Fly Over Country? (Chicago, Geneva, Washington: sales, schools, wages)

[At1WithNature]

Put it like this, and look at it objectively.

If you rate the East, West, South, and Midwest, which one is the least exciting?

one of the regions has to be the most boring which is fine because compared to the majority of the world the least exciting region in America would still be pretty exciting! It's just reality, one of them has to finish at the bottom of the rankings. It doesn't mean that the area is totally devoid of quality things and people. It's just that it doesn't stack up quite as well as the other regions do.

[NYrules]

Chicago is far from being fly over country. Most people who do get off the plane and actually get out of O'Hare are amazed at how huge Chicago is. Now of course it's not New York by any means nor will it ever be, but the city is a MAJOR player in the United States and world. Keep in mind; all transit (truck or rail) comes through Chicago. Our downtown is the second largest in the country, yet far safer than New York's and much cleaner. Not saying NYC is dirty, but it is not as clean as Chicago. Sorry NY, still love ya. But really our city here (Chicago) is a city for people that have never been here before, to really be like a major surprise, almost like a surprise presant on Christmas morning (kinda like the Red Rider bee bee gun in Christmas Story) lol

Take a drive down the Kennedy inbound from O'Hare and for those that have never seen it before, it can be really amazing. Just the high rises in Lakeview alone looks more like a skyline than probably 90% of the cities in the US. Then theres the towers off in the distance in Lincoln Park, then as you look further south you see Gold Coast with our magnificent John Hancock Center gleaming its black glass and giant television antennas on it's roof. Then our latest addition to our skyline (Trump Tower) I mean WOW. That looks amazing looking almost like a giant earring sitting on the ground. Then theres the Sears Tower sitting off on the south end also gleaming in black glass to compliment the John Hancock Center on the north bringing the dark look on the south end of the downtown area. Visitors are often amazed to see all this and think, "wow, this is more amazing than Manhattan! and its not even on a coast!"

I realize this is not the best video, but check it out, you can see the sheer size of just the Loop area of Chicago and yes that is snow on the ground for all you sunbelt people.
YouTube - Chicago, downtown

[Mister Mappy]

The South. Sorry, it just is. 90% humidity 6 months of the year isn't excitement, and except for New Orleans, the cities tend to look like Schaumburg. Just my opinion.

BTW, are you from here?

[At1WithNature]

Originally Posted by Mister Mappy

The South. Sorry, it just is. 90% humidity 6 months of the year isn't excitement, and except for New Orleans, the cities tend to look like Schaumburg. Just my opinion.

BTW, are you from here?

yes, i am currently typing on a government computer off of Randolph St. You can say what you want about the South but millions of people from the Midwest continue to move there not to mention the south has things such as Disney World and Miami Beach. What does the Midwest have on that level?

[NYrules]

Originally Posted by At1WithNature

yes, i am currently typing on a government computer off of Randolph St. You can say what you want about the South but millions of people from the Midwest continue to move there not to mention the south has things such as Disney World and Miami Beach. What does the Midwest have on that level?

We have Branson, MO LOL! I guess thats kind of like a little Vegas or Disney World.

[Mister Mappy]

So, basically you're saying the south is Florida.....gotcha. I don't like that you've dismissed the whole region as boring just because we don't have "Disney World", or a spring break beach. Chicago is a world class city. Sorry, the south does NOT have that. (Yes, I've been to Atlanta, New Orleans, Miami, Houston, and Dallas. New Orleans & Miami are great cities, The other three reminded me of overgrown suburbs.)

Basically, you make it sound like there is totally nothing here except for tundra.

[At1WithNature]

that's why it is difficult to have this discussion in the chicago forum because the focal point is chicago when it should be the midwest. heck, chicago is looked at first before illinois and that is not the case when the coastal elitists associate the midwest (12 states and not 1 city) as fly over country. They are talking about the Dakotas, Kansas, Nebraska, etc. and not one city.

You can refute my point given the excitement in Florida but your comment still doesn't include all of the northerners moving down south to states such as georgia, north carolina, south carolina, etc.

so, the midwest has this unbelievable jaw dropping city in chicago. that is established. but chicago only reflects a tiny portion of the midwest when one considers the entire region and all 12 of the states.

[Mister Mappy]

Ok, but that could be said about any region. The Dakotas actually do have the Black Hills, and Mount Rushmore which are popular tourist sites. Also, Milwaukee, St. Louis, the Twin Cities, and even Cleveland, and Detroit have their charms. I'll give you Nebraska & Kansas may not be the biggest tourist destinations, but I would gather to say neither are Arkansas or Mississippi. Also, I would consider the Dakotas, Nebraska, and Kansas more the Plain States, and less Midwest, even though they are lumped in together.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by At1WithNature

so, the midwest has this unbelievable jaw dropping city in chicago. that is established. but chicago only reflects a tiny portion of the midwest when one considers the entire region and all 12 of the states.

I could give an incredible list of gorgeous areas in the midwest. Its NOT boring if you know where to go! I lived down south and I found it to be incredibly boring. Not only was the weather God-awful most of the year, but they didnt have 1/10th of the stuff we have here. And I lived in a city of 100K + people in TN! Boooooooring.

There is much beauty to be found in the Midwest, too bad some people never choose to visit it.

Sawtooth Mountains
Porcupine Mountains
Lutsen Mountains
Starved Rock SP
Matthiessen SP
Buffalo Rock SP
Galena, IL
Red Wing, MN
Charlevoix, MI
Indiana Dunes SP
Sleeping Bear Dunes NP
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Browns County, IN
Shawnee National Forest
Garden of the Gods SP
Fults Hill Prairie
Mackinac Island
Door County
Devils Lake SP
Timms Hill
Delafield, WI
Madison, WI
Traverse City, MI
Mississippi Palisades SP
Nachusa Grasslands
Cimarron Grasslands
Badlands NP
Mount Rushmore
Black Hills
Lake in the Clouds
Lake Geneva
Flint Hills
Apple River Canyon SP
Braidwood Dunes
Ozark Mountains
Branson, MO
St. Louis
Indianapolis
Hocking Hills
Cypress swamps
sand prairies
tallgrass prairies
Bridal Veil Falls (and the dozens of other UP waterfalls)
Castle Rock SP



Thats just scratching the surface. You need to get out more often from the sound of it.

[At1WithNature]

I've been to about half of those places listed. at the end of the day it comes down to personal opinion. the south was not for you but obviously they are doing something right as it is the fastest growing region in the United States of America.