8 Reasons Why Living in Illinois is Ridiculously Underrated

High taxes and crooked politicians aren't all Illinois has to offer! Here are 8 powerful reasons why the Land of Lincoln is a surprisingly awesome place to call home.

Give Illinois a Break

Illinois gets a bad rap more often than not. Maybe the winters (which, hey, can be brutal), or that the Chicago Bears notoriously suck are to blame, but here's the truth from a lifelong Illinois resident: Illinois is secretly awesome, and it deserves some love!

Do I get frustrated living in Illinois sometimes? Absolutely, but I'm sure that's the case wherever you live.

Have I ever considered moving out of Illinois permanently? Honestly, yes, but then I remember some very important things. Here are 8 of the best reasons I think people should move TO Illinois instead of OUT of it...

8 Reasons to Love Living in Illinois

Chicago Magic:

Chicago may be the reason Illinois gets so much hate, but it's also chocked full of world-class museums, award-winning restaurants, a thriving theater scene, stunning architecture, a gorgeous lakefront, and an amazingly diverse food scene that goes way beyond Italian beef and deep dish pizza.

Natural Gems:

Illinois isn't all flat farmland and one big city. This state has amazing place for nature lovers to visit and treasure like the Shawnee National Forest, Starved Rock, and Matthiessen State Park...just to name a few.

Route 66 Nostalgia:

Cruise down a stretch of the Mother Road, a cultural icon that starts right here in Illinois. This historic highway will take you to SOO many cool things to see and do in Illinois, and it really is something you need to experience at least once in your life.

Cost of Living:

Our taxes may be high, but the lifestyle in most of Illinois is super affordable. You can buy or rent a great place to live, treat yourself to a fun night out, and still have money left over for some pizza and Chicago-style hotdogs.

Small Town Charm:

People in Illinois, (may not Chicago though) are known for being friendly and down-to-earth. It's not hard to find a small town or village to live in where neighbors wave hello and communities come together.

A Hub of Innovation:

Illinois is a great place for creative and intelligent minds to thrive. Several outstanding universities are located in Illinois, and many significant advancements have been discovered here. (Did you know that the first widely-used internet browser, Mosaic, was created at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign?!?)

Sports Fanatic's Paradise:

If you love all things sports, Illinois has many great sports teams like the Chicago Blackhawks, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Bears, Fire to root for and obsess over.

Four Distinct Seasons:

Some Illinoisans will probably disagree, but the changing seasons is one of the things I love most about Illinois. Sure, the winters can be bitterly cold, but a holiday season covered in a beautiful blanket of snow, the vibrant fall colors, blooming spring flowers, and summer sunshine more than make up for a few weeks or months of freezing.

So, the moral of this story is; the next time you're considering a move, don't overlook Illinois...If you already live here, embrace all the good and try not to sweat the bad stuff.  After all, home is what you make it, so don't be a grumpy Gus!