Anyone else Bored in the 'Burbs? (move to)

[cubssoxfan]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Funny. This weekend I was in Arlington Heights.

Watching the horsies run?

[VioLynn33]

Originally Posted by US-Traveller

The people that will find Chicago most boring are outdoor types like me. I originally loved the more family friendly lifestyle of Chicago after moving here from San Francisco. After a number of years I found myself missing the year-round ski resorts just a few hours away and wide open national parks, etc. that Chicago does not have. Most people find Chicago exciting.

I find that this resonates with me. It's not that there isn't natural beauty in and around Chicago--there absolutely is. It's more that you have to sometimes really put effort into finding it. Especially in the awful shoulder season (some folks would call it "Spring" but we kinda skip over that and just have a Mud Season), there isn't much life or natural beauty to be readily found. In terms of seasons, that part of the year in Chicagoland is definitely my dark night of the soul!

Areas such as San Francisco and Colorado, that were mentioned in earlier posts, have more natural beauty in your face or right outside your door. And there are more outdoor activities to do year-round: serious skiing, the ocean, hiking mountains or trails in the summer. Perhaps that is what my "boredom" is really about!

Anyway, thanks for commiserating/offering different opinions/reading and responding!

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by cubssoxfan

Watching the horsies run?

Nope, visiting friends. But watching four toddlers run around is sort of like horse racing.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by VioLynn33

Areas such as San Francisco and Colorado, that were mentioned in earlier posts, have more natural beauty in your face or right outside your door. And there are more outdoor activitiesif to do year-round: serious skiing, the ocean, hiking mountains or trails in the summer. Perhaps that is what my "boredom" is really about!

Heck, even something as typically mundane as driving an interstate out there can be awe-inspiring. You can't say the same thing about being stuck on the Kennedy... Though the city does offer some interesting sites if you're into history. The industrial ruin along I-55 is interesting to me, but few would call it uplifting.

[cubssoxfan]

Originally Posted by VioLynn33

I find that this resonates with me. It's not that there isn't natural beauty in and around Chicago--there absolutely is. It's more that you have to sometimes really put effort into finding it. Especially in the awful shoulder season (some folks would call it "Spring" but we kinda skip over that and just have a Mud Season), there isn't much life or natural beauty to be readily found. In terms of seasons, that part of the year in Chicagoland is definitely my dark night of the soul!

Areas such as San Francisco and Colorado, that were mentioned in earlier posts, have more natural beauty in your face or right outside your door. And there are more outdoor activities to do year-round: serious skiing, the ocean, hiking mountains or trails in the summer. Perhaps that is what my "boredom" is really about!

Anyway, thanks for commiserating/offering different opinions/reading and responding!

Very true. Not very often, but sometimes people who are new/newer to the area do not realize there is a lot of outdoor activities within 2-3 hours. Not as much as Denver to the Rockies, but enough not to be quite as bored.

[dude1984]

First and foremost, I realize this is a very old thread, but I saw it and have to comment on it as an outdoorsy type.

Originally Posted by Steve-o

I really, seriously wonder how anyone can be bored in Chicagoland. Why? I mean, there are HUNDREDS of suburbs to explore, tons of forest preserves, some of the most extensive shopping in the world, waterparks, biking, hiking, swimming, art shows, car shows, racetracks (cars and animals), casinos, fantastic restaurants catering foods from all over the world, museums galore, architectural tours, floral gardens, breweries, night clubs, air shows, etc, etc, etc. I mean, if youre bored in Chicagoland, I really cant think of anywhere that will please you, unless youre an avid mountain lover.

Ive lived here for a little over 30 years and havent even really scratched the surface of Chicagoland. I was talking with some friends the other day about that fact and we all agreed that there is just too much to do and see and waaaay too little time.

I am not going to completely bash Chicago and the surrounding area because it is a great for the urban experience, but it is pathetic when it comes to outdoor activities. The quantity and quality of outdoor activities is sad. It is so bad I feel like a zombie.

