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Let me preface my post by hoping no one starts insultsing one city or the other. They are both amazing cities with so much to offer. I have lived in CHicago and the Chicago area my whole life and my last trip to NYC had me thinking about this. Which Ave in your opinion would you rather stroll down. Here are my pro's and cons
Pros
Michigan Ave - Crossing the bridge and looking down in the summer, with the landscape,I have never seen a retail ave on this planet that matches it's beauty with the river and lake, the old(tribune tower/wrigley building) and the new(trump tower which is just beautiful). The spaced out skyscrapers going down to Oak street and the cleanliness is world class. Used to start at the bridge, but now with MIll Park, just amazing
Cons
-No vendors on the street
-Not as long as 5th
Pros
5th Ave - Goes on forever. Vendors! My favorite is to grab a pretzel or hot dog while strolling. Rockefeller plaza right off 5th with St. Patricks nestled in there. The plaza and CP finish the street up north.
Cons - Garbage in front( i know no alleys Many stores are too expenseive for the everyday middle american. Have much higher end stores than Mag Mile(oak street might come close).
So lets here other thoughts.
Anyone know how to create a poll, if so would be appreciated. My pick is Chicago Mag Mile, but of course I am a tad biased. Both are amazing and New York is my favorite place to visit.
Michigan Avenue is definitely more aesthetically pleasing and much more enjoyable to take a stroll on. It provides great views of the Hancock building when walking north and it's pleasant even if you're just window-shopping. 5th Avenue is more crowded and isn't as pleasing to take a stroll on due to the hoards of shoppers.
First of all, neither has a subway line running underneath it. This is especially strange with Chicago. State Street to the west has the subway line IIRC. So why did Michigan Avenue and not State Street become the "main" street north of the river?
I have more first-hand familiarity with 5th Avenue. I was only in Chicago very briefly. I did find Michigan Avenue nicer aesthetically and a nicer place to stroll. Though it's great width and spaces in front of some of the buildings (from what I remember, unless I'm mixing up my memories with something else) make it feel less urban and intense than the strict streetwall of 5th Avenue.
In terms of shopping, the high-end stores of both don't appeal to me, nor are most of them anywhere I could afford anyways.
This is all of course if we are talking about the famous stretch of 5th Avenue from about 49th to 59th Streets. My favourite stretch is actually further south, south of 23th Street.
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