Highland Park is a quiet, slow-paced neighborhood dotted with historical buildings, cathedrals, brick architecture, and nature parks. The neighborhood is almost completely surrounded by the Mississippi River, making it the central location of the Twin Cities. The river also contributes to the interesting combination of geology, landscape, recreation and uses which have dramatically changed and grown since the origin of Fort Snelling in the mid 19th Century. Today, Highland Park is a friendly area with great restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, and recreational parks. There is a strong sense of neighborhood pride and focus on locally owned businesses. Highland Park is filled with gorgeous little tudor houses, colorful trees, and scenic walking paths -- it is a great place to take it easy, take it in, and explore.