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Chicago's strength is Lake Michigan. Their coastline is phenomenal. The beaches, the blue water, the waterfront trails, the endless skyline along the lakeshore. In a way, it reminds me of a northern Miami.
Indiana Dunes isn't terribly impressive, though. I think most people agree that it should not have been upgraded to National Park status. Cuyahoga Valley is the same way. I'm sure there are several other areas in the Midwest that are more scenic than these two NPs.
Yeah because who needs 50 square miles of hills, rivers and ravines between two major urban areas. Would be way better as miles of 1/2 acre exurban subdivisions.
I'd argue the CVNP has more of an impact than any of the huge western national parks that were already in places that never were going to be big human population centers.
Last edited by ClevelandBrown; 12-27-2021 at 07:41 PM..
Yeah because who needs 50 square miles of hills, rivers and ravines between two major urban areas. Would be way better as miles of 1/2 acre exurban subdivisions.
I'd argue the CVNP has more of an impact than any of the huge western national parks that were already in places that never were going to be big human population centers.
I'm not saying the land shouldn't be protected, it was previously a National Recreation Area which is fine, and I think the history behind why it was preserved is interesting. I just don't think it should have been upgraded to National Park status, a special designation that only 62 other areas have.
Yes, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park is great and adds a ton to Greater Cleveland, but there's so much more both within the City and nearby (w/in Cuyahoga County) such as these:
Chagrin River Road w/in the Chagrin Valley to the east:
Aren’t the lakes around Madison much larger than the ones in Minneapolis though?
Lake Mendota and Lake Monona are relatively large, but they're not particularly scenic (though I do agree they're a very nice asset to have). There are a hundred different lakes in the Twin Cities area that look exactly the same and many are much larger. I don't think there's really anything in the urbanized Midwest that's comparable to the Lake Minnetonka area, for instance.
I don't think there's really anything in the urbanized Midwest that's comparable to the Lake Minnetonka area, for instance.
There isn’t.
And when combined with the other lakes, creeks, rivers, waterfalls, rolling topography, river gorges, a National Recreation Area that splits Mpls and STP, along with what is widely regarded as the Midwests finest park systems, it makes for an impressive and uniquely scenic metro area. Especially with 4 distinct seasons.
And when combined with the other lakes, creeks, rivers, waterfalls, rolling topography, river gorges, a National Recreation Area that splits Mpls and STP, along with what is widely regarded as the Midwests finest park systems, it makes for an impressive and uniquely scenic metro area. Especially with 4 distinct seasons.
The only other Midwest metro area that has a higher concentration of lakes is Oakland County, MI (Metro Detroit). The highest concentration is West Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Township, Sylvan Lake, Orchard Lake Village, and Waterford Township areas. These are all mostly very high income areas with extensive conservation lands, trails, and parks around.
The only other Midwest metro area that has a higher concentration of lakes is Oakland County, MI (Metro Detroit). The highest concentration is West Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Township, Sylvan Lake, Orchard Lake Village, and Waterford Township areas. These are all mostly very high income areas with extensive conservation lands, trails, and parks around.
The eastern suburbs of Detroit rest on Lake St. Clair which is 440 square miles and the 15th largest lake shared by Michigan and Ontario.
You mentioned Oakland County which has 350 lakes or so. It has hills around them and it looks like the English countryside. Not to mention - the area has an expansive footprint of upscale housing for miles and miles.
However, since the people in the area live in a scenic state, their frame of reference for beauty is the other parts of Michigan. Meaning, people here look at the lakes in the northwestern suburbs of Detroit as just a drop in the bucket compared to the rest of Michigan. As such, nobody from Detroit would clamor around the region being very scenic as their standards and perceptions of scenic beauty is skewed due to the UP, West Coast of Michigan, and Grand Traverse Bay which they wouldn't trade it in for anything mentioned in this thread.
The eastern suburbs of Detroit rest on Lake St. Clair which is 440 square miles and the 15th largest lake shared by Michigan and Ontario.
You mentioned Oakland County which has 350 lakes or so. It has hills around them and it looks like the English countryside. Not to mention - the area has an expansive footprint of upscale housing for miles and miles.
However, since the people in the area live in a scenic state, their frame of reference for beauty is the other parts of Michigan. Meaning, people here look at the lakes in the northwestern suburbs of Detroit as just a drop in the bucket compared to the rest of Michigan. As such, nobody from Detroit would clamor around the region being very scenic as their standards and perceptions of scenic beauty is skewed due to the UP, West Coast of Michigan, and Grand Traverse Bay which they wouldn't trade it in for anything mentioned in this thread.
Correct, I've been to most of the northern Michigan and the UP, much nicer lakes. However, you can't find any naturally occurring lakes further south of the Great Lakes region metro areas in the Midwest as they are all inferior reservoirs with a limited lifespan.
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