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As an interesting offshoot of the recently closed thread about the Midwest, some of us started discussing which state was the most beautiful. I think we should break this down into 2 subcategories:
Most beautiful urban areas
Most beautiful countryside
And finally, most beautiful overall.
For urban areas, look at things like architecture, skyline, churches, natural features, parks, bridges.
For countryside, hills, cliffs, bluffs, lakes and rivers, flora and fauna
I'm going to stick with just doing countryside for now, and I'll just break it up into the categories you listed, except I'm adding a few:
Countryside: Overall:
1) Minnesota
2) Michigan
3) Wisconsin
4) Missouri
5) South Dakota
6) Ohio
7-9) North Dakota/Kansas/Iowa
10-11) Illinois/Indiana
Forest: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Missouri | Hon. Mention to Ohio and Indiana
Mountains: Missouri | Hon. mention to Minnesota, Michigan, and South Dakota
Hills: Missouri, South Dakota, and Ohio | Hon. mention to Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan
Cliffs: Minnesota and Michigan | Hon. mention to Wisconsin, South Dakota, and Illinois
Bluffs: Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa, and Minnesota | Hon. mention to Illinois, and Ohio
Lakes: Minnesota and Michigan | Hon. mention to Wisconsin
Rivers: Ohio, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Missouri | Hon. mention to Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana
Wetland: Minnesota and Michigan | Hon. mention to Wisconsin
Prairies: Nebraska, Kansas, North Dakota, and South Dakota | Hon. mention to Iowa and Minnesota
Badlands: South Dakota, North Dakota, and Kansas
Sand Dunes: Michigan | Hon. mention to Wisconsin
Point System:
Winning a category is worth 1 pt., getting an honorable mention is worth .5 points.
I'm not trying to be a Minnesota homer, either, but I think it is safe to say we have one of the most diversified landscapes out of the Midwestern states. But, there are definitely things we lack that other states have much more of. I listed the states based off of what I know and research I did, although I do know less about the other states. If anyone thinks I should correct something I'd like to know.
EDIT: I'm not going to change the entire post, but I decided that I would add South Dakota to the winners for the cliff category.
Forest: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Missouri | Hon. Mention to Ohio and Indiana
Mountains: Missouri | Hon. mention to Minnesota, Michigan, and South Dakota
Hills: Missouri, South Dakota, and Ohio | Hon. mention to Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan
Cliffs: Minnesota and Michigan | Hon. mention to Wisconsin, South Dakota, and Illinois
I'm not trying to be a Minnesota homer, either, but I think it is safe to say we have one of the most diversified landscapes out of the Midwestern states. But, there are definitely things we lack that other states have much more of. I listed the states based off of what I know and research I did, although I do know less about the other states. If anyone thinks I should correct something I'd like to know.
I think South Dakota should have won Mountains, Hills, and Cliffs. It also could be included in forests because of the Black Hills National Forest which is arguably the best out of all even though the rest of the state is prairie.
I will admit that I am a homer, but I think it is an advantage for Michigan to border 4 different Great Lakes. That is an incredible amount of frontage along the water, basically an ocean-like view that outline almost the entire state. And there is a lot of variety within those miles of shoreline.
When it comes to inland areas, other Midwestern states do have places just as beautiful as what Michigan has, if not more so. Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa... They all have natural features that MI does not have that I would like to visit. Even Indiana has Brown County State Park, which has more impressive hills that I've seen anywhere in MI.
Anyway, here are a few random photos that I've taken in Michigan:
Warren Dunes
Marquette
Tahquamenon Falls
Pictured Rocks
Last edited by michigan83; 01-30-2014 at 08:44 PM..
I think South Dakota should have won Mountains, Hills, and Cliffs. It also could be included in forests because of the Black Hills National Forest which is arguably the best out of all even though the rest of the state is prairie.
The problem is, all of those things can only be found in one spot in the state. One area, which constitutes only about 2.5% of the state's land area, can't make a state win an entire category in my opinion, no matter how great it is. If you are in any eastern area of the state, it takes a long time to get there, whereas the states I listed as winning mountains, hills, forests, and cliffs have those things more accessible to the rest of the state. Perhaps it could be bumped up in the cliffs category, though, and maybe mountains.
As far as the forests specifically though, I wouldn't say that the forest there itself is the best. Also, I would definitely not make South Dakota win forests, or even receive and honorable mention, as the only area of dense forest in the state, which, as you mentioned, is the Black Hills National Forest, only covers 2.5% of the state. Dense forest in states like Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, and Missouri cover anywhere from 40% to 60% of the state. There is no match there.
I really think the Black Hills in South Dakota are the most beautiful part of the Midwest even though they are definitely more western than midwestern. As far as urban areas, the Twin Cities are very pretty with all of the parks, lakes, and rivers. The Chicago lakefront is beautiful. Duluth is beautiful as well. I've heard good things about Cincinnati too. I don't necessarily have an overall favorite state picked out.
I'm from around the Black Hills. Here are some pictures of spots I like:
Location: northern Vermont - previously NM, WA, & MA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cleverfield
Most beautiful urban areas
For overall visual effect, I think Chicago is one of the most beautiful cities in the US. The Lakefront and skyline backdrop is stunning. There is so much architecture there that is a reflection of America's best. St. Louis has some beautiful historic urban neighborhoods. The Missouri River around Omaha is pretty scenic.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cleverfield
Most beautiful countryside
The rolling hills and bucolic towns in Iowa were a lot prettier than I expected it to be. Definitely prettier than rural Illinois or Indiana.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cleverfield
Most beautiful overall.
Photos I've seen along the Lake Superior like Minnesota's north shore, Apostle Islands in Wisconsin, and the UP of Michigan look remarkably beautiful. I'd like to see that area.
Last edited by Champ le monstre du lac; 01-30-2014 at 09:13 PM..
Urban:
-Ohio (3 major metros all with interesting historical architecture, and vastly different topography)
-Illinois
-Minnesota
-Michigan
-Missouri
-Wisconsin
-Indiana
-Iowa
You may be wondering why I didn't include the plains states. I personally don't consider those states Midwest. But if I were to include them, I'd rank South Dakota and North Dakota among the top for natural beauty due to the black hills and badlands, but those are in the far western part of the state, where it's even less like the Midwest.
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