Great Lakes underrated? (campgrounds, pollution, oil)

[wh15395]

I love how people don't even know Indiana has beaches. Out of all the Great Lakes, nothing is more amazing than Ogden Dunes on a clear summer day on the beach followed by nighttime where you can see the Chicago skyline.

[danielj72]

Originally Posted by wh15395

I love how people don't even know Indiana has beaches. Out of all the Great Lakes, nothing is more amazing than Ogden Dunes on a clear summer day on the beach followed by nighttime where you can see the Chicago skyline.

There are people in the Benton harbor/St joe part of Michigan that have claimed to be able to see the chicago skyline from the Michigan side of the lake. Ive always wondered if that could possibly be true. I thought the curvature of the earth only allowed for a 25 mile line of sight. Maybe on an extremly clear day you could see the very tops of the skyscrapers.

[grapico]

Hrmm...I've lived in FL and CA also...Great Lakes are kind of what they are...beaches in FL and CA at least are worlds better...not that they aren't pretty, but there is no comparison really. Some may claim I am being "bias" but I definitely think there is a different vibe and feel by the ocean (vastness, sounds, smells, wildlife) , vs a lake...that the lakes, no matter how big, can not reproduce. But yes they are nice, if that is what you are asking...but to reaffirm again, lake is not an ocean and does not make a good substitute.

[DANNYY]

Nothing on this website is underrated. Everything on here gets talked about non-stop, these threads about "X place being underrated" need to stop. You're just wasting internet cache at this point (in my opinion). The real underrated places in the United States are places that no one on this site has probably ever fathomed to think about or give seconds thoughts too, places like Santa Catalina Islands, US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, Juneau & Alaska, Hawaii, Amish Country, Kentucky (the whole state), West Virginia (again the whole state), & Upper Peninsula Michigan, Key West, Quad Cities, & 4 Corners (and a few other places).

Those places are the real underrated places in the United States, they don't get any respect on this site, any recognition, anything at all. Everything else is boosted so much that it makes my eyes water every time I see a repetitive sentence in every single thread, in my opinion. Wake up and look at all of yourselves in the mirror, talking about the same selective places everyday wont make a place underrated no matter how much recognition is a drop from something even more talked about, a simple advanced search will quantify hundreds to thousands of threads about the Great Lakes, an advanced search in contrast for "Santa Catalina Island" will only bring up two threads (one being mine, recently created). That is the definition of underrated, in my opinion. Sorry for the rant, but this is just haywire now.

This is an example of what being Underrated looks like (Santa Catalina Island):


This is an example of what is being underrated can be astonishingly beautiful (Avalon, Santa Catalina Island):


As for this topic, I would say a lot of cool towns and beaches and some of the areas along the shorelines of the Great Lakes are incredibly underrated, they're beautiful and they all deserve to be talked about and recognized more so than they already are.

[chikid]

Originally Posted by grapico

Hrmm...I've lived in FL and CA also...Great Lakes are kind of what they are...beaches in FL and CA at least are worlds better...not that they aren't pretty, but there is no comparison really. Some may claim I am being "bias" but I definitely think there is a different vibe and feel by the ocean (vastness, sounds, smells, wildlife) , vs a lake...that the lakes, no matter how big, can not reproduce. But yes they are nice, if that is what you are asking...but to reaffirm again, lake is not an ocean and does not make a good substitute.

I don't think anyone here is saying that the Great Lakes are better than the West Coast or even Florida. I even stated that in my first post that hands down the Great Lakes have nothing on the West Coast or Florida. The point is that there are coastlines that are just as beautiful on the East Coast that get plenty of attention, but it seems the Great Lakes' beauty is unknown to most of the country, except for those who live near or around them.

[thePR]

Originally Posted by grapico

Hrmm...I've lived in FL and CA also...Great Lakes are kind of what they are...beaches in FL and CA at least are worlds better...not that they aren't pretty, but there is no comparison really. Some may claim I am being "bias" but I definitely think there is a different vibe and feel by the ocean (vastness, sounds, smells, wildlife) , vs a lake...that the lakes, no matter how big, can not reproduce. But yes they are nice, if that is what you are asking...but to reaffirm again, lake is not an ocean and does not make a good substitute.

I'm willing to say that the Great Lakes can rival ocean beaches. If the water goes to the horizon, then it's just as vast for all intents and purposes.

[mackinac81]

I've been to the ocean and the Great Lakes, and, while really cool, I preferred the Great Lakes. I like being able to see a sunset on an uncrowded beach...and the Sleeping Bear Dunes and Straits of Mackinac are a treasure.

But then, I may be a little biased, if my user name is any indication.

[kyle19125]

I was astounded as to how beautiful Lake Michigan was on my first trip to SW Michigan (Saugatuck) several years ago. I'm now a huge fan and plan to spend a week there annually when possible. Check out these links for how beautiful it really is.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oHe6...eature=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ6DYorxjnQ&NR=1


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7Ow2cEqbmE

[ScottsdaleBrat]

Toxic Tour of Northwest Indiana | Feature | Chicago Reader

Toxic algae in Lake Erie might also carry estrogenlike chemical affecting fish reproduction, report says | cleveland.com

Nineteen Lake Michigan beaches in Indiana noted on beach pollution list - Indianapolis Outdoor Travel | Examiner.com

Beaches close after high E.coli levels (http://www.wndu.com/localnews/headlines/99055619.html - broken link)

[testa50]

The Great Lakes are definitely underrated. I often see marketing-type maps (of store location or something like that) that just have them left off altogether. Many people can't name them all, and don't understand the strategic importance of places like Sault Ste Marie. Many people don't realize that Michigan has two separate peninsulas. Many people have never heard of Isle Royale (National Park) or the Apostle Islands (National Lakeshore). And Georgian Bay? Let's also not forget that Niagara Falls is part of the waterway between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.

Most of my experience is in Wisconsin, and it's a terrific area. Far less beachy than the east coast, but far more beautiful on average. There are sandstone cliffs as far as the eye can see in some places. But whoever said something about nothing biting you is wrong--there is no shortage of biting black flies.