Favorite tourist comments about Chicago? (Washington: real estate, travel, schools)

[Drover]

Mine is, "Wow, I had no idea the lake was that big!" It astonishes me how many people expect to look across the lake and see the Michigan shoreline on the other side. I'm like, "uhm... it takes a cargo ship about 4 hours to cross that lake... and that's just going across the narrow part..."

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Drover

Mine is, "Wow, I had no idea the lake was that big!" It astonishes me how many people expect to look across the lake and see the Michigan shoreline on the other side. I'm like, "uhm... it takes a cargo ship about 4 hours to cross that lake... and that's just going across the narrow part..."

I know, Ive heard that one a few times. lol Seriously, what were they expecting? A fishing pond? I wonder how long it takes a cargo ship to travel the entire N-S distance? Id venture a good 12-15 hours.

Other tourist comments that crack me up are: "sooo, is there any good places to eat around here?"

[j33]

The lake comment is my favorite too. I knew a guy from LA (who wasn't too bright) who visited Chicago for the first time and I remember him saying "wow, that lake is so big and the buildings look like they were built 100 years ago", it made me laugh.

What was priceless was the look on his face during the first winter he spent here when we took him to the Indiana Dunes and he saw the frozen lake complete with frozen waves. At that point I think he was trying to figure out how quickly he could get out of town. I recall him muttering "it looks like the moon".

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by j33

The lake comment is my favorite too. I knew a guy from LA (who wasn't too bright) who visited Chicago for the first time and I remember him saying "wow, that lake is so big and the buildings look like they were built 100 years ago", it made me laugh.

What was priceless was the look on his face during the first winter he spent here when we took him to the Indiana Dunes and he saw the frozen lake complete with frozen waves. At that point I think he was trying to figure out how quickly he could get out of town. I recall him muttering "it looks like the moon".

LOL West coast puss, er, wussies.

[chitown68]

I had a friend visit me a few years ago. She is a native Californian who had never been to any city in the Midwest. I took her downtown on Mag Mile.To my surprise, she exclaimed,"Wow, you guys have a REAL downtown!" GIven that she had spent most of her life living in or around LA, I kind of overlooked her comment. But many people who come to visit are blown away by downtown.

[NYLATINQT]

Well i'm a tourist and yeah, I was pretty blown away by downtown. I don't understand why Chicago is not higher up on the radar of great american cities. We hear about Miami, LA, Philly, Houston, Dallas, but Chicago beats them all. Is it because people just assume nothing's going on in the Midwest? I guess it's a good thing, IMO. Believe me, after the real estate boom in the last few years, certain parts of the country are a mess right now from too much migration, crowded roads, crowded schools and then finally, too many foreclosures. As for cost of living, you definitely can't beat it for a major city even on a worldwide level. I'm hoping things stay quiet in Chicago for a few more years in case i decide to go there, I won't get priced out.

[chitown68]

Originally Posted by NYLATINQT

Well i'm a tourist and yeah, I was pretty blown away by downtown. I don't understand why Chicago is not higher up on the radar of great american cities. We hear about Miami, LA, Philly, Houston, Dallas, but Chicago beats them all. Is it because people just assume nothing's going on in the Midwest? I guess it's a good thing, IMO. Believe me, after the real estate boom in the last few years, certain parts of the country are a mess right now from too much migration, crowded roads, crowded schools and then finally, too many foreclosures. As for cost of living, you definitely can't beat it for a major city even on a worldwide level. I'm hoping things stay quiet in Chicago for a few more years in case i decide to go there, I won't get priced out.

Thank you for your positive comments. I think you hit the nail on the head about people's perceptions of the Midwest. Chicago has a wide assortment of leisure and cultural opportunities that rivals some of the larger cities on the coast.Like yourself, my friend(who has relocated to Washington state) could see herself living here someday. I think that the cost of living will still remain reasonable for the next couple of years.

[Steve-o]

IMO Chicago is the most popular city in the USA besides LA and NYC. Ive never met anyone who thinks otherwise. Most people come here knowing what to expect, Ive never met nor heard of anyone who didnt think Chicago had a world class downtown. Its hard to not know that based on all the movies and commercials that are shot in Chicago.

[chitown68]

Yes. There is a great amount of information that one could gather about Chicago through films, the media , the internet and etc.However, there will always be SOME individuals who ,for whatever reason, are not as knowledgeable about the city as others. Additionally, seeing Chicago in a film pales in comparison to ACTUALLY visiting the city's center core. No amount of pictures can ever make up for being able to experience the sheer energy that one feels as they walk along Michigan Ave.


There are many cities that have a downtown. But office buildings,restaurants and department stores are only one part.The energy that the people bring is the other. Just my humble opinion.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

I know, Ive heard that one a few times. lol Seriously, what were they expecting? A fishing pond? I wonder how long it takes a cargo ship to travel the entire N-S distance? Id venture a good 12-15 hours.

A little over a day from Gary to the northern tip of Door County, if I correctly recall a recent Tribune story about life aboard a Great Lakes cargo ship.