Weather in Southern Illinois/Indiana? (Peoria, Carbondale: credit, home, diverse)

[ptdudeboston]

What are the winters like in Southern Illinois or Indiana? Of the many places we are investigating, we are thinking about moving to Evansville, or Carbondale. I'm from Boston so you won't scare me about the winter, haha. My girl is from central Illinois. We don't like the cold too much so I just wanna know if the winter is any better than in the Northeast. My understanding is that there is cold weather and snow but spring comes sooner than here (ie. it is spring-like before the end of freakin April). I like the Midwest culture in general and hot summer weather. People are great too! I hope you guys can inform me that the winter is uh, warm and devoid of snow....
Thanks

[Netsirk13]

Winters in southern Illinois are pretty mild. This winter the area had a lot of ice storms, but the area doesn't get too much snow. You rarely have to bundle up, with temps in the 40s. Best of all, it doesn't get all that windy so you don't have those blasts of cold air that you can get in the rest of Illinois. The patterns are similar to Kentucky and southern Missouri.

[ptdudeboston]

thanks for that encouraging info!

[ptdudeboston]

If anyone wants to share general info about Carbondale or Evansville I would appreciate it. I am an outdoors person and have lived in Peoria for a couple of months. I don't mind that there aren't tons of bars and that kind of thing. Lakes nearby? Cycling popular? Any public transport? Carbondale seems to be more diverse compared to most of Illinois in terms of landscape and topography. I have seen pics of some nice national parks. Any opinions welcome, but preferably not negative ones.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by ptdudeboston

If anyone wants to share general info about Carbondale or Evansville I would appreciate it. I am an outdoors person and have lived in Peoria for a couple of months. I don't mind that there aren't tons of bars and that kind of thing. Lakes nearby? Cycling popular? Any public transport? Carbondale seems to be more diverse compared to most of Illinois in terms of landscape and topography. I have seen pics of some nice national parks. Any opinions welcome, but preferably not negative ones.

Carbondale itself is ok I guess. The area is nice down there, with some nice hills along the Mississippi and inland. Garden of the Gods and Shawnee National Forest are not too far and are very hilly with tons of biking and rock climbing, etc. There is also the Fults Hill Prairie area that is very nice looking if youre into geography/geology. I enjoy that area, its home to 4 venomous snake species and even scorpions, which I enjoy studying. Also, theyre "state parks", not "national parks". Were you thinking of the national forest perhaps? I dunno, in any case, hope this helps some.

[ptdudeboston]

Right state parks, correction taken, thanks. I wasn't thinking at all I guess. Not exactly in scholarly writing mode when on here know what I mean, haha. That is some good info, I will put in my "reasons in favor of moving to " file.
take it easy

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by ptdudeboston

Right state parks, correction taken, thanks. I wasn't thinking at all I guess. Not exactly in scholarly writing mode when on here know what I mean, haha. That is some good info, I will put in my "reasons in favor of moving to " file.
take it easy

No prob.

Shawnee National Forest (Southern Illinois):
Photo Credit:Google Image Result for http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=11203&rendTypeId=4


Photo credit: Google Image Result for http://www.life.uiuc.edu/suarez/tillberg/images/SOILL002.jpg


Photo credit:Google Image Result for http://away.com/gifs/gorp/resources/us_national_forest/il/nfil_shaw.jpg


Photo credit:Google Image Result for http://www.enjoyillinois.com/topspots/southern/GARDENOFTHEGODS.jpg