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Benjamin [inactive] · Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 2:42 pm Post subject: Midwestern United States

I started a thread in November last year saying that I was hoping to go and stay with a family friend in Indianapolis this year. Well, I'm going to stay with her in August. However, I thought I'd start a new thread about this, since it would be a bit confusing picking up the old one, and it's more about the Midwestern US in general anyway.

So, I'm probably going to be in the United States between one and two weeks, and will probably be staying most of the time with my friend in Indianapolis. However, she's suggested that we go away to visit some other places for a few days — the Amish country (something I'd be very interested in) and then either Chicago or St Louis.

For some reason, St Louis sounds more appealing to me than Chicago, probably because it's smaller, and because I associate it strongly with the musical Meet Me in St Louis. I imagine it as a bit of an 'olde worlde' sort of place — does anyone know if that view is even remotely justified, or if it's somewhere actually worth visiting?

Apparently, I'll probably be going with her to a family reunion in Ohio — doesn't really seem to be the sort of thing we do here, but I assume that it should be fun. (?)

Any other suggestions for places to go vaguely in the Midwestern US region? Thanks!

fab · Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 7:14 pm Post subject:

don't miss Chicago, which is one of the most architecturally interesting US city.

Uriel · Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 5:30 am Post subject:

I used to switch planes at Chicago O'Hare, and once had a layover in St. Louis. And I spent the night in Ohio at my aunt's house once, on our way back to New York.

That's pretty much the extent of my experience with the Midwest.

I don't think there's anything particularly old world about St. Louis. I think they have a large Russian population, and I think it would be miserably hot and humid and mosquito-infested in August, but I could be wrong.

Perhaps our resident Wisconsonite can shed some light on the general area. Trav?

We did have a large Amish population in upstate New York, though, so I do know a little about them. Or at least saw lots of them. Exactly what you've heard -- no electricity, horses and buggies, and they dress like Little House on the Prairie. They keep to themselves mainly, but they often sell produce or baked goods by the roadside, so there is that avenue of interaction if you want to talk to them. Be advised that they tend to call the rest of us "the English" (for the language, not the ethnicity -- they are mainly of German stock).
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An apple a day....

Deborah · Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 9:02 am Post subject:

All I know about St. Louis is what I experienced in a several-hour respite from riding the Greyhound bus from NY to SF. My brother and I got off the bus just before dawn and watched the sunrise over the Mississippi (nice!), while the sun made the Arch look like molten steel. Then we saw everything the museum of the westward expansion of the US had to offer and went to the top of the arch.

http://www.nps.gov/jeff/

There must be more to do in St. Louis, but I don't know what it is. If I were there again, I'd take a steamboat ride on the river -- or better yet, a raft, but I don't know how that could be done.

Somewhere in that general area (that is, in the state of Missouri, on the Mississippi) is the town of Hannibal, MO, where Mark Twain grew up, and the famous cave from Tom Sawyer.

I'd say there's more to do and see in Chicago, however. And I don't think that modern day St. Louis is much like it was in Meet Me In St. Louis.

Uriel · Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 4:11 am Post subject:

I doubt even the period St. Louis was anything like the movie version!

You know how movies are....
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An apple a day....

ddog800 · Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 5:25 am Post subject:

Porthos · Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 5:52 am Post subject:

ddog800 · Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 1:53 pm Post subject:

Bashar · Expert Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 59

I don't want to get too off topic, but german.about.com says that the real reason the Pennsylvania Dutch are called what they are called is because before Germany and the Netherlands became the countries they are now, there was a time when "Dutch" could mean German.

In fact I think I'll go dig up the article...
http://german.about.com/library/blgermyth07.htm

Deborah · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 9:24 pm Post subject: