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By far, the most common photo shot of St Louis is from the east (Illinois), with the Gateway Arch in the foreground and the skyline just behind that. That's the classic shot you're most familiar with.
Views from the west are not as common. This is because, from that vantage point, the Arch is blocked by the rest of the skyline. So Illinoisians really get the best view.
That's not to say that approaches to downtown in Missouri can't be interesting as well. You get some really unusual views of the Arch from the north and south. That's because when the Arch is seen from the side, it can deceptively appear to be a single gleaming column, rather than a two-legged structure.
I think Chicago all along Lake Shore Drive is amazing. There's a video of someone who filmed the whole thing while driving. The best view in my opinion is around the 2:30 mark:
Arriving in Philadelphia via train is something you wouldn't want someone you're trying to impress experience. It's pretty much a frightmare from any direction. Driving is somewhat better, from the east over the Ben Franklin Bridge is probably least offensive.
Arriving in Philadelphia via train is something you wouldn't want someone you're trying to impress experience. It's pretty much a frightmare from any direction. Driving is somewhat better, from the east over the Ben Franklin Bridge is probably least offensive.
Trains always seem to enter through the ass end of every city.
Arriving in Philadelphia via train is something you wouldn't want someone you're trying to impress experience. It's pretty much a frightmare from any direction. Driving is somewhat better, from the east over the Ben Franklin Bridge is probably least offensive.
Unless you take 676 through Camden to get there. Agree the Amtrak line through North Philly can be quite a scary view, some of the worst urban blight in the US
Coming in on 76 through Fairmont park or down Kelly Center City all the sudden pops out right in front of you after driving through the park, plus Boat House row and the Art Museum as a bonus.
76 from 291 and the airport is pretty ugly as well traversing the refineries and then a huge housing project.
95 South while parts show blight probably gives the best portrayal of the actual scale of urbanity that Philly has. Not many drives that urban for as long anywhere in the country.
Chicago looks best coming in on the Kennedy (I-90/94) from the northwest. I would say the worst is the Dan Ryan going north (I-90/94). You see the south part of downtown, but since it spreads to the north, you can't see most of it.
I find the Eisenhower to be far worse than the Dan Ryan. The best part of the Eisenhower is when you first pass under the Austin Ave bridge and you see the skyline 10 miles away. That's it. You won't see another building other than the Sears Tower until you get closer to it. In fact, the Sears and a couple more buildings is all you're going to see period. Also, it's the ugliest view of the Sears tower as well.
Trains always seem to enter through the ass end of every city.
Amtrak fromt the North of Boston (downeaster) is nice, it comes over the charles and into the city, its one of the best views of the city, most other cites its that way because the trains went throught the traditionally blue collar hoods cause they were closest to the factories so they went into a downward spiral w/ the industry.
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