There are about 400 miles of Illinois from north to south.* Once you get south of THE CITY, there are miles and miles and miles of amazing farm land. Millions of acres of corn, wheat, and soya beans. My grandfather was born near Brighten in the south west of the state, not far from the city of Godfrey Illinois. The family tree of the founder of that city, hangs above my desk, stretching back to England and Plymouth Massachusetts. Yes, a Mayflower descendant.
West of Chicago, is a wonderful train museum. If you like trains and transit, it is worth a visit.
I first visited Illinois as a child, I remember stopping to see Lincoln's tomb in Springfield, and the Monticello College in Godfrey. I returned in the late 1970s' when I was driving my grandmother. Longer stays in Chicago started after we moved to Lexington, Kentucky in 1995. For probably a decade we went to Chicago at least once a year. I was speaking at a conference in Chicago when I turned 50. I went to dinner with a group of friends at a great little French restaurant that has long since closed.
* I guessed at this, then did a quick search, Google says 390 miles.
Lived the Chicago region for 10 years and loved it. Sometimes think of going back. Loved the museums, the cultural opportunities amazing, met truly amazing people - but the MidWestern winters are brutal.
ReplyDeleteThe winters are a little cold.
DeleteOh bother. I knew it had cold and windy weather, but not that it had hot and humid summers. I suppose it would as it is not far from Toronto.
ReplyDelete400 miles was a very good guess. An extra 10 after 390 miles is nothing.
It is nice that you have such a personal connection to the state.
A delightful city, few people move there for the weather.
DeleteI’ve been to Chicago a few times and loved it, but that’s as much of Illinois as I’ve seen.
ReplyDeleteIf you like farm fields, there is so much to see.
DeleteI spent a good 10 years of my life in Champaign-Urbana, 150 miles south of Chicago. I grew to love the state and I went to Chicago a lot because many of the sudents at the U. of I'll in Urbana wee Chicagoans.
ReplyDeleteI presented a training at the law school at Champaign-Urbana, I drove there from Lexington, because it was faster than flying.
DeleteMy only experience with Chicago is O'Hare, my least favorite airport I've ever been through.
ReplyDeleteStill, I wouldn't mind exploring the city.
I knew someone who was stranded at O'Hare for three days with cancelled flights and thunderstorms (the airline she was flying only had two flights a day from her home airport, so if they cancelled a couple flights it took them a week to catch up.) On the second day she took the CTA train into the city, and threatened to never go home.
DeleteBoth of my parents were born in Illinois, my dad in the big city of Chicago and my mom in the village of Danvers (pop. 650 when she lived there and half of the population were her relatives). We visited my grandparents every summer at their farm outside of Bloomington. So many good memories. My dad's parents moved to Springfield, NJ, so no visits to Chicago during my young years. Now my daughters live in Chicago and we're there 3-4 times a year, preferably in the warm weather. We pass the train museum on our visits. It's on the no tolls route.
ReplyDeleteAnd wow...you have an amazing family history!
DeleteI was born in Chicago and have lived in it's suburbs for most of my life. I always feel like an excited tourist when I go into Chicago!
ReplyDeleteJust a few days ago, Niche.com named my city (Naperville, IL) - #1 in Best Cities to Live in America. I don't really think that is true but it is a nice place to live.
And you are close enough to go into Chicago when you want to.
DeleteWhat a great tribute to my home state. I love Chicago having worked there for over two years. It was the destination of my high school senior class trip and I've have memories of visiting there when I was little.
ReplyDeleteIf you ever get the chance, visit Quincy in the far west of the state on the Mississippi River. That's where I was born and grew up. It's a beautiful city with some of the grandest old homes you will see anywhere.
Will I drive up the Mississippi someday?
DeleteGreat opening sentence. Through a friend I learned about the Cahokia mounds. Also the relationship of the southern part of the state to Saint Louis, MO. Very different cultures.
ReplyDeleteWhen my mother was a stewardess/flight attendant in the late 1940's - early 1950's, stewardesses transferred to the Chicago base to end a relationship or cure a broken heart.
Will Jay
Those were exciting times to fly, I have paperwork from my father's first time as a passenger on American Airlines near the end of WWII.
DeleteI've been three times...and have not been disappointed. Two friends, a cousin and a good blogger friend all live there. But your right...the winters are hell.
ReplyDeleteYou would need two bears to keep you warm in the winter there.
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