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Would you say Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan are more similar to the PNW or New England?
Criteria can be culture, accents, weather, cities, scenery, history, demographics, and overall vibe etc
Definitely more like New England. Although Minneapolis has more of a PNW vibe in terms of some of the demographics and outdoor culture.
The scenery of the Midwest is really nothing like the PNW. The Upper Midwest is relatively flat and consists of some deciduous forests. This is more similar to New England. The PNW has much more dramatic scenery and is dominated by tall conifers. I also give a nod to New England for climate. The Midwest (just like New England) has of a continental climate not dominated by proximity to the Pacific Ocean.
Most of the cities (including their history and culture) in the upper Midwest seem more similar to the lay out of cities you would find in New England.
Definitely more like New England. Although Minneapolis has more of a PNW vibe in terms of some of the demographics and outdoor culture.
The scenery of the Midwest is really nothing like the PNW. The Upper Midwest is relatively flat and consists of some deciduous forests. This is more similar to New England. The PNW has much more dramatic scenery and is dominated by tall conifers. I also give a nod to New England for climate. The Midwest (just like New England) has of a continental climate not dominated by proximity to the Pacific Ocean.
Most of the cities (including their history and culture) in the upper Midwest seem more similar to the lay out of cities you would find in New England.
Would you say that St.Paul leans more PNW as well?
Culturally, I'm leaning toward the PNW. Neither region has New England's white-ethnic population (or Caribbean/West African for that matter), the old-money vibe, or the reputation for brash and outspoken personalities. Both were settled around the same time (~1840s-50s), vs. two centuries before that for New England.
I don't see a whole lot of resemblance between Upper Midwestern and New England cities either, FWIW. They both have a lot of wood-frame houses (in contrast to Chicago, which is more brick), but so does the PNW. And neither region has New England's characteristic wood-frame 3-flats. Upper Midwest and PNW cities are largely on 90-degree grid plans, rare in New England outside a handful of places like Burlington, VT.
I got a PNW vibe when I visited Duluth, MN in 2021. It's nothing like Seattle but it reminded me of Tacoma or Everett, WA. I think I'll go PNW overall.
I would say New England. Especially to the three northern New England states, Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire. Also to Upstate New York. Basically, a New England light.
Thousands of lakes and large areas of forest, many small towns, similar local government systems are some of the similarities. The lack of the giant mountains as well as the desert areas of the PNW are more.
Honestly, Minnesota doesn't remind me of either. MSP probably reminds me more of a PNW city than a Northeast city, with the exception of its older/most established neighborhoods. A vast majority of Minnesota is really a forested Great Plains State.
I mean, it is one of the few flattest States in the US. Most of it looks like this:
Wisconsin and Michigan are more uniformly hilly. Wisconsin with it's open and lush rolling hills in the interior part of the State, and Michigan with it's large hills and dunes that cover much of Central and Northern Michigan.
Some random thoughts - Beyond topography, Wisconsin's love of dairy and beer reminds me a lot of Vermont (Wisconsin dairy farmers drive a Ram, while Vermonts drive a Prius). And Michigan/Wisconsins vast amount of Great Lake coastline is reminiscent of Coastal New England, more than coastal PNW.
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