"Mom and dad live upstairs / The music's loud so we don't care / Nixon's gone / but rock lives on / We're still rockin' in Wisconsin / We're all all right! We're all all right ! / Yeah!" -- From the theme song of That 70s Show
Just across the Minnesota-Wisconsin border sits the river town of Hudson, Wisconsin. Once a vibrant lumber town, Hudson's economic vitality has changed over the years to accommodate a budding tourism industry centered on its water sports and natural beauty. Today, residents enjoy the local charm and funky soul of this river city while taking full advantage of the metropolitan scene of nearby Minneapolis and St. Paul, the twin cities of Minnesota.
It's Been Said Before: Don't Move in the Winter!
"Mom and dad live upstairs / The music's loud so we don't care / Nixon's gone / but rock lives on / We're still rockin' in Wisconsin / We're all all right! We're all all right ! / Yeah!" -- From the theme song of That 70s Show
Just across the Minnesota-Wisconsin border sits the river town of Hudson, Wisconsin. Once a vibrant lumber town, Hudson's economic vitality has changed over the years to accommodate a budding tourism industry centered on its water sports and natural beauty. Today, residents enjoy the local charm and funky soul of this river city while taking full advantage of the metropolitan scene of nearby Minneapolis and St. Paul, the twin cities of Minnesota.
It's Been Said Before: Don't Move in the Winter!
In fact, moving in the winter to Hudson would be a lot worse if the locals weren't so helpful and accommodating. They'll feel your frozen pain before you can say a word and offer you a hot cocoa at worst and use of their tow truck at best. It's certainly easier to move to Hudson in spring, summer or fall. But if you must move to the Midwest in the middle of winter, Hudson might be the best place to do it.
It's a Booming Market
As Hudson's popularity continues to grow, rental property is getting much easier to find. You won't need to worry so much about finding a place. Instead, you can focus on the kind of place that's right for you. You can easily search for apartments online. Or you can check out rental housing and city apartments in Hudson in person after an early brunch at San Pedro Cafe. Make sure you ask about the Caribbean Eggs Benedict before you order. It's a local favorite.
Location, Location, Location
Hudson definitely offers the quiet and close-knit community of a small town. But it also has a decidedly hippie sensibility running through its veins. Home to diverse eateries and funky art shops, Hudson feels like a hybrid of a metropolis and a small town. This may be due in large part to its location. Only 30 minutes from St. Paul and Minneapolis, Hudson is fast becoming the perfect location for urbanites who want to work in the city and retreat after-hours to a smaller city with a slower yet urban-infused vibe. So when you're scouting new spaces, just remember: you don't have to work in Hudson to live in Hudson.
While Hudson may not be the biggest city along the St. Croix, it can still feel sprawling to newcomers. This feeling has only increased thanks to the recent housing and apartment developments off the more beaten paths of Hudson's historic downtown. It may be helpful to break Hudson down into the following four neighborhoods, especially when you're looking at maps and trying to figure out how close is too close to the flourless chocolate cake sold at the San Pedro Cafe.
Downtown Hudson: Just across the I-94 bridge and down a spiraling exit ramp that starts to feel like it's going on for miles, sits downtown Hudson. Follow the main drag of the road, and you'll see picturesque views of the St. Croix and boats dotting the blue landscape. The artist enclave, The Phipps Center for the Arts, is barely a half mile down the road. Along both sides of main street, you'll find the fusion eateries for which Hudson is known. Pier 500 restaurant pops. It and Agave Kitchen are downtown, along with the famous San Pedro Cafe. You won't find many rental options along main street. This is predominantly the commercial district of Hudson. But you won't have to drive too far before you hit residential Northern Hudson.
Northern Hudson: Main street leads right into the single-family homes and tree-lined streets of this Hudson neighborhood. Many houses offer docks along the water and sweeping patios. Within walking distance to downtown, this neighborhood still offers the serenity and seclusion coveted by some city dwellers.
Southern Hudson: A predominantly residential region, this Hudson neighborhood offers some excellent options for apartment renters. With nearby access to the Hudson Golf club and majestic views of the St. Croix River and the Hudson bluffs, make sure you explore Southern Hudson for rentals.
Eastern Hudson: In the eastern region of Hudson, there's less funk and more suburban soul. If you're looking for gas, groceries, or banks, then you've come to the right neighborhood. The eastern neighborhood also offers some rental apartment options. They aren't posh, but they aren't shacks either. And you certainly won't be living in a van down by the river like Chris Farley.
An Artist's Paradise
Hudson has a thriving local arts community. Each summer, the Phipps Center hosts workshops in drama, dance, and visual arts with exhibitions and presentations later into July and August. The Spirit of the St. Croix Art Festival hosted in late summer attracts local Wisconsinites and Minnesotans. Fine crafted pottery, jewelry, paintings and clothes are sold at the festival along with food from local eateries. It's the perfect place to enjoy the last days of summer on the shores of the St. Croix.
Life on the Water
Do you have a boat? If you're moving to Hudson, now might be a great time to seriously consider that speedboat, sailboat, kayak or canoe purchase. Locals love their water sports and, with the ideal location on the St. Croix River, it's easy to see why. Hudson offers community docks and beaches. Not to mention the private dock options thrown in with some house rentals. The cold weather limits the time spent on the water; you probably won't want to be out swimming after October 1. But this is the Midwest, so ice fishing in winter is how the locals feed their water sport spirit during the icy months. We'll forgive you if you don't rush out in your parka to join them.
Come For the View, Stay for the Food
While some small towns have lost their local food scene and replaced it with the generic gastronomy of Applebee's and Starbucks, Hudson has maintained and grown its local eateries. Agave Kitchen offers some of the best Mexican-American fusion food you'll ever taste, and Pier 500, overlooking the beautiful St. Croix, is the ideal place for a date night. We haven't even mentioned the Caribbean fusion food paradise that is San Pedro Cafe (well maybe we have). Once you've been there, you'll want to try everything on the menu.
Transit Options
Around town, your bike and feet can carry you pretty much wherever you want to go. All the better if you have a boat or canoe and happen to live along the river. If you reside further inland, you could use a car to get to the San Pedro Cafe. But Hudson is very pedestrian friendly. Most locals employed outside Hudson have at least one car to get them to and from work. Many say that the commute isn't that bad. You just might want to bring your Dramamine for that exit ramp.
