[Colonel_Flagg]

People in the great lakes region and the north east don't realize how brutal a winter can be.

With all due respect, that's horse hockey. Come to my home town of Duluth and experience a northeast wind off Lake Superior during a January snow storm. Believe me, you'll beg for Omaha. Or perhaps a February morning about an hour north of here in Tower, where it's -39 with a bracing wind.

We've got wind, ice and sleet in spades. And if you want real snow, there's always Buffalo. What you call winter in Omaha, we call November :)

[driftless]

I was in Duluth-Superior in early May of this year. The temp was in the mid thirties and rainy. Left in the morning and drove home to western Wisconsin where it was about eighty. But beautiful scenery around your area.

[Endeavor]

Touche' on your defense of the frighteningly frigid Duluth winters. And may I add, Duluth is one of my favorite towns - yes, I know that sounds wacky, but I love coming over the hill and seeing that view of the lake, the steep hills (I don't know how you guys drive there in the winter) and decent people.

Personally, I think Taxachussetts takes the cake. Altho my kind words toward Duluth might sound like I don't get around much, I actually travel extensively. And I choose Mass, even though my ideal place to live would be Woods Hole - 20 years ago.

Such a beautiful state which has sadly come so far from its roots.

[mamelukesabre]

I beleive you. When I was thinking of the great lakes region, I was thinking of cleveland, chicago, gary indiana, etc. I've never been to the northern side of the great lakes, only the southern side.