<p>Hey everyone, I'm really interested in Macalester; I like the international focus it has, and it's pretty darn cool that Kofi Annan went there. Anyhow, I was wondering if anyone could give some info on how cold Minnesota really is, and what cities/towns are near Macalester. As an L.A. native, I'm terrified of giving up my sunshine, but I'll do it depending on what college accepts me.</p>
<p>So far, Minnesota has been gorgeous. Its usually sunny, and just absolutely lovely to be outdoors. As a freshman I can't tell you how cold its going to get, but everybody I've talked to has said that if you dress for it, its not that bad. We had three days of a cold spell, it was in the 30s, but, to my great surprise, it really didn't bother me. I'm not a cold person, I'd rather be in the tropics, but i just threw on a sweatshirt and beanie and it didn't get to me.
Macalester is right in St. Paul, and a taxi ride (about 20 bucks i guess, so we go in groups) or a short (2ish dollars) bus ride away from Minneapolis. Within walking distance of campus there are resaurants, vintage shops, a dairy queen, discount music store, gas station (well stocked), a movie theater, a dominos pizza, a grocery store, a hardware store, cafes, an art store, an outdoor equpitment store, and a used athletic equiptment store. There are other places I'm forgetting about too... within a 10 minute driving range (bikable) theres a Target, Blockbuster, Hollywood video, bowling alley (3 dollar wednesdays i think) a movie theater with 2 dollar tuesdays, and a whole bunch of stores I haven't been to yet... Its a really nice atmosphere. Also, the school is a mile and a half away from the Mississippi River right by a gorgeous rock bluff, its a great way to get away, its about 40 minutes round trip walking but we usually end up spending that much time sitting out on the rock too.
hope that helps</p>
<p>Thank you so much, that really helps a lot!</p>