On the banks of the Mississippi River, Minneapolis offers a fabulous downtown lifestyle for those wanting to experience its addictive energy. The city is renowned for its lakes, and the abundance of natural water in the city environment make for an experience like no other city in the U.S.

Minneapolis downtown living is not appealing to everyone, of course, but for many, the city is an ideal place to live, work, and play. Boredom is not part of the fabric of living in the city. It’s possible to have all your essential amenities in life within walking distance.

No doubt, one of the biggest benefits of living downtown is the money you’ll save on fuel. With fuel prices spiking up so dramatically in recent months, long commutes are getting harder on the family budget with every rise in the price of oil. When you live a few blocks from where you work, however, you’ll rarely need to hop in the car for anything.

Sometimes people make the mistake of thinking that there is no escape from a city dweller’s life, but that would be completely and utterly wrong. You can easily retreat from the thick of it all to a quiet river walk, restaurant, roof top, or city park for that serentiy when needed.

In fact, if you choose to buy your own Minneapolis real estate to live in, such as Minneapolis condos with an east facing view of the sunrise or a picturesque view of one of the hundreds of lakes in the city, you can have your own dose of rest and relaxation whenever you choose.

Marco Island is a beautiful place to live, work, or vacation. Located on the gorgeous Gulf of Mexico on the southwestern coast of Florida, it is the largest of the Sunshine State’s famous Ten Thousand Islands (which does not actually include 10,000 islands, but sounds impressive).

Part of a nearly 100-mile-long chain of hundreds of islands and tiny islets, Marco (as locals call it) is only 24 square miles, making it a fairly exclusive place to live. There many factors making it a desirable place to live or own a second home, however, not the least of which is its white sandy beaches and beautiful ocean views.

There are roughly six miles of these beaches to be shared by its population of about 15,000 residents, although seasonal population swings are not uncommon. This can bring the number of locals up to 35,000 in the winter as “snow birds” flee their colder home states and provinces.

The islet has a rich history, beginning with the pre-columbian Calusa Indians. The Calusas left behind a number of artifacts many of which have been preserved in the Marco Island Historical Museum. The famed Marco Cat wood carving found by archaeologist Frank Hamilton Cushing in 1896 was not so lucky; it was quickly sent to the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

There are numerous water front condominiums and detached homes for residents to live in. These include beach front properties or properties facing one of the many canals that give boaters easy access to their home. Marco Island real estate can be found in all price ranges, from mid to high five figures for a small older condo to well over $20 million one of its more exclusive luxury estates.

As one might expect, one can find a wide variety of amenities on Marco Island, including a large selection of world class restaurants, outdoor cafes, and family restaurants. Many of these restaurants are situated in view of Marco’s ocean vistas and wildlife, allowing diners to take in dolphins playing in their coastal habitat while enjoying fine cuisine.

Kevin Harper is a writer specializing in covering diverse locations and local real estate topics around the United States and Canada. For more information on Marco Island Real Estate, including water front properties, view homes, and Marco Island condos, please visit McCartyFlorida.com.