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0 pointsashark9y ago0 comments

If you're used to mountains, oceans, et c you might find the landscapes and outdoor activities (aside from boating at the ubiquitous man-made lakes) in the Midwest lacking, to put it mildly. Most of it's also pretty far from anywhere that's much more interesting. If you're lucky you'll be in a location where you can take a 3-day weekend of mostly driving and spend a day somewhere better, but that's about as good as it gets. Hard to get decent fresh seafood at anything like a reasonable price, too, for obvious reasons, so hope you're not in love with seafood. Flights to Asian or European countries are more expensive than and take longer than on the West and East coasts, respectively, too, again for obvious reasons.

It is cheap though, and some of the cities have decent (and improving) culture, considering how inexpensive they are.

Source: lifelong Midwesterner, lived in four Midwestern states.

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3 comments · 2 top-level

knz9y ago· 1 in thread

I can't speak for other cities, but Minneapolis is nothing like that.

It's only a few hours drive from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (massive wilderness area), two hours from Lake Superior/the North Shore (skiing/mountain biking/hiking), and incredibly close to thousands of lakes/cabins (very few of which are manmade). MSP airport is also a major hub for Delta and has affordable/quick connections to nearly every major market (either directly or via ORD). Culturally it has renowned theatres (second only to NYC in per capita theatre seats) and has decent nightlife/culture. It's as car dependent as any American city but has a huge bike culture (possibly the #1 bike city in America?). Diversity is also growing - my local school district in a relatively affluent suburb has 160 languages being spoken. There are also 17 Fortune 500 companies in Minnesota and a healthy economy (with plenty of IT jobs).

I'm lived here for 10 years after moving from New Zealand so am well aware of what coastal/mountain living is like. I've also spent time in London, Sydney, Chicago, DC, Boston, San Francisco, Madrid, Hong Kong, LA, Paris, and Copenhagen so have a sense of what living in a more well known city is like. Like I said, it's not NYC or SFO but it's definitely not what most people expect. The local joke is that it's impossible to get people to move here but then no one leaves because of how good the wages are compared to the cost of living and amenities.

Then again, maybe Minneapolis is part of a Northern identity that some have kicked around!

asharkOP9y ago

I think it's telling that both posts disputing my characterization have put forward Minnesota and other Lakes areas as the evidence against me. I can say those South and West of you don't typically mean that area when they say Midwest (it's too nice).

notadoc9y ago

> If you're used to mountains, oceans, et c you might find the landscapes and outdoor activities

Couldn't disagree more, there are thousands of lakes in the midwest. Northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan are huge forests with countless natural lakes for hunting, hiking, fishing, camping, ATV, etc. Plus there are the great lakes which are basically like an ocean.

If you like outdoor activities, hike, or get a canoe or a boat and you'll never be bored in summer. In winter, get a snowmobile or get into cross country skiing and you'll never be bored.

> It is cheap though, and some of the cities have decent (and improving) culture, considering how inexpensive they are.

This is true and very important. You can still easily live "the American dream" (easily own a house, newer cars, have a family, go on vacations, shop, save) on an average middle class income in the midwest and the south. Living comparable in western coastal states of CA/OR/WA would require easily 2.5x-6x or more the income for the same results.

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