10 coolest cities in the Midwest
America’s heartland too frequently gets labeled as flyover country -- the states you fly over to get between the East and West coasts. But take another look and you’ll notice that the Midwest harbors some of the country’s coolest college towns, hippest city neighborhoods, cheapest real estate, best cuisine and all-around greatest places to live and visit.
Text by Chelsea Lin | Photo editing by Mike Hipple
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I'll take Cincinnati over either of the other 2 cities from the Buckeye State--and I've lived in all 3 of them. One of America's most underrated cities (along with St. Louis and Kansas City, which did make the list). A hilly terrain that reivals San Francisco's, great museums, the riverfront (where the Reds and Bengals play), parks everywhere (can't beat the views from any of those hilltop vistas, plus they're great for biking), distinct eclectic neighborhoods with lots of local merchants where everyone knows your name, very walkable, great food you can't get anywhere else (Skyline Chili, LaRosa's pizza and subs, Graeters ice cream and pastries), within 2 hours of Kentucky's Bluegrass region and other day trips. Lastly, despite being a hobed of social conservatism (right to life and the antiporn crusades are very active here--Larry Flynt was run out of town by a zealous prosecutor in the 70's), Cincinnati voters nonetheless elected Jerry Springer as Mayor (yes, THAT Jerry Springer--he was a colorful local politician in the 70's before becoming what he is today)--after he resigned from City Council when it was discovered that he wrote a check to a prostitute. Not even the Jerry Springer show could make that one up!
Yes, St. Louis is one of the nicest places, Also in regards to the crime and dirty. Every city or small town has it area's that are not nice.
People are very friendly, and very generous with other cities when they have problems. I am sorry that you did not have a good experience in St. Louis.
