Chicago, Illinois
You will not find a bigger city in this part of the country, and despite the Bean, the coffee, the local culture, and the famous deep dish pizza (we won’t get into the debate if it counts as pizza or not today), it has been called the most depressing city in the Midwest, with some even calling it miserable! Yikes, those are some strong words. And it doesn’t stop at just people’s impressions; author Rachel Shteir has even called this city the biggest cliche and just “conformist”, despite being rated high on most tourists’ lists of cities to not miss in the US.
Even if we ignore all the buzz and somehow new trend that has formed around hating on Chicago, all of us who still love this city can still attest that it is so full of tourist traps that it becomes quite disheartening sometimes, and the crime rates around the city do give it the title of being overrated.
To still be able to enjoy Midwestern hospitality without all the hustle and bustle of Chicago, we recommend you visit another gem in this part of the country, Detroit, Michigan! Indeed, the city’s history is convoluted and complicated, getting its start with the boom of the automobile industry, but the city has done a ton of work in the latest years in order to rebrand itself.
Now you can truly consider Detroit a world-class city, full of history and culture that is worth exploring! If you choose to visit, make sure you go to Belle Isle, where you can find the conservatory, zoo, and aquarium.
