Would you rather live in STL or Denver? Does STL make you feel claustrophobic? (Kansas City: university, to live)

[WestCoDude]

Originally Posted by patrickmich

I am surprised STL isn't hilly. That was my impression. Driving Eastward towards STL,
the highways, the exits ramps, and surrounding area just seemed too closed in, and tight. I thought it was due to hilliness. I know what once I get
to the other side of the river into Illinois, the land becomes very flat and open, and
I immediately feel more relaxed. Nevertheless, I hate it in Denver. The mountains do not interest me. I go up to the mountains, and feel completely bored. I would rather take a drive through farmland and vine yards of the lower Midwest, or sit by the river than go up into the Rockies.
I am now planning to move in two months. (when my lease expires). I do not want
to drive far, though. I have a lot of stuff, including two cats, and don't want to relocate any further than I have to. I look forward to your further thoughts and opinions
regarding terrain, claustrophobia, or whatever else you feel like mentioning.
ps...where do you go to get away in STL? Are there a lot of hiking areas there?
Scenic drives? National forests? Would you rather go North up along the Illnois side,
or would you rather go West and SouthWest deeper into Missouri. I find the whole
area fascinating (on a map, that is)

The Lake of the Ozarks closer to Springfield is where everybody does most of their camping. There is great hiking about 20 minutes west of town in St. Charles county at the Lewis and Clark trail south of Weldon Springs. In Grafton, Illinois there's good hiking too--as well as quality mountain biking.

Good fishing and national parks are all over the place. Missouri is actually a great place for nature-lovers and while St. Louis is just a big, giant city....you don't have to go far out of town to get away from it all.

The Missouri River Valley is hilly....but once you get past 270 it flattens out big time.

[patrickmich]

Originally Posted by chitownwarrior

I would say st. louis IS hilly without a doubt on the missouri side. Places to go? You're in such luck because there is the ozark corridor beginning southwest st. louis county, where small foothills begin. An hour and half drive southwest brings you to some of the most beautiful country the midwest has to offer, IMO, the st. francoise mountains. There is the ozark trail, a trail that stretches all the way to arkansas that rugged outdoors enthusiasts love to hike. Summers, there are float trips, which my family goes down to stl for in the summer and numerous fresh water springs and rivers. Do a little research on the ozarks.

There's rock climbing, scuba diving in underground caves (i met some people in florida once who actually fly to missouri to scuba), mountain bike trail, etc. I think there's even a small ski resort in st. louis county on one of the larger foothills. Many people don't realize this about the st. louis area...but from what ive researched theres a ton of unique outdoors stuff to do. And in my opinion, the outdoors opportunity and diversity in Missouri blows most of the other midwestern states to the water, with the exception of wisconsin and northern michigan.

This all sounds great. How much of this is handy to the STL metro area?
(for example, ozark trail, water springs, francoise mountains, rock climbing, underground caves). I really like these types of activities. I think I would enjoy it much more than I would going up into the Rocky Mountains. But that's because I am from the Midwest originally, born and raised in a small town 60 miles
SW of Chicago. We did a lot of river floating too. What rivers do you float on in the STL area. Certainly not the Mississippi. That would be a scary
thought.
ps... I just discovered the francious mountains based on your mention of it.
I never knew there were mountain ranges within the Ozarks.

[aragx6]

Almost any of Missouri's fine outdoor attractions are within less than 3 hours, the Lake of the Ozarks being the farthest away. Drive only n hour or so south of St. Louis and there is great camping and spelunking.

Popular rivers to float include the Meramec, Current and Courtois (pronounces Court-a-way)

[chitownwarrior]

Originally Posted by patrickmich

This all sounds great. How much of this is handy to the STL metro area?
(for example, ozark trail, water springs, francoise mountains, rock climbing, underground caves). I really like these types of activities. I think I would enjoy it much more than I would going up into the Rocky Mountains. But that's because I am from the Midwest originally, born and raised in a small town 60 miles
SW of Chicago. We did a lot of river floating too. What rivers do you float on in the STL area. Certainly not the Mississippi. That would be a scary
thought.
ps... I just discovered the francious mountains based on your mention of it.
I never knew there were mountain ranges within the Ozarks.

Feel great to inspire and to inform! There's so many things in our country to discover, and that goes for Missouri. I feel like so many people in the midwest have no idea how diverse naturally Missouri is. They tend to not realize it, becuase most trip are between STL and KC, on I-70 which is mostly flat and the northern half of the state.

