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What makes you think that I've only seen it from the freeway. Even then, you're admitting that Houston's freeways are ugly?
It certainly depends on the freeway, but no doubt most of Houston's freeways are not pretty. As I said, it's not a city looking to reward those who have no interest in looking beyond the surface. Look here for a brief introduction if you're interested in expanding your horizons and removing some false beliefs: http://www.city-data.com/forum/8096252-post37.html
Quote:
Originally Posted by City Fanatic
The Clear Lake area is nice, as is the Galleria area, the Woodlands, and Conroe. There are other areas. Overall, though, I wasn't impressed with the look of the eastern Houston area, with its massive oil refineries towering over the horizon, or the tackiness of its freeway advertising (everywhere, and to the extreme), or its mediocre beaches in Galveston.
Why do people always denigrate Galveston? Galveston's beaches have high concentrations of silt which causes them to appear murky. The riverine basin northern Gulf Coast is all like that, where it's not mangrove swamp that is. Galveston ain't Hawaii or Naples, Florida, but it serves its purpose well. It's funny, you never hear people complaining about how crappy Coney Island is, even though that place is a hole. No one in New York even tries to compare it to other places that are better because it's what they've got available right there.
Also, I doubt you'll ever find yourself impressed with any city's industrial side. They're designed for function, not beauty.
Quote:
Originally Posted by City Fanatic
If I recall, if you drive from the east heading west along I-40, and you instead continue west onto what was originally supposed to be I-40 (west of where I-40 shifts onto the loop), this freeway dead-ends into some very slummy, hardcore neighborhoods.
It becomes Sam Cooper and it ends at the zoo and a park, not a slummy neighborhood. To the north of the street you'll find a few slummy areas, but to the south, all the way to Southern, you'll find mostly historic nighborhoods that make up what is known as Midtown. It's actually very pretty, especially in autumn. I will admit, that it doesn't seem to fit your idea of pretty which, based on the neighborhoods of Houston and Memphis you've mentioned, seem to be new sparkling 'burbs lined with row upon row of identical, albeit big, houses.
If you want slummy, you should visit the neighborhood beginning at the southwest corner of Southern and Highland.
If I recall, if you drive from the east heading west along I-40, and you instead continue west onto what was originally supposed to be I-40 (west of where I-40 shifts onto the loop), this freeway dead-ends into some very slummy, hardcore neighborhoods.
That is simply not true. TexasTheKid explained it quite well. Sam Cooper (the old I-40) dead-ends at East Parkway which is a gorgeous divided boulevard completely shaded with giant oak trees and surrounded by large, expensive homes. Midtown Memphis has its share of sketchy areas but is also filled with old, historic districts with fiercely strict building codes, gorgeous parks, eclectic neighborhoods and an expanded streetcar network.
That is simply not true. TexasTheKid explained it quite well. Sam Cooper (the old I-40) dead-ends at East Parkway which is a gorgeous divided boulevard completely shaded with giant oak trees and surrounded by large, expensive homes. Midtown Memphis has its share of sketchy areas but is also filled with old, historic districts with fiercely strict building codes, gorgeous parks, eclectic neighborhoods and an expanded streetcar network.
Put it this way. After the freeway ends, on my way to Beale Street, I passed through some hardcore areas. The whole drive wasn't in a slummy area, but some of it that I passed through was.
Put it this way. After the freeway ends, on my way to Beale Street, I passed through some hardcore areas. The whole drive wasn't in a slummy area, but some of it that I passed through was.
That's certainly possible. Memphis is one of those cities without a single bad side. The slums exist in small pockets interspersed throughout the city.
I would say that Birmingham is probably one of the most surprisingly scenic cities in the South. It has an unbelievably beautiful backdrop of the Appalachain foothills that makes for some of the more beautiful sunsets in the South.
Chattanooga is another Southern city that has an absolutely gorgeous setting amidst the mountains, with the majestic Tennessee River winding through town.
Actually, I think it's the very slummy, hardcore East Parkway in Memphis. be careful not to step on a crackpipe!
That's correct, it's the "slummy" East Parkway where Sam Cooper (old I-40) ends in Midtown Memphis.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not foolish enough to say that Memphis doesn't have slums, but it's nowhere near as bad as some people think. Some people spend a weekend in the city and then all of a sudden are experts on everything Memphis.
Since it's several miles from East Parkway to Beale Street downtown, of course there will be some run-down areas along the way. Memphis is a big city with big city problems, but it also has some absolutely gorgeous areas and can be a heck of a lot of fun to explore.
That's correct, it's the "slummy" East Parkway where Sam Cooper (old I-40) ends in Midtown Memphis.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not foolish enough to say that Memphis doesn't have slums, but it's nowhere near as bad as some people think. Some people spend a weekend in the city and then all of a sudden are experts on everything Memphis.
Since it's several miles from East Parkway to Beale Street downtown, of course there will be some run-down areas along the way. Memphis is a big city with big city problems, but it also has some absolutely gorgeous areas and can be a heck of a lot of fun to explore.
Memphis is a big, old city...of course it has slums.
Most any decent-sized city could replace Memphis in the above sentence.
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