Where to meet successful professional guys in their 30s in Indy? (Indianapolis: centers, airplane)

[Toxic Toast]

Iowa not as flat as you think

[grmasterb]

Originally Posted by Toxic Toast

Iowa not as flat as you think

True. There's a nice roll to the terrain between Des Moines and Quad Cities.

[MortonR]

Originally Posted by W & C

Wisconsin is flatter than Indiana, really ? Can't really imagine that.

Not much of it. It's more rolling hills than anything else.

I always got a kick out of people who remarked about how flat Indiana was when I would tell them I was from there. I would always politely inform them that if they went south of Indianapolis it was anything but flat the farther south you went...

I suspect they would have driven across the northern part of the state when they made the remark. If they drove the new I-69 they would be surprised.

RM

[indy_317]

For those of us who enjoy high elevations and dramatic changes in elevations, Indiana is "flat." This doesn't mean flat as a pancake. Additionally, many new residents or visitors to a state are most likely visiting a major urban area, since that is where populations are clustering anymore. People who fly into an out of Indy and don't head SW, South, or SE aren't going to get a great picture of our state's topography. Same if the person spent four years at say Notre Dame or visited someone at Notre Dame. I don't recall much change in topography in the upper northern third of Indiana.

A few weeks ago I went to Cincinnati. Some of the neighborhoods being built on the hills are really neat. I also noticed from I-74 that there are some nice elevation changes in far SE Indiana as you get close to Ohio. However, when people say flat, they are comparing the area to places like the Pacific NW, California, etc. where people can drive just an hour, maybe two, and be in some mountain range that is over a very wide area.

While I would prefer a more mountain type living arraignment, one thing I realized just about a month ago while driving out in a flat and rural area of the state with some elevation changes is that one doesn't get that "as far as the eye can see" landscape living in or near mountains. Even if you are in elevation in the metro area one lives, the mountains might block what would be a nice 'as far as the eye can see' view.

[Serious Conversation]

I don't think anyone is claiming Indiana is mountainous, but the hills there in Dearborn County are pretty substantial - even coming from where I'm from in east TN, there are a lot of areas that aren't that hilly.

Geographically, I think IN's biggest problem is that the more scenic parts of the state are nowhere really near the population centers. It's still an hour from Indy to Brown County on the weekends. Southern IN doesn't have any population centers of note, I-65 isn't that pretty, and there isn't a lot of just passing through the area.

[MortonR]

Originally Posted by Serious Conversation

I don't think anyone is claiming Indiana is mountainous, but the hills there in Dearborn County are pretty substantial - even coming from where I'm from in east TN, there are a lot of areas that aren't that hilly.

Geographically, I think IN's biggest problem is that the more scenic parts of the state are nowhere really near the population centers. It's still an hour from Indy to Brown County on the weekends. Southern IN doesn't have any population centers of note, I-65 isn't that pretty, and there isn't a lot of just passing through the area.

Having made the drive up and down both I-69 and I-65 from Indianapolis to the northern parts of the state, I would say they are mind numbing - but not as mind-numbing as western Kansas/eastern Colorado or parts of the Dakotas.

Those places make you want to rip your eyes out after a few hours...

RM

[grmasterb]

Originally Posted by MortonR

Having made the drive up and down both I-69 and I-65 from Indianapolis to the northern parts of the state, I would say they are mind numbing - but not as mind-numbing as western Kansas/eastern Colorado or parts of the Dakotas.

Those places make you want to rip your eyes out after a few hours...

RM

I've never understood this kind of criticism. In relatively flat states, it's easier to just set the car on cruise control and enjoy the radio.

[MortonR]

Originally Posted by grmasterb

I've never understood this kind of criticism. In relatively flat states, it's easier to just set the car on cruise control and enjoy the radio.

It's just boring, that's all. While I have no problem setting the cruise and running through hours of podcasts, it's nice to have a little visual entertainment as well.

I once drove the better part of the length of Alberta, and it was so flat it took an airplane nearly 40 minutes to transit from one horizon to the other.

Now that's boring....



RM

[Toxic Toast]

If I am driving any rural interstate, it is boring. Rural interstates are not that exciting. Anywhere.

[Ivory Lee Spurlock]

Originally Posted by McdonaldIndy

Very true. Just like Southern Indiana but you don't see people acknowledging that. Anyone that says Indiana is flat and boring needs to drive the new I-69 from Crane to Bloomington. Can't say with an honest face thats flat.

I drove 69 from Evansville to Crane a couple years ago. I don't remember it being particularly scenic or hilly. But after I exited at Crane I took a state Highway - I believe it was HWY 54, but dont quote me on that - to the west side of Bloomington to HWY 31 or 37 - and it was a fairly hilly, a nice winding country road that felt like time had stood still.