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Do you enjoy exploring abandoned locations that are located in cities or small towns?
For me I live in the Chicagoland area so we have the choice of going to the city or the farmland and small towns outside the city.
[last edit 4/2/2018 5:52 PM by ebthompson - edited 1 times]
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Rural exploration is a lot more relaxing for me, there are generally less pepole around that could spot you and locations are often easier to enter.
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I like rural a lot because usually it's buildings people don't care about as much as well as there are less people around and I don't have to worry about someone calling the cops. Rural buildings are also usually less explored and therefore less vandalized and more authentic. At the same time big city buildings are usually bigger and more interesting like hospitals, old schools, factory buildings or old mansions. So I don't know, its a hard one and depends on my mood
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I've explored rurally far more than urban but I like them both equally, they each offer different types of exploration. As been said rural exploration is more relaxed, can make a day of hiking in/out, more time at the location and without worry.
Urban usually offers a much different environment, the buildings are different, new risks. The thrill depending where you go is another factor.
Although city and rural locations are both close to me, a hike/trek requires more time and usually a further drive. All depends on what I'm feeling!
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Rural all the way—for all of the reasons mentioned already.
Currently, I'm really into getting up to old fire lookouts and guard towers. Getting there is half the fun!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/heinrick05/ |
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Urban, because I like more the adrenaline of the fear to be getting caught. Rural because it's more relaxed.
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City by default... whatever part of Chicagoland you're finding rural spots in, there's not much left in Lake/McHenry County.
[jonrevProjects] | Flickr flicks
Founder: Belvidere Cinema Gallery - Waukegan, IL |
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Small towns for me. I'm too old to be doing the old sneak around shit. I've found chatting up locals in small towns about the towns history will get you directions, number of owner, and a self guided tour of a lot of interesting ruins. Also gotten the inside scoop of who owns what. Small town folk don't tend to like some dick in Chicago bought the old textile mill in 1998 and have just let the only thing that supported the town fall into decay. They are more than happy to have someone interested in their history.
Ezekiel 25:17 |
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I'd rather explore rural places than closer to the city. I'm from around a big city, but I go to school in a very rural area so I do most of my exploring there. I feel like finding and exploring rural places is a lot less dangerous and risky and you usually find more things to explore.
They say I gotta respect the system, but there ain't no respect in that system for me.
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Rural for me by far, for all of the above reasons. Generally more relaxing (though encounters with rural crime watch can often be more intimidating than encounters with the police), a lower chance of being caught, less vandalism and theft means more of a story to decipher upon arrival, and there's a special appeal to mapping out a number of locations across hundreds of miles of countryside and making a day trip out of it. You often discover a lot more out there than the locations themselves, towns you never knew about and the people that live in them.
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Posted by EPOCH6
(though encounters with rural crime watch can often be more intimidating than encounters with the police)
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It's interesting as I've had more issue with rural folks than in the city and usually when I'm just stopped to take a picture or check google maps. That being said, it's usually more relaxing for me too.
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If you put in the effort you can find some rare rural locations whereas most locations in metropolitan areas have been done numerous times.
I live 200ks from the city so I selected both.
[last edit 4/6/2018 5:57 AM by Doug - edited 1 times]
The Urbex Zine Guy
https://www.cavecl...wtopic.php?t=12259
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I much prefer small towns over the city. Chances are there'll be less cars driving around, less graffiti, less homeless people, and most importantly, less people. Plus, the houses are usually on large pieces of ground that are nicely spaced, so the chances of being spotted by someone in their house is lower.
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As someone who has lived in rural Texas for about 6 years now and explored rural locations for more than 20yrs, I can tell you that you attract way more attention in a rural environment when trespassing.
All the neighbors know everyone, they know who belongs and where they don't, they see some kids prowling around some vacant house or business they call it in nearly every time.
In the city youre more anonymous, you can just blend into the pedestrian traffic on a busy street and slip in. Even if youre spotted theres a real good chance nobody cares.
Lord help you if youre caught in an active "rural" location. At least in Texas where even 80yr old grannies have a shotgun.
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As you all know, I'm a rural explorer given that I like to explore old mines and ghost towns. As 2Xplorations said, rural folks watch out for each other so you have to be careful. That said, I've had really good luck being friendly with the locals and not having any issues. Knowing how to talk with all kinds of folks without sounding like a smart ass is a good skill to have. Most people love to share what they know so if you can get them to talk about their knowledge of the area, you've gained an ally.
Abby Normal
"Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem." Ronald Reagan |
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With the recent spike in rural property crime in our neck of the woods, rural folk are extra jumpy and watchful. Lots of muttered talk of shooting first and asking questions later. It makes for a very uneasy exploration climate.
https://www.flickr...otos/technomancer/
“I will accept any rules that you feel necessary to your freedom. I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do.” |
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My entire foray into exploration has been based on living in a big city where transit is accessible and far-reaching. But as I wander through condemned and vandalized buildings, I do have the desire to see places people have simply forgotten about and have not been disturbed.
One day I got a good camera.
https://www.flickr...hotos/fleetsurbex/ |
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Personally I enjoy rural. Exploration for me is leaving the present time on an expedition to the past, and a non-urban environment can really help with that. Usually less foot and vehicle traffic, and hopefully less vandalism. But I'd gladly take an urban location if offered a trip.
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As a general rule, I've found that urban locations tend to either be very well secured or very badly vandalized, or are located such that there's always a lot of eyes on them. The most easily accessible and best preserved spots I've found have uniformly been in suburban and rural areas.
Case in point, there are two vacant bars and a theater in my town that I'd just love to share with you guys, if they weren't sealed up tighter than the proverbial snare drum.
Flickr |
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While there are some fantastic city locations, I prefer small town exploring for many of the reasons listed above: vandalism, homeless folk, people in general.
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Ethics
