Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Which makes me realize you probably haven't been to Lake Michigan or the beaches. I've been to Galveston, and the beaches there are certainly not the best I've seen. The water was so brown, I was shocked. Lake Michigan beaches aren't the most amazing in the world or on an ocean, but in their own right they're pretty nice. Clean, soft sand, clear blue waters, nice light waves when there's a breeze. Certainly better than Galveston!
I'm not going to talk about Wisconsin Lake Michigan beaches since I haven't been there. My reference was to downtown Chicago. Those beaches are scary. People dump stuff in the water. There are places where it looks like sewage is seeping in.
Brown water in Galveston means silt. Not attractive, but its not unsanitary. Beaches aren't white, but there are beaches. I'll take Galveston over Lake Michigan or Atlantic or even California beaches. Gulf water is warm so you can actually get in the water and stay for more than a few minutes. The Pacific and Atlantic are cold. You don't have to worry about sewage from Mexico (San Diego beaches are magnificent except you can't get in the water). I find the waves a good thing (but it also means more silt and more brown water).
Galveston isn't especially pretty. Certainly not compared to FL Gulf coast beaches. But you can go down there even some weeks in February.
Interesting link: a newscast from nearly 30 years ago about a sewage overflow due to flooding in Malibu. While I'm not at all clear what it has to do with the relative amenities of Chicago and Houston, it obviously made an impression on you.
It may look nice, but looks can be deceiving! Whether it's Santa Monica Bay or Lake Michigan, blue water doesn't equal clean; nice to look at, but don't go in the water!
I was in Galveston last year and the water wasnt brown it was actually blue, plus the seafood was good. Also next month I'm going surfing down there cant wait. :-)
My guess is most of the TX posters in this thread haven't seen Lake Michigan. I spent years in Houston and enjoyed many weekends in Galveston, but I personally didn't care to venture into the nasty brown water. I was blown away by Chicgo's setting, however. Not saying I'd swim there either (too cold) but given the opportunity of where to linger for a day, the Chicago waterfront holds considerably more appeal for me than the views along the Galveston seawall.
Rather than admit the beaches are prettier in Chicago, I suspect it's just a knee-jerk reaction on the part of a few Texan posters to claim the virtues of Galveston's "silty" setting far outweigh those of Chicago. I'd just consider the source of these comments. The catch phrase "Don't mess with Texas" didn't invent itself.
My guess is most of the TX posters in this thread haven't seen Lake Michigan. I spent years in Houston and enjoyed many weekends in Galveston, but I personally didn't care to venture into the nasty brown water. I was blown away by Chicgo's setting, however. Not saying I'd swim there either (too cold) but given the opportunity of where to linger for a day, the Chicago waterfront holds considerably more appeal for me than the views along the Galveston seawall.
Rather than admit the beaches are prettier in Chicago, I suspect it's just a knee-jerk reaction on the part of a few Texan posters to claim the virtues of Galveston's "silty" setting far outweigh those of Chicago. I'd just consider the source of these comments. The catch phrase "Don't mess with Texas" didn't invent itself.
Yes I' ve seen Lake Michigan the water was blue and not going to deny that, it was actually very nice . To me I just prefer Galveston mainly because there is so much to do and its usually warm year around. Plus Texas has hundreds of miles of coast line. Also the water isn't always brown down by Corpus Christi down to South Padre Island its pretty blue.
Galveston gives you a REAL beach expirence. It's tropical, the towns on the ocean, and theres alot of culture. The water isn't dirty though. It's just dirt from the ocean floor.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
