"Well, my take was people of Minnesota, these are good people. They're in many ways more generous than other parts of the country. They're better educated than other parts of the country." -- Peter Agre
Pack up the wagon trains and hit the road to Waseca, Minnesota. The community of Waseca is about an hour and a half from the major city of Minneapolis and was originally settled during the westward expansion of the United States. Waseca was officially founded in 1867. Tucked away in the southern reaches of the state, Waseca is steeped in history, natural beauty and lots of festivals. Really. There are literally a dozen annual festivals and fairs in this Minnesota town of around 10,000 residents. The name Waseca is actually a Dakota word meaning rich. And, this small city is definitely rich in things to do and places for rent.
Moving to Waseca
There are lots of amenities to uncover when living in Waseca. Since renting in Waseca will not break the bank, you'll have a bit of extra cash to spend in local shops, restaurants, pubs and even the in-town waterpark. Here, it's easy to find an affordable rental property.
What You Get for Your Money
Luckily, renters here have a variety of options, when it comes to finding the perfect rental. Some rentals are pet-friendly, some include garages and others have their own private entries. Your only challenge will be deciding what your needs in a rental are.
Ready, Set, Go
Before hitching up the horses, you'll want to make sure you are ready to prove you will be a good renter. If you want a premier apartment in Waseca, most landlords request a deposit, first and last months' rent. How's your credit score, by the way? If it's a little low, a landlord might overlook it if you can provide a couple months' rent up front. If not, there are plenty of places to camp while you are working on rebuilding your credit.
Neighborhoods in Waseca
Whether you prefer to be close to the action in the city center or out in the rural farmland, you will find it in Waseca. The whole town is only about 5 square miles, but you still have the option here to live in a historic area or a more modern townhouse complex.
Waseca City Center: In the city center, you will find a variety of rental options to choose from. There are three- and four-bedroom houses for rent alongside studios in apartment complexes. You will find a mixture of owner-occupied and rental properties available. What that means is there are plenty of places for rent. If you decide to live in the city center, you can walk to almost everything you need, like the local hardware store, coffee shop or brew pub.
Clear Lake Drive / U.S. Route 14: This neighborhood is definitely more suburban than the city center. What that means for renters is the pickings are a little slimmer in this part of town. If you have your heart set on this neighborhood, be prepared for your search for an apartment to take a little longer. It will be worth it, though, with the views of Clear Lake from your front window.
Vista / Otisco: Heading out from the city center, this neighborhood is much more remote. You won't find a whole lot of hi-rise apartments, but are more likely to find houses for rent. You'll need a car to head back into town for shopping or restaurants.
Living in Waseca
There is always something to do in Waseca. Home to multiple lakes, residents can enjoy their time fishing, swimming, hunting, hiking or boating. There's also a bike trail around Clear Lake for the biker types. Up for a little adventure? Hit the local Waseca Water Park featuring, as the park claims, the tallest slides in southern Minnesota. Not the outdoors type? Head to an art gallery, theater or enjoy any number of great restaurants. Enjoy wine? There are plenty of local wineries to visit and savor.
Waseca Fairs and Festivals
Want to get involved in the Waseca community? The best way to meet the locals and become assimilated is to head to one of the many fairs. Here is just a sampling to choose from.
Waseca County Free Fair in July sees about 40,000 attendees and features amusement park rides, bull riding, agricultural displays and contests, a beer garden, a demolition derby and lots of other entertainment. It takes place at the Waseca County Fairgrounds and, the best part is, it's free.
Sleigh and Cutter Festival is an annual festival that takes place annually during the winter months of January or February. The festival began in the 1950s and features a Miss Waseca County Sleigh and Cutter, who presides over the event. There's a parade, a dinner and dance, snowmobile drag races, ice fishing contests and a host of other events, most of which are free.
Lakefest Music Celebration is celebrated yearly on the fourth of July and includes the Lakefest Freedom Run and various Fourth of July festivities at Waseca's Clear Lake Park.
Love a good marching band? Waseca Marching Classic is the right place for you. This marching band festival includes parades and field competitions featuring marching bands from Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota and Wisconsin. If this is not your thing, you might want to invest in earphones for this one.
