List your favorite things about Illinois (Chicago, Naperville: neighborhoods, buy, camping)

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Drover

Pffft. L.A.'s got nothing on NYC or Chicago. It's like one great big gigantic suburb. No urban vibe to it at all. I don't think you could pay me enough to live there.

Youre 100% correct in this statement. L.A. was a heap of garbage in most parts of the city. Traffic made Chicago's seem nice (believe that!!!), the skies were orange the whole time I was there (they breathe that crap?), nothing but strip malls and gang grafitti, no soul, no downtown. The oceanfront was ok and I admit I liked areas of Long Beach, but that was about it. San Diego was nice, but thats a different story. So yeah, L.A. cant hold a candle to Chicago and I think everyone knows that, except one individual that posted earlier.

[cdrobert]

La has a pretty decent down town i think (they were able to throw up some really good earthquake resistant buildings), i feel DOWNTOWN la's night life (if you are in your 20's) far outclasses chicagos, but once you get older chicago's down town is certainly more appealing. LA is alot like newyork, you gotta have money to enjoy it. My roommate is from el segundo just north of manhattan beach and it is really wonderful out there.

[mrtrain]

Walking in the woods
viewing the bluffs in the Northwest
watching trains in Savanna
state parks are free to visit and so many lookout points
the list goes on in my head but no time to type

[Drover]

Working train museums in Monticello and Union

[mrtrain]

Originally Posted by Drover

Working train museums in Monticello and Union

Union yes I have been there. Where is Monticello?

[nanannie]

To you "Lonelyguys" (wasnt that a Steve Martin movie) Heres an old story=a guy moving to my (take your pick)city/state/town asked me what kind of people are there in your city? I asked him "what kind of people are in the place you are leaving"? He said"they're cold,rude,distant and not friendly at all",,,"well" I said,"I'm afraid then thats just the kind of people you will find here"

[llama214]

The beauty of the flowing rivers and the endless rich farmland that we use to feed much of the world.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by mrtrain

Union yes I have been there. Where is Monticello?

It's about 20 miles west-southwest of Champaign on I-72

[mrtrain]

Originally Posted by Drover

It's about 20 miles west-southwest of Champaign on I-72

thanks

[doll lady]

Driving south down the Great River Road along the mighty Mississippi....clear to the Missouri border.... and see the Piasa hill drawings
The Indian burial mounds in central and southern Illinois
East Peoria Festival of Lights.
East Peoria Paradice Riverboat Casino
Springfield's Abraham Lincoln Museum
Magnolia, Dogwood and Red Bud Trees blooming and swaying in the gentle wind.
Lots of hummingbirds around the red flowers.
Starved Rock Park
Tons of Reasonably Priced Antique Shops in Central and Southern Illinois
Classic Cars in Vono
One of the states with the Highest number of registered classic cars
Cool car vanity registration plates.
No helmet law for motorcyclists
All 4 seasons with more milder weather than yesteryear (but yucky High humidity in summer)
From Central Illinois you can get to Missouri less than 2 hours, Tennessee in hours, Kentrucky in 4 hours, Wisconsin in 4 hours, Indianapolis in 4 hours, otherwise the middle of the travel belt. Although interstates do need repair.
Multitude of Illinois Products number in the thousands.
The world's largest Agricultural State Fair in the nation.
Hunting for Deer, squirrels, quail, rabbits, and pheasants on farmer's property
Wonderful apple and peach orchards in the southern part of the state.
Peonies and daffodils growing in the cemetaries.
In central Illinois small towns, about everyone is related.
Largest Purple Martin House factory in central part of the state
Marigold Capitol of the world is Pekin
Future motor fuel in the form of corn is grown here...and we have corn furnaces too.
New Salem where Abe Lincoln grew up
The world's tallest man grew up in Alton
You can still drive in the country where no superhighways run.
Significant growth in the number of wineries all over the state