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So, that person judged a city by their own expectations.
Yes. That's my understanding. I look at it like this. I hear and read stuff about other's opinions about various things, but I evaluate those opinions by whether or not what they like/dislike is something that's important to me.
As an example, I've never been to Pittsburgh, but I know that it always does really well in those best places to live type surveys. I've read that many people that left would have stayed had there been better job opportunities. Lots of people like it. But I'm not a winter person nor a huge fan of smaller "big cities". I also prefer a city with lots of and a variety of entertainment options. I also appreciate the experiences (mostly food) that come with having a very diverse population. Based on all of this, my expectations would be low so if I visit and find out that I like it, then I would be pleasantly surprised regardless of how others may already view the city.
This happened in real life when I visited Cleveland. I wouldn't move there, but I liked it more than I expected. I also visited Seattle and liked it less than I expected. Overall I still like Seattle quite a bit more and could live there.
Disappointing: Springfield. It looked pretty run-down outside the downtown and the Leland Grove/Williams Blvd area on the west side --- terrible streets, empty lots, houses falling apart, broken glass everywhere. Even the downtown looked very stuck in the '70s, I was expecting something a bit more modern from the capital of an important state.
Pleasantly Surprising: Peoria. There were some surprisingly cool, walkable neighborhoods, like the West Main area around Bradley University and the Main/Sheridan area (including a great LGBTQ+ bookstore). The suburbs just looked like average American suburbia --- not exactly "impressive" but I was expecting something much more dilapidated.
Disappointing/Pleasantly Surprising: Champaign. I thought the high-rise Campustown neighborhood looked a lot more artificial, unattractive, and small in real life than on streetview. However, Champaign's actual downtown was nice, with some cool patios converted from alleyways and great retro coffeehouses.
I agree/disagree with this. Springfield, IL has the Lincoln Museum which is outstanding, and I found the Lincoln District to be interesting as well. Yes, some run down areas, but some nice as well. Not sure what I expected, to be honest.
Peoria, IL has to be one of the most surprisingly underrated towns in America. Nice downtown, nice neighborhoods, hilly with views of the Illinois River and some really great restaurants you think you would find in a larger city. Caterpillar money affluent.
Champaign, IL to me was surprising nice, another surprise, and the U of Illinois campus lovely. I actually disagree on Campus Town, it is more big city than almost any small town I have ever been to with luxury highrises built for an affluent Chinese student population. The suburban/urban area where the professors live in Urbana,IL with brick streets and stately houses looked like it was yanked from Chicago's north shore.
Vancouver, BC was such a picturesque, cosmopolitan, and diverse city. Loved it when I visited there. San Jose- just had a great time when I visited. Weather was amazing. Went to some nice restaurants, and went to this upscale outdoor restaurant/bar for a happy hour which I'll never forget.
Disappointing cities for me would have to be: Miami (brutal heat and humidity each time I've been, and just not a huge fan of the downtown nightlife or the beach areas); Denver (was downtown and when to a few places, but it wasn't what I expected); Cincinnati and Louisville (felt very similar to me; downtowns were not very clean or vibrant like many larger cities I'm used to; some areas of downtown felt desolate and unsafe); San Francisco- kind of a mixed baggage because I really enjoyed the Bay Area as a whole, and certain parts of SF. It was just that the downtown core with all the homeless people and it's really dirty/grungy in some sections; wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but overall I liked it, and the locals I met were very friendly and social.
I always wonder why people visit Miami in the middle of Summer and then complain about the heat & humidity. Come visit during the Winter months and see how different the experience is.
I always wonder why people visit Miami in the middle of Summer and then complain about the heat & humidity. Come visit during the Winter months and see how different the experience is.
I lived in Florida and the heat humidity and weather was sub par outside just summer lol. Sorry, im on personne’s side there
There are a number of cities that have pleasantly surprised or disappointed me, but most have already been mentioned, so I'll focus on two of the larger cities:
I was (slightly) disappointed in Boston, but my very high expectations might have been the cause. Visiting certainly cured me of my longtime desire to move there, in any case.
I was very pleasantly surprised by Philadelphia. Truth be told, I fell in love with it, but my lower expectations might have had something to do with that. I now have a strong desire to live there (for part of the year).
Columbus - Short North was cool, and German Village was okay. Outside of that it was pretty underwhelming, and the Central Business District was surprisingly sparse and dead.
Surprised
Chicago - This started as disappointment but turned into pleasantly surprised. I had visited a couple of times but only went Downtown. Compared to Manhattan I found Downtown underwhelming. However I recently visited a friend who lives on the North Side, and the neighborhoods we saw were incredibly vibrant and cool. I also really liked the area around U Chicago (despite its bad reputation).
DISAPPOINTING
Memphis - It was just much more run-down, ghetto and sketchy looking than I expected, probably the most run-down city I've been to in the South, many parts of it reminded me more of Baltimore or Philadelphia than a typical Southern city.
SURPRISING
Columbus - I went during the food truck festival which was an awesome event. The city was very well kept and modern, and felt clean and safe. The skyline was pretty impressive.
Florida is a big state - I noticed you didn't say you lived in Miami. Where in Florida did you live? Was it coastal? They're talking about Miami specifically not some land locked portion of the state that offers a completely different experience... especially during the summer.
Quote:
Originally Posted by masssachoicetts
I lived in Florida and the heat humidity and weather was sub par outside just summer lol. Sorry, im on personne’s side there
Columbus - Short North was cool, and German Village was okay. Outside of that it was pretty underwhelming, and the Central Business District was surprisingly sparse and dead.
Surprised
Chicago - This started as disappointment but turned into pleasantly surprised. I had visited a couple of times but only went Downtown. Compared to Manhattan I found Downtown underwhelming. However I recently visited a friend who lives on the North Side, and the neighborhoods we saw were incredibly vibrant and cool. I also really liked the area around U Chicago (despite its bad reputation).
The best parts about Chicago are from Lincoln Park-Old Town-Wrigley Field-Uptown-Rogers Park-Lincoln Square. There really isnt something like that in America.
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