Different regions of the U.S.

[Bear Wild]

Clearly I have got to get out of Texas!!! Maine sounds safe.

 

[Bear Wild]

How about this map?

I guess I am heading to Wales were Dr. Who is visiting.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

There are lots of ways of dividing up any nation, state or region, all depending on what purpose you're trying to divide them up for...and then you have to carefully (more or less) lay out how you're going to measure that...so, I like all the different maps proposed...even the serious ones

 

[SigurdReginson]

Montana and Wyoming are most definitely not northwestern. Idaho technically is, but I feel that it's far more culturally rural western than northwestern. The PNW looks a little more like this, IMO.

 

[JustGeorge]

Sadly, I grew used to it and become numb to it. For my attire, for defending free speech, for who I am, for what I do.
I remembered having it beaten into my head as a Christian that the world will persecute for being Christian, it will reject me for being Christian, and the whole world is out to get Christians. I never knew religious persecution until after I left the Church. Really, they should have warned me about themselves. The world isn't out to get me. But those MidWest Heartland Bible Thumpers sure are. With physical violence, lies and slander, voting to remove rights, amd doing everything thing they can to ensure "god fearing Christians" will never even even have to work with a ****** ever again.
These godless, socialist, democrat, bleeding heart blue Californians are infinitely more Christ like than those MidWest arselings who are like the ones featured here.
Bigotry? Hatred? Christians say they're tired of being made into the bad guys

Thankfully, I think Iowa is a little less Christian than Indiana. Christianity is there if you want it, and you'll find a few very close minded Christians here and there(mostly in rural areas), but its certainly avoidable. Strangely, in my adult years, I've had a lot more trouble with general bullying from the members of the local atheist group...

Here's my division: There's Michigan and then there's those Other Inferior States.

That's how I always felt about it, too... never lived there, though. Always wanted to... I see its linked in with the Midwest, but it seems a lot more chill than the rest of the Midwest that I've experienced.

 

[metis]

That's how I always felt about it, too... never lived there, though. Always wanted to... I see its linked in with the Midwest, but it seems a lot more chill than the rest of the Midwest that I've experienced.

Yep. The lake effects create some benefits and some drawbacks. We tend to get more precipitation, less bitter cold, but a delay of spring because of the coldness of the lakes and the jet stream that tends to bring down more Canadian air in the spring. OTOH, because of the warmness of the lakes in the fall, they tend to be prolonged and absolutely gorgeous with the fall colors and relative warmth.

However, living in the U.P. can be quite another matter. Our place up there got 320" one winter and hit 30-40 below for around a week several years ago.

 

[JustGeorge]

Yep. The lake effects create some benefits and some drawbacks. We tend to get more precipitation, less bitter cold, but a delay of spring because of the coldness of the lakes and the jet stream that tends to bring down more Canadian air in the spring. OTOH, because of the warmness of the lakes in the fall, they tend to be prolonged and absolutely gorgeous with the fall colors and relative warmth.

However, living in the U.P. can be quite another matter. Our place up there got 320" one winter and hit 30-40 below for around a week several years ago.

I meant 'chill' in the term of people being more laid back, but yes, there are the weather differences, too! Personally, I think I could do with a delayed spring if it meant less bitter cold... we get bitter cold for weeks at a time here, though we also get extreme heat in the summer.

 

[metis]

I meant 'chill' in the term of people being more laid back,

A lot depends on where one lives in the state as the bigger cities are not as laid back as the more rural areas. However, generally speaking, we are not like the cities along the northeast coast, for example. We are generally well known for our bluntness, in terms of if we like you, you'll know it; but if we don't like you, you'll know that as well. But by and large even the bigger cities here tend to reflect "Midwest nice"-- and then we mug you.

we get bitter cold for weeks at a time here, though we also get extreme heat in the summer.

Where are you at, if I may ask?

I'll check back tomorrow as I gotta leave.

 

[JustGeorge]

A lot depends on where one lives in the state as the bigger cities are not as laid back as the more rural areas. However, generally speaking, we are not like the cities along the northeast coast, for example. We are generally well known for our bluntness, in terms of if we like you, you'll know it; but if we don't like you, you'll know that as well. But by and large even the bigger cities here tend to reflect "Midwest nice"-- and then we mug you.

Where are you at, if I may ask?

I'll check back tomorrow as I gotta leave.

I've heard that, but I felt safer running around in the Detroit suburbs than I do here in Waterloo, Iowa. Can't say anyone bothered me, though I wasn't there at any point for more than a week or two at a time.

St. Joseph was probably the place I liked best that I stayed in in Michigan, but I get the impression its probably costly to live there. Bear Lake was wonderful, but just a tad too cold for my liking.

Honestly, Michigan on a whole was less blunt than Iowa, and when I was in a car wreck out there, people actually helped. Here in Iowa, everyone just slows down their car to see the damage. Its not often people help.

 

[metis]

I've heard that, but I felt safer running around in the Detroit suburbs than I do here in Waterloo, Iowa.

I stayed in Waterloo many moons ago on my way out west but didn't have enough time to explore it.

St. Joseph was probably the place I liked best that I stayed in in Michigan, but I get the impression its probably costly to live there.

I've been around St. Joseph but never in it as I lived in Kalamazoo for four years when I was an undergrad at Western Michigan University. I really do like that part of the state, especially Holland and Saugatuck where we have stayed.

We may be going in that direction this summer, so thanks for what you posted as I might have the time to visit there.

Take care.

 

[Revoltingest]

Welcome to Michigan, especially US-23N north of Toledo.

 

[JustGeorge]

I stayed in Waterloo many moons ago on my way out west but didn't have enough time to explore it.

I've been around St. Joseph but never in it as I lived in Kalamazoo for four years when I was an undergrad at Western Michigan University. I really do like that part of the state, especially Holland and Saugatuck where we have stayed.

We may be going in that direction this summer, so thanks for what you posted as I might have the time to visit there.

Take care.

Not a whole lot to do in Waterloo, really. Its downtown is struggling, and though our current mayor has done an excellent job trying to revive it, it calls mostly to bar hoppers. There is a water park on the edge of town, and a theme park going up as well, so if that's your thing, its there. The Grout Museum has a WW2 exhibit that's fun the first time around.

Honestly, the best thing to do here would be to find the Katoski Greenbelt and walk on the trails. A really pretty walk that shows what it looked like around here before it was developed.

Have you ever seen the Grotto in West Bend?

Stopped in Holland for lunch once, think on my way to Muskegon... was a cute town, from what I remember. Been awhile.

 

[metis]

Have you ever seen the Grotto in West Bend?

No I haven't, so I googled it and it looks like it would be a nice place top visit.

By chance, have you visited the grotto at Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana? I love that place!

Stopped in Holland for lunch once, think on my way to Muskegon... was a cute town, from what I remember. Been awhile.

They are famous for their Tulip Festival and the Dutch theme park, and the food is quite good as well.

BTW, when in Amsterdam, we went to an Indonesian restaurant on the water that was one of the best dining places we've ever visited. I just found out a couple of weeks ago that we also have one only several miles from where we live here near Detroit, and I'm anxious to give it a try.

 

[JustGeorge]

By chance, have you visited the grotto at Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana? I love that place!

I haven't! I don't think I've ever gone too far into South Bend; just stopped for the night once. I'll keep that in mind if I'm in the area any time soon!