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I enjoy the ocean more as well. I currently live in Manhattan which for me is only a 1+ hour excursion to the ocean. I also lived in downtown Chicago for a number of years before - the lakefront was a 10 minute walk from my apartment with a beach. There was also a smaller beach maybe 10 minutes walk south of that and another large one 10 minutes north of that.
Although I have an ocean only 1 hour from me currently, there is absolutely no question that I would take what I had in Chicago regarding water any second over what I have in Manhattan. Absolutely zero question even though I love oceans much more than lakes, but this is a no brainer to me personally after having lived in both situations. I think it takes actually living in Chicago for a bit or visiting for a long time (not just visiting for a week) to fully grasp how great that lakefront can actually be especially when it's just a short walk from you, even if it is just a lake.
That's fine. I guess it depends what you're looking for out of a body of water. What do you like to fish for? Do you enjoy surfing? day trip to local off shore islands? Do you like going to purchase fresh catch /lobster/oysters off the boat?
That's fine. I guess it depends what you're looking for out of a body of water. What do you like to fish for? Do you enjoy surfing? day trip to local off shore islands? Do you like going to purchase fresh catch /lobster/oysters off the boat?
Hm, are you implying that you can't fish on a lake like Lake Michigan? I can assure that you can, though I personally don't fish anymore, I have friends who fish on Lake Michigan all the time whether it's at the shore or out in a boat. There are restaurants in Chicago that serve freshly caught fish from the lake.
As far as surfing goes, I am not good as surfing - my dad was a surfer back in the 60s and 70s, and I've been to a ton of beaches in America and some others in Caribbean, SE Asia, etc. The extent of my surfing is body surfing, which doesn't really count. For me this is why I love oceans more. However - you can surf on Lake Michigan. There are waves. I wouldn't call them usually good, actually Lake Superior in the winter time has some killer waves that you'd expect to see on a good day in the ocean somewhere.
I am talking about everyday life though. I have lived in both types of situations - and I'll take Chicago's any second even though in non living situations I'd take a good beach on the ocean any second over any other body of water.. I hugely miss being able to take a regular neighborhood type of walk to a beach and huge body of water.
Again, it's ridicules to lessen Chicago's lakefront along 26-miles of the city-proper of more then beaches to debate as inferior.
Chicago also has its Grand Parks ..... especially its core and harbors with its Navy Pier (just remodeled with a hotel coming next year), its Millennium Park and added Maggie Daley Park. All drawing millions of tourist. Millennium Park has SOARED to overtake Navy Pier for tourist numbers and now a TOP 10 attraction in the US.... that has Cereal Park and DC National Mall in its ranks.
Video here showing one of its downtown harbors, skyline and Navy Pier
** About the 2.30-minute mark for a flyover of the city's Navy Pier and then over its amusement rides...
All with the skyline as a backdrop and lakefront filled with Yachts and tour boats......
Navy Pier was surpassed by Millennium Park with number of visitors as 12.9 million last half of 2016.
Now .... it is King of the Midwest Attractions for tourist as a Top 10 in the Nation
placing upward in the likes of Central Park and the National Mall.
PHILLY has its 2-riverfronts and Parks too. But no one is even using them?
CHICAGO has the Great Lake and 1 narrow river but a awesome skyscraper river canyon too.
PHILLY has its 2-riverfronts and Parks too. But no one is even using them
CHICAGO has the Great Lake and 1 narrow river but a awesome skyscraper river canyon too.
You're either confused or misinformed Big Guy. Center City Phillys parks and rivers are heavily used for a myriad of recreational purposes- To the point of uncomfortable overcrowdedness.
You're either confused or misinformed Big Guy. Center City Phillys parks and rivers are heavily used for a myriad of recreational purposes- To the point of uncomfortable overcrowdedness.
1. Schuylkill River Trail - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2. MKT Nature and Fitness Trail - Columbia, Missouri
3. Swamp Rabbit Trail - Greenville, South Carolina
4. Buffalo Bayou Park - Houston, Texas
5. Indianapolis Cultural Trail - Indianapolis, Indiana
6. American River Bike Trail - Sacramento, California
7. Atlanta Beltline - Atlanta, Georgia
8. River Walk and Mission Trail - San Antonio, Texas
9. Lakefront Trail - Chicago, Illinois
10. Rose Kennedy Greenway - Boston, Massachusetts
I said nothing to diss Philly. Nor anyone. I posted no urban trails to disagree with. I'm not sure what the videos posted set you off with? The videos show Chicago's downtown lakefront, skyline from the lake and over the harbor and Navy Pier. The bike and jogging paths are merely there along the lake. Even if tourist #'s were not so high for Chicago attractions. I would post the videos I like of the city I lived 6-years in. I too had a adopted city I keep as a second hometown.
I said nothing to diss Philly. Nor anyone. I posted no urban trails to disagree with. I'm not sure what the videos posted set you off with? The videos show Chicago's downtown lakefront, skyline from the lake and over the harbor and Navy Pier. The bike and jogging paths are merely there along the lake. Even if tourist #'s were not so high for Chicago attractions. I would post the videos I like of the city I lived 6-years in. I too had a adopted city I keep as a second hometown.
Rainrock reacted because you said that Philly had no activity on its 2 river fronts. That's not true. He actually left out two of the bigger attractions: Spruce Harbor Park/Penn Landing and rowing on the Schuylkill(dragon races and multiple rowing regattas). Philadelphia is pretty well known within the rowing world. People also sail and motor boat on the Delaware.
Rainrock reacted because you said that Philly had no activity on its 2 river fronts. That's not true. He actually left out two of the bigger attractions: Spruce Harbor Park/Penn Landing and rowing on the Schuylkill(dragon races and multiple rowing regattas). Philadelphia is pretty well known within the rowing world. People also sail and motor boat on the Delaware.
I HONESTLY DID NOT want to post that. I did not go over my post better apparently.
I know from posting before the Philly forum how careful I have to word things. To double think responses. Usually don't then.
I know better then to post that where Philly posters are. I also know better then to say any city has - no one using its Parks and rivers) PHILLY has more Parkland overall then Chicago and I know what new things Philly has built or planned for the riverfront.
So on this sentence I messed up I Apologize. My post are NOT to demean Philly despite boast or defense to Chicago and I have Philly too. I still can't believe how my post has them words.
Last edited by DavePa; 01-01-2018 at 08:46 AM..
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PHILLY has more Parkland overall then Chicago and I know what new things Philly has built or planned for the riverfront. 
