For most of my life I have lived in SE Minnesota and for as long as I can remember I have done most exciting things (shopping, going to movies, going out to eat) in Rochester, MN. Rochester is home to the Mayo Clinic and a sprawling city that doesn’t feel too big or too small. It’s been rated one of the best places to live in the country many times (here and here) and I can see why – there’s something for everyone. Downtown Rochester feels more like the Twin Cities, but there are tons of neighborhoods that can feel suburban or even rural depending on how far on the outskirts they are. It’s the perfect place that is just right for me (as long as I’m not right in the middle of everything living in houses that are almost touching the neighbors). I love being a country girl, but I also love having everything I need at only a short drive. If all goes well, I plan on raising a family and growing old in Rochester, if I don’t get so sick of the snow that I need to move out east in a nice cottage along the ocean (which I still have yet to see).
Because Rochester is an older town that is still growing, there are tons of options for house styles and areas. Today I want to share with you one of my favorite neighborhoods. Growing up, my parents would drive me around what they called “Pill Hill” which is where the rich doctors traditionally lived that worked at Mayo. The lower area by the Apache Mall is nicknamed “Aspirin Flats” with smaller, more affordable houses, in a nice quiet neighborhood. The houses on Pill Hill remind me a lot of the houses you can find in the southern part of St. Paul and Minneapolis along the Mississippi that I have featured in past neighborhood tours. They are old, but most of them have been updated and they are gorgeous (and definitely expensive).
Take a look:
The one above is spectacular – it is either brand new to fit with the rest of the neighborhood or was majorly renovated. Either way, I love it!
Gorgeous, right? I definitely could fit right in in this neighborhood. Unfortunately as a future English teacher and San in the food industry, we don’t see doctor salaries in our future. But that’s definitely okay with me. I’ll take cute and cozy over huge and polished! I’ll just make sure to stop by every once in a while and keep dreaming. :)
I hope you enjoyed this short tour of just a small bit of what Pill Hill, and Rochester in general, has to offer!
Beautiful houses! I can see why you like it so much…we can all dream it doesn’t cost anything!
I ♥ the first one! ..like from fairyland! So nice
Gorgeous! There’s a neighborhood here in Omaha that has similar multi-million dollar old homes… I love it. We used to live in a duplex we rented that was right at the outskirts, and we loved walking Barley by all the beautiful homes! And dreaming of the day when we would be homeowners, too. :) Although I must say, our old neighborhood didn’t have quite as cute a name as “Pill Hill”! Love it!
~Chelsea
These are all beautiful. Where I live houses like this do not exist. Our city is only 100 hundred years old and the people who built it were poor and any house that age is likely not standing. I love seeing them though, and make do with out 50′s bungalow which I actually love. I’m like you I love to go site seeing, although I haven’t taken many pictures while I’m at it.
Dana
Hi Sarah! These houses are beautiful and classic! Thanks so much for introducing Pill Hill, and the demographic snapshot ;) I bet they are wonderfully decorated inside, would love to see that too!
Hi Sarah, I found your blog through Fresh Fossil, and I love the neighborhood tours. I love walking through these types of neighborhoods!! I’ve also enjoyed your other posts… I’ll add you to my list of blogs to check. :)
Anne
hahahaha
love the names “Pill Hill” and “Aspirin Flats”
lovely, lovely homes!