While countless Minnesotans have travelled to and from Apple Valley solely to visit the Minnesota Zoo, those who decided to stick around to investigate the city further have found that there’s plenty more to be discovered. This Dakota County city on the southern side of the Twin Cities Metro provides residents with a selection of respected schools and a wide variety of shopping, restaurants, parks, entertainment venues and community activities.
District 196 is widely considered to be one of the best school districts in Minnesota. Eastview High School was named the fifth best high school in the state in a U.S. News and World Report with other several other Apple Valley schools and district schools ranking high in the list. The district also has a strong sports program and the Eastview Athletic Association offers a wide range of programs, camps and clinics to better assist athletes in just about every sport.
The School of Environmental Studies, sometimes referred to as the “Zoo School” because of its proximity to and partnership with the Minnesota Zoo, offers a unique opportunity for students in ISD 196. Here, students in grades 11 and 12 focus on mentorship and internship programs developed through the Minnesota Zoo and the community, studying sustainability and the environment through project-based learning.
Another great outlet for teens is the Apple Valley Teen Center. Here, students can participate for free with a school ID in activities like open basketball, air hockey, table tennis, or watch movies and play video games all within the center. The center, managed, programmed and staffed by the Apple Valley Parks and Recreation Department, provides teens with a fun and safe environment to interact with other teens. Plenty of activity outdoors can be found close by as well with ice rinks, a skate park, basketball courts, tennis courts and baseball fields all within walking distance from the center.
One of the favorite summertime destinations amongst locals is The Apple Valley Family Aquatic Center, which features a sprawling landscape of slides, tubes and pools for splashing with friends and family in the summer sun. The center even features a wave pool and a lazy river.
The 53 public parks in Apple Valley also offer plenty of room for fun with features like sand volley-ball courts, baseball diamonds, skating rinks, horseshoe pitches, tennis courts and playgrounds. The lakes in Apple Valley also offer scenic settings for picnics, fishing and swimming.
Valleywood Golf Course, considered one of the best public golf courses in the Twins Cities area, provides golfers with a scenic course stretched across 190 acres and 11 ponds. The new clubhouse, opened in September of 2012, includes access to an outdoor patio, restaurant, full bar and a large banquet space for hosting events.
While the Mall of America is just five minutes north, there’s no shortage of opportunities for shopping in one of the many retail stores or dining in one of the restaurants in downtown Apple Valley. One of the local favorites, Bogart’s Place, apart from being a restaurant and bar, offers patrons everything from karaoke, Texas Hold’em and bowling inside to volleyball or drinks on the patio outside.
A recently added $112 million rapid-transit bus system has added even more accessibility for residents of Apple Valley, a contributing factor when the city landed at number 17 on the list of America’s Top 50 Small Towns in Money Magazine. With a range of affordable homes, a combination of scenic lakes, trails and parks and easy access to shopping and dining, it’s no wonder why.
