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Not a fan of Michigan and I love Chicago so I vote Illinois all the way. The greatness of Chicago obviously carries this vote. Take away Chi Town then I'd consider Michigan.
VOLUME
6 quadrillion gallons of fresh water; one-fifth of the world's fresh surface water (only the polar ice caps and Lake Baikal in Siberia contain more); 95 percent of the U.S. supply. Spread evenly across the continental U.S., the Great Lakes would submerge the country under about 9.5 feet of water.
TOTAL AREA
More than 94,000 square miles/244,000 square kilometres of water (larger than the states of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire combined, or about 23 percent of the province of Ontario). About 295,000 square miles/767,000 square kilometres in the watershed (the area where all the rivers and streams drain into the lakes).
TOTAL COASTLINE
United States and Canada -- 10,900 mi/17,549 km (including connecting channels, mainland and islands). The Great Lakes shoreline is equal to almost 44 percent of the circumference of the earth, and Michigan's Great Lakes coast totals 3,288 mi/5,294 km, more coastline than any state but Alaska.
I know downstaters will think me a pretentious city snob for saying this, but I don't care: the only thing that keeps me in Illinois is Chicago. Michigan is a vastly more attractive place. Too bad its economy has gone to hell and keeps getting worse.
It wouldn't take but a bit of border shifting to put Chicago in either Wisconsin or Michigan, and either would be just fine by me (except I fear Michigan politics would act as a massive drain on Chicago's wealth and economy...)
I agree 100%. If this were Chicago vs Detroit, I'd have to go Chicago all the way. However, since we're comparing the whole states of Illinois and Michigan to one another, I have to go with Michigan. More beautiful scenery. More outdoor recreational opportunities. More small-medium sized metros like Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Lansing, Kalamazoo, Sault Ste Marie, etc. Just a better overall experience. Same reasons I picked Wisconsin over Minnesota in a similar poll.
If I had to chose city living.. Chicago > Detroit. If I had to chose small towns, easily Michigan. Michigan has some of the coolest scenery and small towns in the nation. Most of Illinois outside of Chicago is depressing.
There is much better scenery in Michigan, and alot less people. This one is a no brainer, the reason half of Illinois vacations in Michigan ( and Wisconsin ) is the fact that both those states are much nicer. Yea Michigan is saddled with that urban sewer Detoilet, but hands down the state of michigan is much nicer. Now if you were to compare Michigan to Wisconsin youd have a more equal match. Both midwest states are very similar in scenery and culture. That would be a tough one to pick.
There is much better scenery in Michigan, and alot less people. This one is a no brainer, the reason half of Illinois vacations in Michigan ( and Wisconsin ) is the fact that both those states are much nicer. Yea Michigan is saddled with that urban sewer Detoilet, but hands down the state of michigan is much nicer. Now if you were to compare Michigan to Wisconsin youd have a more equal match. Both midwest states are very similar in scenery and culture. That would be a tough one to pick.
Your right I have family that's from Chicago and when they travel out of state every year it's to upper Michigan. They own a cabin on a lake.
John
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