Things to do while in Chicago

livinoutdoors

Goatherding Non-socialist Bohemian Luddite
If you're going that far north, just keep going a bit further... Much better state and the air gets better the second you cross the border. Take in a deep breath and enjoy the beauty of Wisconsin. :flag::biggrin2:
I would like to see that area one day. Seems nice. Also the U.P.
 

Waddams

Senior Member
My wife went to Chicago on a girl's trip. They stayed out of the bad areas apparently, had a good time, is yammering about me going back with her. I'm sure there are good areas, bad areas, and sensationalized news focusing on the bad parts (which are really bad). I looked up a crime density map for the place - it looked like 95% of the worst violent crime was focused into a few small areas where the poorest minorities were prevalent. Admittedly, those areas were as violent as war zones.

We do the urban stuff sometimes, my preference is a hotel in a good spot, park there, and then walk/uber/train everywhere depending on where we are so I can stay out of traffic and honking cars. In the right circumstances, it's a good time. Always good to leave and get home though.
 

oldfella1962

Senior Member
We`re going to Fairbanks simply because it is closest to what we want to see-the animals, rivers, mountains, lay of the land, the Arctic Refuge. I almost went in 1974, to homestead somewhere in the Chandalar River area. Before I die I`d like to see just what I missed.
Oh I see. Well you are going for the best reason, no doubt! (y) Pretty much wherever direction you go with Fairbanks as the beginning point you will see big changes in vegetation, critters, and scenery in general. If you are going all the way up the north slope haul road, once you cross the Brooks Range you are in the true arctic and it's literally like another world. I think for safety reasons you can't drive all the way to Prudhoe Bay unless it's for commercial reasons- I would research that thoroughly.

That said air travel (tiny planes, often float planes) is sometimes the only way to get to the really beautiful places because there just aren't many roads - it's not cost effective to keep them maintained. But it's the best way to "take it all in" if you're only going to see the place one time.

It would take a lifetime (several lifetimes) to take in all the natural beauty of Alaska. :) But you picked a good area to want to see - pretty much all the different animals, mountains, rivers, ecosystems, etc. (like the Gates of The Arctic Refuge you mentioned) are closer to Fairbanks than they are to Anchorage. You are going to love your trip, that is an absolute guarantee!
 

oldfella1962

Senior Member
I would like to see that area one day. Seems nice. Also the U.P.
I visited the U.P. a time or two. Granted I lived in northern Wisconsin at the time, so it didn't look much different, but it was fun. I wouldn't want to live far up into the U.P. (like Houghton or Hancock) because they get insane "lake effect" snow. :( Southern Wisconsin is a mix of farms and woods but of course it has Milwaukee which has it's problems as would be expected. But yeah once you get north of Wausau you are heading into "woods and lakes" country and north of highway 64 the farms start disappearing (except for potato farms) and by the time you get near the border of the U.P. where I lived near, it's temperate meets boreal forest with lakes and swamps that used to be lakes right after the last glaciers receded.
 

livinoutdoors

Goatherding Non-socialist Bohemian Luddite
I visited the U.P. a time or two. Granted I lived in northern Wisconsin at the time, so it didn't look much different, but it was fun. I wouldn't want to live far up into the U.P. (like Houghton or Hancock) because they get insane "lake effect" snow. :( Southern Wisconsin is a mix of farms and woods but of course it has Milwaukee which has it's problems as would be expected. But yeah once you get north of Wausau you are heading into "woods and lakes" country and north of highway 64 the farms start disappearing (except for potato farms) and by the time you get near the border of the U.P. where I lived near, it's temperate meets boreal forest with lakes and swamps that used to be lakes right after the last glaciers receded.
Yep sounds pretty neat. Just a visit though. I dont aim to live in snow country ever if i can help it.
 

NCHillbilly

Administrator
Staff member
My wife went to Chicago on a girl's trip. They stayed out of the bad areas apparently, had a good time, is yammering about me going back with her. I'm sure there are good areas, bad areas, and sensationalized news focusing on the bad parts (which are really bad). I looked up a crime density map for the place - it looked like 95% of the worst violent crime was focused into a few small areas where the poorest minorities were prevalent. Admittedly, those areas were as violent as war zones.

We do the urban stuff sometimes, my preference is a hotel in a good spot, park there, and then walk/uber/train everywhere depending on where we are so I can stay out of traffic and honking cars. In the right circumstances, it's a good time. Always good to leave and get home though.
My oldest sister's husband spent years as an executive type and had to travel around the country all the time. He said he flew to Chicago once, and got on one of those trains to go wherever he was headed downtown. He had on a business suit, and was carrying a briefcase. He said he was exhausted, and dozed off on the train. He woke up with an old black guy shaking his shoulder, telling him, "Mister, I don't mean to get in your business, but you'd better get turned round and headed back north, or somebody gonna rob and kill you in a few minutes."
 

mrs. hornet22

Beach Dreamer
Frank Sinatra sure did like Chicago. :bounce: I love this song, just not Chicago. Not my kinf of town.
 

oldfella1962

Senior Member
My oldest sister's husband spent years as an executive type and had to travel around the country all the time. He said he flew to Chicago once, and got on one of those trains to go wherever he was headed downtown. He had on a business suit, and was carrying a briefcase. He said he was exhausted, and dozed off on the train. He woke up with an old black guy shaking his shoulder, telling him, "Mister, I don't mean to get in your business, but you'd better get turned round and headed back north, or somebody gonna rob and kill you in a few minutes."
A similar thing happened to me in College Park near the Atlanta airport, and right here in Augusta in a housing project.
 

Geffellz18

Senior Member
If you're going that far north, just keep going a bit further... Much better state and the air gets better the second you cross the border. Take in a deep breath and enjoy the beauty of Wisconsin. :flag::biggrin2:

Visited that area a few years back.
Hit Chicago for two days, then to Wisconsin Dells for a few days, then traveled through the UP & over to Boyne Falls, MI. Pretty areas-Went to Pictured Rocks National lakeshore on Lake Superior which was really neat to see.
Enjoyed the Dells too.
The one thing I had a huge misconception about however was the high humidity and mosquitoes. It was around Memorial day and the temps were already climbing by then up there. Honestly felt like I was back home in FL while in Wisconsin. Asked a couple of lifetime locals if it was normal & they acknowledged it was.
That’s the worst of both worlds imo- Heavy snow & mosquito swarmed summer heat-No Thanks.
To visit again-Of course!
 
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oldfella1962

Senior Member
Visited that area a few years back.
Hit Chicago for two days, then to Wisconsin Dells for a few days, then traveled through the UP & over to Boyne Falls, MI. Pretty areas-Went to Pictured Rocks National lakeshore on Lake Superior which was really neat to see.
Enjoyed the Dells too.
The one thing I had a huge misconception about however was the high humidity and mosquitoes. It was around Memorial day and the temps were already climbing by then up there. Honestly felt like I was back home in FL while in Wisconsin. Asked a couple of lifetime locals if it was normal & they acknowledged it was.
That’s the worst of both worlds imo- Heavy snow & mosquito swarmed summer heat-No thanksgiving.
To visit again. Of course!
Yes the mosquitos are no joke. :( And if you live in any area surrounded by/adjacent to swampy areas of alders, black spruce, tamarack and standing water (mostly northern Wisconsin) it's even worse than living on a lake.
 
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