Whether you care to admit it or not, you’re in love with Illinois, and there are many reasons why you should be. The Land of Lincoln is full of beauty, history, and excitement that is unparalleled by any other state in the nation.
True Illinoisans know what makes this state an excellent place to live and visit. Scroll on for 11 reasons people fall for Illinois.
- Rich history
Facebook/Logan County Tourism Bureau From the Civil War to scientific experiments, this state has featured prominently in our country’s past. Illinois is awash with monuments, museums, and other relics that preserve our place in history. Our main claim to fame is being the Land of Lincoln, and you can check out our best honest Abe attractions here.
- Proximity to rivers and lakes
Facebook/Grafton River Adventures Illinois is almost completely surrounded by water by way of the Ohio River, Wabash River, Mississippi River, and Lake Michigan. This gives our state many immaculate views, and we sure know how to enjoy them. Check out the best things you can do along the Mississippi River in Illinois here.
- Amazing food
Facebook/Al’s #1 Italian Beef If there’s anything that keeps out-of-staters coming back time and again, it’s the wonderful food found all over the state. From pizza to fried delights to delicious sandwiches, this state has all the best comfort foods, and we sure miss them when we leave. Check out the best things to eat in the state here.
- Impeccable natural attractions
Flickr/Curtis Abert For a Midwest State, Illinois is home to a wealth of hills, rocky bluffs, and waterfalls. From Starved Rock to Garden of the Gods, the Land of Lincoln is filled with amazing state parks and forest preserves with trails and all sorts of things you’ve got to see to believe. Discover the best natural views in the state here.
- Best cities
Wikimedia Commons/Ben Jacobson From Rockford and Chicago in the north to Peoria and Champaign in the center of the state and through Springfield to Carbondale, Illinois is filled with great cities. Each has its own fantastic attractions, mind-blowing restaurants, and stunning places to stay. Excitement can be found everywhere here.
- Sunrises and sunsets
Facebook/Shetal Desai It’s difficult to resist taking a photo of an Illinois sunrise or sunset. Going from red and orange to pink and purple, our skies are some of the most gorgeous in the nation. You can catch amazing shots of our skies more often by joining our Illinois Nature Lover’s group on Facebook (link below).
- Resort towns
Flickr/Tomcio77 When you’re looking for a luxurious place to stay, Illinois’ resort towns each offer hotels and bed & breakfasts with amazing amenities. From Jacuzzi tubs to Victorian decor to stunning views, the resorts in these Illinois towns are certain to make you fall in love. Check out our best ones here.
- It’s always festival season
pxhere There’s always something fun and exciting happening in Illinois. From summer celebrations to fall festivals, this state always has a fun event going on. Great food, exhilarating rides, and quirky traditions abound.
- Old-fashioned fun
Facebook/Millersburg General Store In addition to historical landmarks and hotels, there are many other vintage things to enjoy in the Land of Lincoln as well. Classic ice cream parlors, antique shops, and much more can be found throughout the state. Click here for old-fashioned general stores that’ll give you a blast from the past.
- Proximity to the rest of the nation
Wikimedia Commons/Curimedi Illinois is wonderful because it is easy to get to and because it is easy to leave. With O’Hare, we can easily get to any part of the country, or world for that matter. Additionally, we are near many great cities and out-of-state attractions like St. Louis, Milwaukee, and the Indiana Dunes.
- Friendly people
Wikimedia Commons/SayCheeeeeese Nothing will endear you to Illinois like its residents. We can be a little rough on the edges sometimes, but for the most part, everyone here is quite friendly and happy to have you.
If you really do love the state of Illinois, there’s a special Nature Lover’s group on Facebook where you can like and share incredible photos of the state.
Facebook/Logan County Tourism Bureau
From the Civil War to scientific experiments, this state has featured prominently in our country’s past. Illinois is awash with monuments, museums, and other relics that preserve our place in history. Our main claim to fame is being the Land of Lincoln, and you can check out our best honest Abe attractions here.
Facebook/Grafton River Adventures
Illinois is almost completely surrounded by water by way of the Ohio River, Wabash River, Mississippi River, and Lake Michigan. This gives our state many immaculate views, and we sure know how to enjoy them. Check out the best things you can do along the Mississippi River in Illinois here.
Facebook/Al’s #1 Italian Beef
If there’s anything that keeps out-of-staters coming back time and again, it’s the wonderful food found all over the state. From pizza to fried delights to delicious sandwiches, this state has all the best comfort foods, and we sure miss them when we leave. Check out the best things to eat in the state here.
Flickr/Curtis Abert
For a Midwest State, Illinois is home to a wealth of hills, rocky bluffs, and waterfalls. From Starved Rock to Garden of the Gods, the Land of Lincoln is filled with amazing state parks and forest preserves with trails and all sorts of things you’ve got to see to believe. Discover the best natural views in the state here.
Wikimedia Commons/Ben Jacobson
From Rockford and Chicago in the north to Peoria and Champaign in the center of the state and through Springfield to Carbondale, Illinois is filled with great cities. Each has its own fantastic attractions, mind-blowing restaurants, and stunning places to stay. Excitement can be found everywhere here.
Facebook/Shetal Desai
It’s difficult to resist taking a photo of an Illinois sunrise or sunset. Going from red and orange to pink and purple, our skies are some of the most gorgeous in the nation. You can catch amazing shots of our skies more often by joining our Illinois Nature Lover’s group on Facebook (link below).
Flickr/Tomcio77
When you’re looking for a luxurious place to stay, Illinois’ resort towns each offer hotels and bed & breakfasts with amazing amenities. From Jacuzzi tubs to Victorian decor to stunning views, the resorts in these Illinois towns are certain to make you fall in love. Check out our best ones here.
pxhere
There’s always something fun and exciting happening in Illinois. From summer celebrations to fall festivals, this state always has a fun event going on. Great food, exhilarating rides, and quirky traditions abound.
Facebook/Millersburg General Store
In addition to historical landmarks and hotels, there are many other vintage things to enjoy in the Land of Lincoln as well. Classic ice cream parlors, antique shops, and much more can be found throughout the state. Click here for old-fashioned general stores that’ll give you a blast from the past.
Wikimedia Commons/Curimedi
Illinois is wonderful because it is easy to get to and because it is easy to leave. With O’Hare, we can easily get to any part of the country, or world for that matter. Additionally, we are near many great cities and out-of-state attractions like St. Louis, Milwaukee, and the Indiana Dunes.
Wikimedia Commons/SayCheeeeeese
Nothing will endear you to Illinois like its residents. We can be a little rough on the edges sometimes, but for the most part, everyone here is quite friendly and happy to have you.
What else makes you fall in love with the good ol’ Land of Lincoln? Share your thoughts with us below in the comments.
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