Their are at least 30+ rivers to float on and hundreds of fresh water streams. Under missouri is a vast complex system of caves and underground rivers that supply fresh water (i think some bottled water companies actually get their water from there). I understand that the rivers are all pretty clear water, fed by the spring water, and about 1/2 - 3/4 the width of the CO river when you see white water rafting pictures. And NO, you wouldn't float the Mississippi (duh!) the rivers are all located in the ozarks. Do research on the ozark plateau, you'll find that it's a unique geological zone and contains a completely unique set of species and fauna and stretches from about southwest st. louis to arkansas to northeast oklahama

I dont know about them being in the metro area, but for sure they are extremely close all within a 3 hr drive, and most within a 1.5 hr drive. If you live in st. louis, go to meetup.com, and you can find outdoor adventure clubs. I know there are a lot of outdoor enthusiasts in st. louis, probably more than here because we dont have many options in chicago, i believe they have an REI, and many stores like that.

There's a ski slope in metro southwest st. louis, never been there but have heard about it, I'm sure you could do a little research to find out. I do know once you go down i-44 in southwest st. louis, the country starts to change shape dramatically and there are steep rolling hills, thats called the ozark cooridor.

The st. francoise mountains are I believe the OLDEST mountain range in the United States. Do some research on them as well.

In terms of outdoors activities, Im sure you'll be satisfied in st. louis. Just know everything is southwest of st. louis, a few areas for rock climbing in southern illinois.

[aragx6]

Don't go skiing at Hidden Valley (which is probably the one chitown was talking about) unless you've never been skiing and wouldn't know what you're missing out on. It's pretty lame, though probably fun for little kids.

[chitownwarrior]

Originally Posted by aragx6

Don't go skiing at Hidden Valley (which is probably the one chitown was talking about) unless you've never been skiing and wouldn't know what you're missing out on. It's pretty lame, though probably fun for little kids.

Haha i think that's the one i was thinking about!!! But it's still cool you guys have something like that...up here we have nothing like that! Everthing here is flat flat flat.

Here's some cool pics to show you an Ozark perspective

[aragx6]

Beautiful pics!

...I actually live in Chicago too (well its suburbs for now) so i know exactly what you mean about the "flat, flat, flat"!!!

[Bobster]

I can't compare St. Louis to Denver because, other than the airport, I haven't really spent any time in Denver....but I can tell you that St. Louis does have a variety of different terrains to pick from. Down South in Jefferson County it's hilly...northwest of St. Louis is downright flat...east of St. Louis is ridiculously flat!

What's funny is that I spent a good deal of time in St. Petersburg FL and couldn't put my finger on what was bothering me about the area. It finally dawned on me...NO HILLS!

If you move here, allow me to be the first to welcome you!

[chitownwarrior]

Originally Posted by Bobster

I can't compare St. Louis to Denver because, other than the airport, I haven't really spent any time in Denver....but I can tell you that St. Louis does have a variety of different terrains to pick from. Down South in Jefferson County it's hilly...northwest of St. Louis is downright flat...east of St. Louis is ridiculously flat!

What's funny is that I spent a good deal of time in St. Petersburg FL and couldn't put my finger on what was bothering me about the area. It finally dawned on me...NO HILLS!

If you move here, allow me to be the first to welcome you!

i think though that Denver has a lot more outdoor activities than st. louis without a doubt, just because its right next to the rockies and comparing rockies to the ozarks is like comparing a lobster steak dinner to hot dogs. With the ozarks, at least you have SOMETHING. But for the midwest, and the heartland, the ozarks is arguably the best region for outdoor adventurers, from MO to AK.

[Bobster]

Hmmm? Again, I haven't spent that much time out west, but I don't know that you are being fair comparing the Ozarks to Hot dogs??? While they are definately not as grandiose as the Rockies, the Ozarks still have a lot to offer. From mild, laid back float streams to an occasional Class 5 rapid, Ozark streams are pretty cool.

I'd also argue that bicycling around here is actually better than in a more mountainous region. Not everybody can handle a 15 mile climb, yet there are areas here where the longest climb in a 50 mile ride might be a slight incline for a mile.

Missouri and Arkansas also have quite a bit of wilderness area, if you would like to just get away from people for a bit too.

Not trying to knock Denver, but rather point out that St. Louis does offer a lot of variety!