Cities That Are Faster-Paced Than You Thought (live, moving)

[f1000]

Okay, a couple months ago, I went to Minneapolis for the first time. I was surprised by how fast-paced the city workers were walking in the downtown of Minneapolis- looked very purposeful in their stride & rushing as if no time to spare. (To me, faster & more purposeful than bigger cities such as Seattle, Atlanta, Phoenix, among downtown office workers). On the roads it was also somewhat faster-paced than I expected, for a somewhat isolated city in the north.

Is that what is considered the Midwestern Work Ethic or something, that is driving these people? Though St.Paul did have a different more laid-back vibe for sure.

I'm no country bumpkin by any means, I have lived in Los Angeles, live now in Seattle, and spent considerable time in many other cities around the country. It's not New York City by any means but I was surprised by the pace of workers in Minneapolis' downtown.
Are there cities that surprised you in terms of their Pace?

[minneahouston]

I am from Minneapolis and you are right Minny is a fast paced, pedestrian oriented, urban mecca, the problem is that the city is fairly isolated from ANYPLACE, located in flyover country, and sits in the shadow of the true midwestern mecca of Chicago. Minny is not a tourist destination, and visitors who somehow find themselves in Minny (usually family, or business) are truly quite shocked at the vibrancy and true urban feel that the city has to offer (unless they visit during winter, which by the way, has a direct correlation on people moving about at an extremely fast pace). I currently reside in Houston which also has an urban feel inside the loop and through the western Westhiemer and Richmond corridor.