Illinois is lacking a second city (Chicago, Peoria: live in, shop, bill)

[linicx]

In Illinois I don't expect most of us know where Herford. Texas is, or Richardson Texas is either; it's alot bigger than Kankakee. The prime function of Central Illinois is to feed the world - it won't be noticed or missed by very many. If you ask about Caterpillar Tractor Company, you will probably get a different answer as the world headquarters is in Peoria. I think once upon a time I found a CAT dealer around the Dallas-FW area - but that was long ago.

If you like ancient trees check out Grove, OK and Carthage, MO on your next trip. You'll be surprised what you find. Nice Best Western motels in both towns. But if you like to camp, Bernice Honey Creek State Park in Grove is full service and awesome! The Carthage courthouse is its own museum as it was built the 3rd time after the Civil War. Check out the 100 year old working elevator. And do check out the hardware stare. You could spend a day in it and not see all of the surprises. They are both fun get a way spots. Grove is abpit 500 miles from JR;s ranch. It isn't that far to go for a weekend. If you come out of Dallas stay on 59 North to Grove. It acutally saves a little time.. Carhage is north of the II-71/I-44 loop. Exit I-71 North and a couple miles up the road you'll find exit 571 at Carthage.

As much as I've traversed MO on 1-44 I've only found 3-4 where I really like the food. the Lazy J Arena on Farlawn, The Chinese buffet, and little Taca place in Mt, Vernon, across the I-44 from Marshfield - little greasy spoon that has great grits, coffee and eggs,. and Steak M Shake at Sullivan, MO.

Now I'll tall you how to take a little side trip from MO iinto Springfield. This little 4 lane road to nowhere actually connects Hannibal and Springfield. At Lebanon exit take MO 5 North 10 Miles to Lake of the Ozarks. Turn right on 54 and follow it through Jeff City to East 1-70. Take a right and follow it East to Wentzville. Exit Wentzville US 61 North toward Troy, MO. Follow it to US %$ and turn east. At Louisianna gas up. I usually stop at Abel/s, the big Conveniennce store on the right at the 4-way stop. Continue east. Cross the brige, Five 10 miles the road will Y. Stay right and follow it to Piittsfield, IL. At Pittsfield get directions. You'll go north about 5-7 miles and piick up the I-72 EASt to Springfield. It is not complicated. You;ll be in the Oxark hills the scenery is outstanding. You will not be bored until the last leg of the trip. When you see the Jscksonville exit, you won't be but a few short miles from Springfield. You'll will actually enter Springfiled proper on 1-55 N at the St. Louis junction. I've done every rought possible. You will love this one. Its almost a vacation in a vacation.

Here's a secret. From Pittsfield you can go to Peoria, too. Go to Mount Steroing. Follow US 24 east to IL 29 N. A piece of cake and pretty country.

[whatever you want]

Originally Posted by skipcromer

Move along internet tough guy. We get it, chicagoland is the end all, be all.

Congrats.

I think this should be the Illinois FIRST city imo.
Parker city - Ghost Town

[BillyH]

Originally Posted by linicx

In Illinois I don't expect most of us know where Herford. Texas is, or Richardson Texas is either; it's alot bigger than Kankakee. The prime function of Central Illinois is to feed the world - it won't be noticed or missed by very many. If you ask about Caterpillar Tractor Company, you will probably get a different answer as the world headquarters is in Peoria. I think once upon a time I found a CAT dealer around the Dallas-FW area - but that was long ago.

If you like ancient trees check out Grove, OK and Carthage, MO on your next trip. You'll be surprised what you find. Nice Best Western motels in both towns. But if you like to camp, Bernice Honey Creek State Park in Grove is full service and awesome! The Carthage courthouse is its own museum as it was built the 3rd time after the Civil War. Check out the 100 year old working elevator. And do check out the hardware stare. You could spend a day in it and not see all of the surprises. They are both fun get a way spots. Grove is abpit 500 miles from JR;s ranch. It isn't that far to go for a weekend. If you come out of Dallas stay on 59 North to Grove. It acutally saves a little time.. Carhage is north of the II-71/I-44 loop. Exit I-71 North and a couple miles up the road you'll find exit 571 at Carthage.

