America and Canada are blessed with large tracts of land that they can inhabit. The USA more than Canada since most of the latter is ice or close to it.
What they lack in amazing cityscapes or pedestrian friendly areas where people work and live they more than make up in wilderness.
What the nations have done exceptionally well is to reserve thousands of acres as National Parks so that mankind's steady march does not eat up what ever is available to chew on.
This results in amazing and secluded acres that one can literally get lost in. My favorite parks in America include Yosemite in northern California and the Rockies that run the north south spine of the continent.
The geographic area known as the Colorado Plateau which is approximately acerage that makes up the four corners of four states in SW USA is worth exploring by foot. Eons of geology has shaped red sandstone into amazing and awe inspring formations that no architect on earth can hope to accomplish in their craftsmanship.
Water bodies like rivers and lakes and the subsequent waterfalls add to the vistas. Wildlife (which my eyes are too tired or weak to spot) abounds in these areas and can be an additional treat for a birder or fan of tracking these species.
Usually access to said parks is well maintained and allows for a family excursion to a rest area from which to launch their foot travels.
Chicago as cities go is actually a pretty fun place to wander. It has a river run through it on which you could take an architectural tour and admire the soaring man made towers that line both its banks. You can end up in a lock (on the boat ride) that feeds the river into Lake Michigan which is an immense body of fresh water formed by glacial melts before mankind came about. There are public parks along the lakeshore that are fun for family picnic.
Similarly Toronto in Canada is fun (esp in Spring and Summer) along the shores of Lake Ontario. It has the CN tower at the edge that you can elevate yourself to and on a clear day see Niagara Falls thunder in the distance.
Both cities are also a food lover's paradise with ethnically diverse food choices available to please many a palate. Always a good thing!
What they lack in amazing cityscapes or pedestrian friendly areas where people work and live they more than make up in wilderness.
What the nations have done exceptionally well is to reserve thousands of acres as National Parks so that mankind's steady march does not eat up what ever is available to chew on.
This results in amazing and secluded acres that one can literally get lost in. My favorite parks in America include Yosemite in northern California and the Rockies that run the north south spine of the continent.
The geographic area known as the Colorado Plateau which is approximately acerage that makes up the four corners of four states in SW USA is worth exploring by foot. Eons of geology has shaped red sandstone into amazing and awe inspring formations that no architect on earth can hope to accomplish in their craftsmanship.
Water bodies like rivers and lakes and the subsequent waterfalls add to the vistas. Wildlife (which my eyes are too tired or weak to spot) abounds in these areas and can be an additional treat for a birder or fan of tracking these species.
Usually access to said parks is well maintained and allows for a family excursion to a rest area from which to launch their foot travels.
Chicago as cities go is actually a pretty fun place to wander. It has a river run through it on which you could take an architectural tour and admire the soaring man made towers that line both its banks. You can end up in a lock (on the boat ride) that feeds the river into Lake Michigan which is an immense body of fresh water formed by glacial melts before mankind came about. There are public parks along the lakeshore that are fun for family picnic.
Similarly Toronto in Canada is fun (esp in Spring and Summer) along the shores of Lake Ontario. It has the CN tower at the edge that you can elevate yourself to and on a clear day see Niagara Falls thunder in the distance.
Both cities are also a food lover's paradise with ethnically diverse food choices available to please many a palate. Always a good thing!
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