Does Chicago "feel" Midwestern?

[TheProf]

Originally Posted by Tex?Il?

I agree with you, but to say that Cleveland is often hilly . . . is a REAL stretch. (yes I've been there) Besides, Chicagoland has ravines and bluffs too, just not in the city limits. (North Shore, Barrington area, some in Dupage County particularly around the Morton Arborteum, Palos region to the SW of the city, Fox River valley, etc.

Anyone from other regions of the country would consider both regions pretty flat.

Okay, how about sometimes hilly? If you head east 4-5 miles east of downtown, you experience the Portage Escarpment: the sharp rise generally from the City to the Heights suburban area -- but also encompasses the City itself to the southeast. Chicago, the city and suburbs, esp close-in burbs, have nothing comparable to this, nor does Chicago have deep ravines like the Flats, the Rocky River reservation to the west, or the Chagrin Valley (goregous) to the East.

Also, there's Cleveland's Emerald Necklace of forests and public parks encircling the City. The Cuyahoga Valley National Park, running south of Cleveland, also features numerous hills adjacent to the deep river ravine.

[Tex?Il?]

Originally Posted by TheProf

Okay, how about sometimes hilly? If you head east 4-5 miles east of downtown, you experience the Portage Escarpment: the sharp rise generally from the City to the Heights suburban area -- but also encompasses the City itself to the southeast. Chicago, the city and suburbs, esp close-in burbs, have nothing comparable to this, nor does Chicago have deep ravines like the Flats, the Rocky River reservation to the west, or the Chagrin Valley (goregous) to the East.

Also, there's Cleveland's Emerald Necklace of forests and public parks encircling the City. The Cuyahoga Valley National Park, running south of Cleveland, also features numerous hills adjacent to the deep river ravine.

Fast forward this famous scene from Ferris Buellers Day off to the last ten seconds to see the ferrari drop into the deep wooded ravine below. This is in Highland Park, about 30-35 miles north of the loop.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqjK6jjt6gk

Here's a 38 second clip of a mountain biker going down the Swallow Cliff Woods bluffs in the Palos Hills area, about 20-25 miles southwest of the Loop.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxVLWz7NLDI

and here is an images of a real, natural (not some former quarry) canyon literally right down the road from the previous location, Swallow Cliff Woods.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagawa..._(cropped).jpg

Its true that the Chicago proper, city limits alone is flat as a pancake, but even here - there is literally ONE slope in the city limits that might make you huff and puff walking up, on the far Southwest side neighborhood of Beverly:

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.6919...!1e4?entry=ttu

There are surprisingly scenic bluffs, ravines, natural rock outcrops, etc. in the Chicagoland area, there just a bit off the beaten path. But they're there.