As much as I've traversed MO on 1-44 I've only found 3-4 where I really like the food. the Lazy J Arena on Farlawn, The Chinese buffet, and little Taca place in Mt, Vernon, across the I-44 from Marshfield - little greasy spoon that has great grits, coffee and eggs,. and Steak M Shake at Sullivan, MO.

Now I'll tall you how to take a little side trip from MO iinto Springfield. This little 4 lane road to nowhere actually connects Hannibal and Springfield. At Lebanon exit take MO 5 North 10 Miles to Lake of the Ozarks. Turn right on 54 and follow it through Jeff City to East 1-70. Take a right and follow it East to Wentzville. Exit Wentzville US 61 North toward Troy, MO. Follow it to US %$ and turn east. At Louisianna gas up. I usually stop at Abel/s, the big Conveniennce store on the right at the 4-way stop. Continue east. Cross the brige, Five 10 miles the road will Y. Stay right and follow it to Piittsfield, IL. At Pittsfield get directions. You'll go north about 5-7 miles and piick up the I-72 EASt to Springfield. It is not complicated. You;ll be in the Oxark hills the scenery is outstanding. You will not be bored until the last leg of the trip. When you see the Jscksonville exit, you won't be but a few short miles from Springfield. You'll will actually enter Springfiled proper on 1-55 N at the St. Louis junction. I've done every rought possible. You will love this one. Its almost a vacation in a vacation.

Here's a secret. From Pittsfield you can go to Peoria, too. Go to Mount Steroing. Follow US 24 east to IL 29 N. A piece of cake and pretty country.

I have never been to Herford. I have heard of it, had to look up where it was located. I always thought most of the Texas panhandle, where Herford is located should have gone to Oklahoma. Looking at a map it's like most of the Texas panhandle was carved out of OK. I have only been to Lubbock once and never Amarillo, as for Richardson it's just another suburb of land locked Dallas. I have never heard of Oxard hills... sounds interesting and worth the trip, I have heard of Jacksonville, Ill. seen the exit for it. From St Louis to Springfield I mostly see farm house, grain silo, corn fields over and over ha. But like you said they feed the world. Springfield use to have a Allis Chalmers location on the south end of town, Caterpillar and Peoria have both made the national news lately.

[linicx]

Did I really type Oxard Hills? Sheesh... The foot hills of the Ozark mountain range are NOT in Illinois. You'll find the foothills in Grove, OK, in Arkansas North of Fayetteville (the Boston Mountains are South) and all over the Lake of the Ozarks area. Once you reach I-70 you are out of the Ozarks. Actually, by the time you reach Kingdom City they are behind you. The Ozark range basically begins south of Jefferson city and extends into Arkansas. It's 50,000 acres of primitive beauty. Depneding upon where you are in Illinois, especially if you are near the Illinois River, you are more likely to find rolling hills and bluffs than flat farmland.

I like Hereford as a whole. It has some interesting history, but, I have to admit I did not care much for the feedlot in the summer. I followed that highway into New Mexico on my way to Las Cruces one year. I like the route south of Amarillo that bypases Palo Duro Canyon better. It's called the Little Grand Canyon. It's a treat. If you've never been to the Grand, and you are thinking about vising, the Little Grand is a wonderful preview.

[BillyH]

Originally Posted by linicx

Did I really type Oxard Hills? Sheesh... The foot hills of the Ozark mountain range are NOT in Illinois. You'll find the foothills in Grove, OK, in Arkansas North of Fayetteville (the Boston Mountains are South) and all over the Lake of the Ozarks area. Once you reach I-70 you are out of the Ozarks. Actually, by the time you reach Kingdom City they are behind you. The Ozark range basically begins south of Jefferson city and extends into Arkansas. It's 50,000 acres of primitive beauty. Depneding upon where you are in Illinois, especially if you are near the Illinois River, you are more likely to find rolling hills and bluffs than flat farmland.

