk himself. |
| Downtown Area | | Restaurants | | Schools | | Single life |
There is one main road that runs through town. It's split down the middle, so as you head east toward Wisconsin, you run into a few antique shops, a Swedish bakery, the Swedish Village Restaurant, two bars, and an old-school meat market. As you leave town, you will pass a place called Picket Fence Gals, which is an occasional store that is open once a month. In it, you will find every thing that you had found cute in a magazine at one time, yet have no more room for it in your house.
Heading west toward Forest Lake, you will find a couple markets, a coffee house, and a biking trail. | | The Swedish Village Restaurant is a great place for an inexpensive breakfast, while Pizza Man has incredible garlic bread. Other than that, you will need to search elsewhere for food, unless you care to eat at McDonald's or Dairy Queen. | | I can tell you that the Forest Lake District has better schools as a whole (Scandia Elementary, and Forest Lake High School are tops).
Chisago High School has a great reputation, as well. | | There is very, very little for a single/social life here. You are more likely to meet someone at the local gas station than you are 'going-out' with your friends. |
| Noise | | town comparison vs. | | Best hospital | | Tourist attractions |
| The only noises I hear are from the woodpecker who has chosen my house to peck on and from the tornado siren's Wednesday 1:00 drill. Otherwise, silence. | | Lindstrom has a quaintness to it, that Scandia does not. Chisago City has a cute town square, but the living quality doesn't seem quite as good. Forest Lake is the nearest 'big' city at 18,000+ people and houses the local chain stores. Lindstrom does not have any major retailers and the two markets in town are both privately owned. | | Fairview Lakes Hospital in Wyoming is the closest and best hospital. | | Picket Fence Gals is a great place to browse and get some inspiring 'home' ideas. Lion's Park is a pretty place that boasts green grass and a small pond with a bridge. There is a great thrift store on the east-side of town, too. |
| General comments | | | | | | |
| This is a Swedish town. Most of the people here have some sort of Nordic blood running through them. Lindstrom prides itself on its Swede culture and boast quite a few town distinctions that emphasize the point. In fact, the town marker is a giant water tower shaped like a tea-pot. | | | | | | |
