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I mean, the suburbs in Chicago are pretty fantastic. But, I'm assuming you meant that in your statement, and are referring more to the surrounding areas for weekend trips, vacations, etc.
To that I would say, you are correct. Western Michigan is nice, and some of the lakes in Northern IL/Geneva are a decent getaway.. Certainly not Cape Cod and the Islands, or the Whites, or Maine's coast.
I made reference to how I miss/missed each of these areas when we lived away. The thing I miss most about Massachusetts are the trips to Newport, the one night stays in Portland, waterfall chasing in VT.. I think anyone who has lived in Massachusetts will sound deeply romantic when talking about the abundance of nature and beauty. It's very real. Even within 30 miles of Boston, there are so many beaches, inlets, lakes, bucolic towns, beautiful towns commons and main streets to explore.
But, some people don't really care, and frankly, I'd say most people in Illinois don't. That's why see you such a focus on local festivals, block parties, town pools, trips into the city. Look no further than Chicago's weekend festival lineup, which hosts an all weekend party in a different neighborhood every single week in the summer. And if folks in Illinois want nature, they feel like they can just fly to Colorado. So while I do agree with you, it's truly just a different culture. More of a "hey, it's nice out, let's get together" thing going on as opposed to Mass, where it's a "hey, it's nice out, hot out, cold out, let's go to your vacation house, or lets rent a house on Nantucket, or let's go skiing at Jay's Peak". Now, it's not to say folks in Mass don't appreciate a good festival, or that people in Illinois don't have vacation houses- but I do think there's a far greater emphasis on local travel and nature amongst Massachusetts residents, and a far greater emphasis on socializing locally in IL.
I live in Wisconsin, and trust me, people from Chicago are on Wisconsin roads every week-end of the summer, driving north to their vacation homes. It seems as though they comprise about 50 percent of the traffic, although I'm pretty sure that's not the case. Traffic is heavy, and you know this, if you've ever gone north from Chicago on a summer week-end. Also, many drive up to Door County in Wisconsin, which is a beautiful vacation area. It's more than a couple of hours, but don't make it sound like these places don't exist...it just takes a few more hours to get there. Also, Lake Geneva in Wisconsin is a popular destination, that is very close to Chicago.
Milwaukee is also a destination...it's not, by any means, a city with nothing to do. Very worth exploring, and I have friends from Chicago, who have purchased condos in Milwaukee's Third Ward, and come up to spend week-ends in the summer. Lots going on in Milwaukee, as well. As someone said, Milwaukee is just Milwaukee. Clearly, they don't know Milwaukee.
I live in Wisconsin, and trust me, people from Chicago are on Wisconsin roads every week-end of the summer, driving north to their vacation homes. It seems as though they comprise about 50 percent of the traffic, although I'm pretty sure that's not the case. Traffic is heavy, and you know this, if you've ever gone north from Chicago on a summer week-end. Also, many drive up to Door County in Wisconsin, which is a beautiful vacation area. It's more than a couple of hours, but don't make it sound like these places don't exist...it just takes a few more hours to get there. Also, Lake Geneva in Wisconsin is a popular destination, that is very close to Chicago.
Milwaukee is also a destination...it's not, by any means, a city with nothing to do. Very worth exploring, and I have friends from Chicago, who have purchased condos in Milwaukee's Third Ward, and come up to spend week-ends in the summer. Lots going on in Milwaukee, as well. As someone said, Milwaukee is just Milwaukee. Clearly, they don't know Milwaukee.
I’ve been to lake Geneva..there’s nothing with 3 hours around Chicago that resembles ....
I didn't say they were like what is around Boston, I just said, there are options. Clearly, if they wanted what Boston has, they would live there. And, judging by your posts, you live there or near there. Your choice. The millions in Chicago clearly chose otherwise.
I didn't say they were like what is around Boston, I just said, there are options. Clearly, if they wanted what Boston has, they would live there. And, judging by your posts, you live there or near there. Your choice. The millions in Chicago clearly chose otherwise.
Sounds reasonable enough..you can click on them from post number 18..I don’t know what’s going on with the links
Thanks for sharing..those do look like some cool areas..since you got me thinking drones figured I’d put a few together for some areas 1-3 hours to Boston ..
Be careful Marothisu, because the Bostonians will take this and throw an unwarranted amount of videos, pictures, and things to do within reach of Boston. Myself included!
To be fair, their level of adamancy about the gap between the two is kind of justified. This will come off as a bit harsh, but this is what I'd say..
First of all, the Indiana dunes are surrounded by some of the ugliest state roads, factories and eyesores in the US.
Western Michigan looks like some of the coast of New England, but with only a fraction of what makes it special, as the Northeast is dotted with continuous coastal towns, cities, beautiful estates, cliffs, national state parks, mountains, and Islands (and, history). With the exception of Mackinac and Traverse City, which are fantastic, it comes up far short. Truthfully, towns like Holland and Grand Haven would be a tier 3/tier 4 coastal towns, or merely just another commuter suburb in Boston. You don't even need a day trip for those, which really drives home the point. Even on Boston's commuter line, you have places like Newburyport, Marblehead, Rockport, Hingham, Beverly Farms, Cohasset, Manchester-by-the-Sea. Once you expand that to RI/NH/ME, it's crazy how many options, and how awesome that particular aspect of Boston is.
As for Door County, that is more the rule than the exception in New England. It wouldn't be dissimilar to Central/Western Massachusetts (but without the Berkshires). As you expand into NH/VT/ME, Door County would be an area that you drive past to get to the beautiful areas up north. Lake Winnepesaukee, the White Mountains, The Green Mountains, Lake Sebago, Penobscot, the Adirondacks, etc. Personal favorite is waterfall chasing in VT.
So, Chicago does have some possibilities in reach. And despite how nasty I sound, they're not bad options either. There's just a huge difference in options, and how unique/great they really are as compared to New England.
^ I never stated it was better than Boston. Actually I specifically stated "I think Boston has more within driving distance". I was merely highlighting some of the things within a few hours driving distance (or even less) of Chicago. I find that a lot of people think the entire midwest is like the middle of Iowa or Nebraska when that's pretty far from the actuality. The best nature in the midwest is about 5 or so hours drive from Chicago IMO. It's easy 3 day weekend trip type of stuff but it isn't necessarily pure day trip distance. The stuff in Northern Michigan and Minnesota is better than what was shown, but it's 5 or 6 hours drive, not 3 hours so it doesn't count in this.
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