I like Hereford as a whole. It has some interesting history, but, I have to admit I did not care much for the feedlot in the summer. I followed that highway into New Mexico on my way to Las Cruces one year. I like the route south of Amarillo that bypases Palo Duro Canyon better. It's called the Little Grand Canyon. It's a treat. If you've never been to the Grand, and you are thinking about vising, the Little Grand is a wonderful preview.

I am some what familiar with the Ozarks in Missouri. I was born at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.. Only lived there until I was three, and later lived in Springfield, Il. for a short time also. I have been back to Dixon near Ft. Leonard Wood only a few times to see friends. The realtives all live in Springfield, Il., I have no family in Missouri. I have only been to New Mexico once on the way to see the Grand Canyon in AZ.. I prefer the mountains and hills and farmland of Missouri and Illinois more, it's green! At least in the spring and summer anyway. Parts of west Texas and New Mexico look barren. You can drive for miles and not see any trees different than south and east Texas and most of the mid-west.

[linicx]

You are absolutely right. But the blooming cactus in the desert in the winter and the iroof tops in Hatch, NM., covered with drying red chili peppers, the paper bags of sand with the votive cangles lining the sidewalks to homes, and in the yards in the Christmas season. the Inn of the Mountain Gods near Riodosa is beautiful county and a 5-star hotel to boot. The old spanish churches are beautiful. I think its worth the trip because it meanders into White Sands. There is alot of like about Texas. I like the FTM better than the interstate. I would just as stoon find a feed lot than a caravan of CDL drivers. Some of the best Xmas lights are in Texas FTM.

This is not to say I want to live in the desrt SW, I don't. Nor do I want to live in the mountains. Traveling is a great way to see the great American West. I still love to watch corn and beans grow even though it is boring to most. The fields devistated by the floods in the 90s was one of the saddest sights I ever saw. It was miles and miles of brown dead nothingness. It felt like the land was deserted. It recovered and the next year the farns and yards were green again.

[US-Traveller]

Ohio is the best state in the midwest overall. It has a good variety of large and mid-size cities like Cleveland (2nd Largest, Largest Metro), Cincinnati (3rd Largest, Largest Actual Metro some lies outside of Ohio), Columbus (Largest, 3rd Largest Metro), as well as Toledo, Dayton, Akron, and Youngstown. Illinois is completely downhill outside of Chicago. Michigan has many metros, Tri-cities, Detroit, Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, and Ann Arbor. I think the closest thing Illinois has to a second city is St. Louis or the Quad Cities. Peoria is too close to Chicago to be considered fully independent. Peoria gets Chicago and Peoria local news, so its disqualified.

[linicx]

It's nice that a Chicago boy stopped by to visit. Come again soon, ya hear?

[whatever you want]

Originally Posted by US-Traveller

Ohio is the best state in the midwest overall. It has a good variety of large and mid-size cities like Cleveland (2nd Largest, Largest Metro), Cincinnati (3rd Largest, Largest Actual Metro some lies outside of Ohio), Columbus (Largest, 3rd Largest Metro), as well as Toledo, Dayton, Akron, and Youngstown. Illinois is completely downhill outside of Chicago. Michigan has many metros, Tri-cities, Detroit, Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, and Ann Arbor. I think the closest thing Illinois has to a second city is St. Louis or the Quad Cities. Peoria is too close to Chicago to be considered fully independent. Peoria gets Chicago and Peoria local news, so its disqualified.

Ohio is the best state in the midwest for WHAT??? A Illinois is is completely downhill outside of Chicago?? The words "complete moron" come to mind in relation to your post.

[linicx]

Originally Posted by muleskinner

Ohio is the best state in the midwest for WHAT??? A Illinois is is completely downhill outside of Chicago?? The words "complete moron" come to mind in relation to your post.

Marshall Wild Bill Hickock got in the middle of a near brawl after school graduation ceremonies that could have cost a great uncle his life. He said to uncle he would walk the family home and uncle argued. Wild Bill said, "I think I understand the situation better than you." He walked the famly home.

Mule, I think I'll just call you Bill.