Fly Over Country? (Chicago, Geneva, Braidwood: transplants, school, living in)

[Attrill]

Originally Posted by 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 Misssissippi. Also, I would consider the Dakotas, Nebraska, and Kansas more the Plain States, and less Midwest, even though they are lumped in together.

Yep, and there are plenty of areas in the East and West that are boring as well. The Central Valley in California, NJ Turnpike, most of Connecticut, all of Delaware.....

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by NYrules

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

Branson is barely even in the Midwest! LOL It could be considered Midwestern with strong southern and Ozark influences.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by 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.

Its growing the fastest because its farkin dirt cheap to live there. They also have the worst schools in general, crappy-paying jobs, nasty weather, etc.

Is anyplace perfect?

And if you say youve been to the places I listed in the Midwest and werent impressed, I can tell you right now you wont be impressed with the south's scenery, maybe minus the Smokies. Most of the south in incredibly flat, very swampy, very humid and very rainy. Some nice beaches, but their scenery doesnt have the diversity that it does in the Midwest. You confuse me.

[MassVt]

.... is not a term of endearment, to be sure. Don't be surprised if people take offense.

The Midwest, and especially Chicago are scenic enough, especially in the northern reaches of MN, WI and MI. The central Midwest is not especially distinctive, but corn and soybean fields are still more attractive than urban blight (which the NE has in spades, especially in the Mid-Atlantic). I have to say that New England, especially VT, NH, and ME, is more attractive than the above, but the Midwest has its charms.

[STLCardsBlues1989]

I don't think any region is most boring.

Even places that are boring are very important. Acres and acres of farmland is boring. But it's also vital. You may not care for it, but don't dismiss it as not important.

The midwest has a beautiful array of scenery. It has a few large cities, and Chicago, obviously, which is largest. The area is full of good, hard-working, down-to-earth people. The south may be more exciting, but it also has (in general), high obesity and higher illiteracy rates.

Not everyone wants to live in New York or Los Angeles. First of all, they probably can't afford to. Secondly, not everyone likes the big city. Some like small towns and country. Different people have different tastes, but that does not mean that the Midwest in general is "fly-over country".

[At1WithNature]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Its growing the fastest because its farkin dirt cheap to live there. They also have the worst schools in general, crappy-paying jobs, nasty weather, etc.

Is anyplace perfect?

And if you say youve been to the places I listed in the Midwest and werent impressed, I can tell you right now you wont be impressed with the south's scenery, maybe minus the Smokies. Most of the south in incredibly flat, very swampy, very humid and very rainy. Some nice beaches, but their scenery doesnt have the diversity that it does in the Midwest. You confuse me.

again, your posts seem to refelct a subjective stand point based in personal opinion. yes, everyone is moving to the South because the schools stink and the weather is "nasty" plus the jobs pay crappy wages!

all i am saying is it would be refreshing to see you post objectively one day...there's two sides to every coin. for example, lower paying jobs than chicago but the cost of living is ridiculously less than chicago and they don't have to put up with an ABSURD 10% sales tax.

i never said i wasn't impressed with places such as the black hills, where did you get that from? i respect your opinion, we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one topic.

[Mister Mappy]

As I said, you made the Midwest sound as if there is nothing but tundra here.

I had a friend who moved to Miami Beach for a few years. She was tired of the cold weather, and thought endless summer would be great. Except the humidity was relentless. Also, she never saw a flying cockroach until she moved there. The first time she had to deal with a hurricane was her last. She moved back here within 4 months. She now says give her a blizzard any day over a hurricane.

[NYrules]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

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.

My GOD Mr. O how could you miss one of the most obvious ones??? CHICAGO! LOL The city vibe itself isn't Manhattan, but still amazing in it of itself. Also, how about; Wisconsin Dells, New Buffalo MI and it's wineries that surround it, Brown Cty IN (Covered bridge festival), Indianapolis, drive down IL Route 84, Mackinac Island, Great America I suppose, just to name a few.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by NYrules

My GOD Mr. O how could you miss one of the most obvious ones??? CHICAGO! LOL The city vibe itself isn't Manhattan, but still amazing in it of itself. Also, how about; Wisconsin Dells, New Buffalo MI and it's wineries that surround it, Brown Cty IN (Covered bridge festival), Indianapolis, drive down IL Route 84, Mackinac Island, Great America I suppose, just to name a few.

Well, Chicago was a given.

Other great places in the Midwest:

Minneapolis
Cave-In-Rock
Great Lakes
10K lakes in MN
15K lakes in WI
Peninsula SP
Volo Bog
Illinois Beach SP
Oval Beach (MI)
Whitefish Dunes
Wyalusing SP
Rib Mountain
Loess Hills
LaRue/Pine Hills
Washington Island
Driftless Area
Cherry/apple orchards
Wineries

[via chicago]

Dont give them any ideas, I like my empty Michigan beaches damnit!