Minnesota is known by most as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes" and the "North Star State", but what it's even more well known for, something that has nothing to do with the bitter cold winter months or miles upon miles of corn fields, is its inhabitants and their overall "niceness". Minnesotans are generally passive-aggressive people and, as a whole, have a lot in common and together form a beautiful community. I've compiled a list of the top ways to tell if you are, in fact, a true Minnesotan, enjoy.
1. You head "up north" and escape to a cabin as often as possible in the summer...
...or maybe you just live on one of the 11,842 lakes.
2. You support struggling sports teams.
Since the Twins' 1991 World Series title, the Vikings' non-Super Bowl 1969 NFL title and the 1954 NBA title from the Lakers, not to mention the absence of a Stanley Cup from the Stars or Wild, Minnesota professional sports teams* lack a championship, the longest current drought for any metro area with a team in each of the "Big Four" leagues.
*Not including female sports, such as the WNBA Lynx, who have qualified for playoffs seven of their seventeen years in Minnesota and won the title in 2011, 2013, and 2015.
And we're not normal fans, we're CRAZY paint-your-face-purple, screaming in below-zero temps type of fans (luckily starting this season we'll be inside).
3. You regularly eat hot dish, because it's warm and delicious.
Not to be confused with casserole, which is basically the exact same thing.
4. You're able to plow your 1/2 mile long driveway in 20 minutes flat.
5. Oh, and you drive on lakes regularly, sometimes even miles and miles out.
...and every year there's a handful of idiots who test their limits a little too early.
6. Every summer, you have a great get-together with 1.8 million of your closest friends.
Sweet Martha's Cookie Jar, the world's best french fries, cheese curds and pronto pups along with Tom Thumb donuts. There's a reason why MN's state fair is continuously nationally ranked.
7. You regularly stop by "the mall".
And it's not just any ordinary mall. It's the Mall of America, which is so large it has its own zip code, an indoor amusement park, 520 stores and 50 restaurants. Oh, and the best part? There's a whopping 0% sales tax on clothing here.
8. You're really good at driving in blizzards.
But usually you just grab your snowmobile to get places if it's this bad.
9. You do stuff like this...
...and this.
Because what else is there to do on a snow day?
10. You hate Wisconsin and anything affiliated.
11. And lastly, you may leave your home state of MN, but you'll always find yourself coming back for its beauty.
(Photo taken on the North Shore near Tettegouche State Park)
