Ten Reasons Growing Up in Small Town Minnesota is the Best

I lived in the Twin Cities when I was a kid and I did not want to move to Monticello. I thought it was way out in the sticks and people were probably weird. I was so wrong, growing up in a small town was the best!

There's so many great things about growing up in a small town, too many to name but here's a few of my favorite reasons.

1. You see the best of Minnesota

Sunset - Monticello, MN — Katie Kartak/TSM

Where else are you going to see a sky that beautiful?

2. Getting lost is next to impossible

First, it's a small town so naturally it would be pretty hard to get lost. If you do, there's always a landmark to look for. I heard a lot of 'it's by so and so's place' when I was younger.

3. You'll have awesome neighbors

Everyone knows everyone and it's really more like a huge family! (Which can be good and bad!)

4. You end up with your own little funny farm

There are so many farms around that your dad decides he needs to start his own. It turns out to be a funny farm that all the neighbor kids like to come check out. So really, it's more of a petting zoo.

5. You learn how to drive...NASCAR style

All those back roads with no traffic makes it easy to learn to drive!

6. A trip to the Mall of America is like an exciting vacation

Making that long journey to Bloomington is a HUGE deal!

7. You learn all kinds of tricks to get through a Minnesota winter

You learn how to drive on the iciest roads and how to get yourself out of the ditch. I'm still struggling with this one!

8. Traffic is pretty much a non-issue

Let's put it this way, even if there is traffic it's still not going to take you more than about 5 minutes to get across town.

9. You've got a constant supply of fresh produce

Everyone seems to be growing something different and trading with other people in the area. You also learn how much 'fun' picking things like raspberries can be. There's nothing like going out in the early morning and picking while getting eaten alive by mosquitoes!