Welcome to Victoria
Victoria, known as the City of Lakes and Parks, is a source of peaceful respite from constantly on-the-go lifestyles.
Victoria, a rural suburb just west of Minneapolis. Full of parks, hiking trails, and nature, it’s not hard to forget that the big city is less than thirty minutes away. First settled in 1851, the community grew without becoming overwhelmed by people, leading to the current quiet life that people come to Victoria to find. Because of how small the community is, residents are open and welcoming to strangers, and become tight-knit once people have settled in. The charming downtown area is full of local restaurants and shops, and for bigger stores, nearby shopping centers are only minutes away.
What to Love
- Great school system
- Protected natural areas and parks
- Quiet rural area
Local Lifestyle
Victoria is the perfect place for a rural lifestyle, while maintaining easy access to urban Minneapolis. Day-to-day, life is quiet and peaceful, and the surrounding nature exemplifies that atmosphere. There’s plenty of nightlife in nearby towns so Victoria can avoid the resulting noise. Residents in Victoria get to lead an old-fashioned, idyllic life while surrounded by modern conveniences.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
Despite being a small town, Victoria has no shortage of excellent restaurants to choose from. Start your day with a coffee and a muffin from Ruby’s Roost, where everything is made fresh with locally sourced ingredients. For dinner, try The Noble Lion or its sister restaurant and speakeasy The Lion’s Den for excellent grilled meat and seafood — their steak au poivre is a popular dish. For special occasions, head over to Winchester and Rye. The expansive menu includes upscale versions of comfort food favorites, like their "Yummy Bowl of Goodness" which includes macaroni and cheese, tossed with garlic mushrooms, spicy Cajun chicken, and bacon, or the rigatoni which tosses a basic meat sauce on its ear by using tender beef brisket. Even their cocktail list is next level.
If mixed drinks aren’t your thing, Enki Brewing offers up locally-made craft beers on their ever-changing menu. The Mocha Porter may be the only caffeine hit better than straight coffee.
Dessert can be covered at The Social Parlor. This old-fashioned ice cream parlor makes delicious ice cream sundaes and offers a variety of flavors, from favorites to a few you haven’t heard of before.
For shopping, Victoria has some excellent locally-owned stores. White Birch House offers beautiful furnishings and home decor, whereas Willa June offers a variety of clothing to fill out your wardrobe.
Things to Do
Victoria offers plenty of things to do for residents, from watersports to cultural fun. Golfers will love Victoria’s own Deer Run Golf Course, which also has an on-site pub where you can brag about your score afterward hitting the links — or drown your sorrows. Nearby Hazeltine National Golf Course is perfect for when you need a change in venue and will be hosting the U.S. Amateur Cup as well as the Ryder Cup - for a second time - over the next few years.
Nature lovers won’t want to miss Carver Park Reserve, home to the educational Lowry Nature Center and King Waterbird Sanctuary, where you can see barred owls, mink, and plenty of other wildlife. You can also pick up the Lake Minnetonka LRT Trail in the Carver Park Reserve and hike or bike as far as Hopkins, catching great views of Lake Minnetonka along the way. For a more relaxing weekend, head to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum to see 1,200 acres of beautifully kept gardens and hundreds of rare plants. The Arboretum also hosts numerous events throughout the year, including the Spring Flower Show, All About Dogs Day, and Maplefest.
During the summer, you’ll find even more events all over Victoria. From Lion’s Park hosting movie nights to the Victoria Business Association’s VolksFest, with food trucks, crafts, and live music, there’s almost always something going on.
Schools
Served by the Eastern Carver County School System, Victoria has access to some of the best public schools in Minnesota and is served by some amazing private schools nearby.
