Mahtomedi, MN

Mahtomedi hugs the western shore of White Bear Lake, about 20 miles northeast of Saint Paul via I-694 and Highway 244. This lakeside community of 8,100 draws visitors for its recreational opportunities and serves as a quiet residential base for Twin Cities commuters. The name comes from a Dakota word meaning "bad bear." The town was once home to the famous Wildwood Amusement Park, which thrilled visitors from 1899 to 1932 with its wooden roller coaster before closing during the Great Depression.