Originally Posted by US-Traveller

The people that will find Chicago most boring are outdoor types like me. I originally loved the more family friendly lifestyle of Chicago after moving here from San Francisco. After a number of years I found myself missing the year-round ski resorts just a few hours away and wide open national parks, etc. that Chicago does not have. Most people find Chicago exciting.

After returning from Oregon, I have a lost and bored feeling. I miss jumping on I-84 in Portland and being to waterfall lane (it is what I call it) and a bunch of trailheads in the Gorge in about 30 to 40 minutes, driving around the northwest part of town and seeing Mount Saint Helen's and Mount Hood on clear days, and being 90 minutes (Seaside) to 6 hours (Brookings) to hike the beaches, beautiful rain forests, and cliffs of the coast. I can hardly wait to head back out to the west coast. I am looking to move some place out there.

[doodlemagic]

Originally Posted by nanannie

Move

i hate responses like this move. its winter, its been a terrible winter, cant do much nobody wants to go out in this weather, i think a lot of us are feeling kinda uhhhg. its not like op was whining about how everything here sucks. either suggest some things to do or agree with the sentiment but how the you dont like it move gets old. honestly ill probably move within a year or two just a change of scenery but i like many have a job, family, friends here so though illinois in terms of weather and activity may not have a ton to offer there are things keeping myself and others here.

burbs are often cookie cutter houses, strip malls with the same jersey mikes and stuff nothing interesting, very little small business. in terms of landscape in illinois almost overall but especially chicagoland area its not like we really have mountains, oceans or anything super interesting. dont get me wrong i love going to like starved rock or galena but not exactly something you can do for a few hours in the afternoon more of a whole day thing.

i think to a big extent people who say they are bored here would find themselves bored other places as well but i can definately see where the op is comming from

[doodlemagic]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Heck, even something as typically mundane as driving an interstate out there can be awe-inspiring. You can't say the same thing about being stuck on the Kennedy... Though the city does offer some interesting sites if you're into history. The industrial ruin along I-55 is interesting to me, but few would call it uplifting.

i would agree with you. i recently drove into the city on I55 instead of 88-290 and my gf was like ive never taken this way before this is crazy. kinda reminds you of like the opening scene/song from sopranos. i agre i also find it interesting but i think most others would find it depressing lol

[doodlemagic]

Originally Posted by cubssoxfan

Very true. Not very often, but sometimes people who are new/newer to the area do not realize there is a lot of outdoor activities within 2-3 hours. Not as much as Denver to the Rockies, but enough not to be quite as bored.

i definately agree. im always amazed when i go to like galena or starved rock. even more starved rock because its closer i mean drive 3 hours id expect to see soemthing more exciting than flat land but starved rock isn't that far and it goes from like corn fields to rivers streams, gullies, cliffs, waterfalls. im always amazed something to different is so close. that said like you said its not like other places where you can be like im gonna hop in the car go for a 10 minutes drive and go hiking or go sit by a waterfalll and read. around here you wanna go to a cool state park or something your lookinng at a whole day activity with a fair amount of driving

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

We have one young kid, are about to have another young kid, and live in the city. We are rarely bored, even though we now have a hard time enjoying a lot of what the city has to offer in terms of dining and nightlife. But there is just so much to do at any given time. Winter does kind of suck, but it really only stops us from enjoying outdoor activities.

We are considering a move to an inner-ring burb primarily because of schools, but it's important to us to stay close to the city and to have good access to things on foot. I think our automobile-oriented suburbs isolate us, and prevent us from enjoying any sort of public life. We hop in the car, drive to a parking lot, shop anonymously, and drive home. You can go to and from work without actually running in to anyone at all. Community institutions are crumbling, and kids are sort of raised in isolation from the community except for a few organized sports activities.

Sprawl is sprawl, and I really don't think you'd be any happier on the coasts. Frankly, I think it has more to do with the environment you are living in than the region of the country. Sure, winter can be a bummer, but perhaps you just need to learn to enjoy it more. Get better outerwear and get outside in the winter. Learn to ice skate or something. I don't know.

Wow, it's crazy to see a post from five years ago. How the hell did we end up out in DuPage County?!? LOL.