Most naturally beautiful city in the Midwest (places, ranking, downtown)

[DinsdalePirahna]

Pittsburgh is NOT a midwestern city by any stretch of the imagination.

Chicago would be my pick.
Cincy is visually nice but it reminds me of a bigger version of Charleston, WV.

[PhillytoCincy]

Originally Posted by DinsdalePirahna

Pittsburgh is NOT a midwestern city by any stretch of the imagination.

Chicago would be my pick.
Cincy is visually nice but it reminds me of a bigger version of Charleston, WV.

Not at all.

[bhj867]

Originally Posted by jeffredo

Minneapolis. Twenty natural lakes, the Mississippi River while its still blue/green color and Minnehaha Falls. City's freakin' gorgeous.

I agree, its right up there with Atlanta with natural beauty right up to the doorstep of downtown.

[chikid]

I think there are too many to pick from. My top pics are:

-Chicago - The lake and the city is just absolutely gorgeous.
-Cincy - The hills and the river create a perfect blend for an urban setting.
-Milwaukee - Same as Chicago, however I find Milwaukee's lakefront to be prettier as it has more topography
-Madison - A rarity indeed, there are very few cities that can say they are located on an isthumus.

[abr7rmj]

1. Cincinnati - the Queen City is quite stunning, particularly at night

2. Madison - the city's relationship to the water is perfect

3. Cleveland - the lake and the proximity to lush forests are tough to beat

[knke0204]

Cincinnati has it's rolling hills and river and what not, I've heard it's gorgeous

Chicago and it's waterfront are breathtaking. But the area is rather flat..

Madison - the isthmus and the lakes are great, not to mention the hills and bluffs

St. Paul, Mississippi, the bluffs and lakes.

[ThroatGuzzler]

Milwaukee. It meets the lake beautifully.

[Maintainschaos]

Chicago: beautiful lake front
Duluth: beautiful hilly area along the lake
Madison: driving into the city and seeing it on the isthmus is cool

[west336]

I'm surprised by some of the answers so far -- not that they aren't beautiful, but that they are the MOST beautiful. I've never heard of Cincinnati being "beautiful" before this, although it definitely has its perks and I can see why people like it. Some of the other cities like Milwaukee, Chicago or Cleveland have a beautiful lakefront but a lot of the rest of the city is just plain nasty.

[Dayton Sux]

Madison.

Id say Chicago, but the beauty isnt really in the "nature", but how the city (which is man made) hits the lake. But Madison has an outstanding natural setting for a flatland (more or less) city.

I guess for bluffs, yeah, Cincy. But maybe Dubuque and Duluth, too?