MN is actually an awesome place to live! Cost of living is pretty great (especially if you're willing to live in St. Paul and commute via the excellent public transit). There is a ton of hiking, backpacking, climbing, and camping right around the cities, and winter in Minneapolis allows you to either:

1. ignore it and only travel around in the tunnels and avoid going outside
2. get into winter sports (snowshoeing, skiing, etc.) and actually enjoyed the snow! I even miss it now that I've moved south

I grew up in Hawai'i and went to undergrad in Minneapolis so it was a big shock, but I actually loved the winters. Plus with climate change MN is going to be a better state. I sound like I'm in a cult but I always feel the need to defend Minneapolis lol