101 things to love about Illinois

[doll lady]

Here's some more of mine. Thanks for keeping the thread going Steve-o

1. Kneeling on the ground and smelling the earth.

2. Being able to rub Abe Lincoln's nose at his tomb.

3. See parasails above the lake.

4. Seeing hang gliders with motors above the fields and wondering how they stay up there.

5. Driving along the river and seeing the bluffs.

6. Biting into a juicy rip peach after purchasing at a roadside stand.

7. Going to the western part of the state to get a ripe watermelon or cantaloupe.

8. Having old wooden bridges still in existence in the rural areas.

9. Stopping along a highway roadside picnic table to rest and/or eat.

10. Hearing the big fish jump at the lakes.

11. Going to the State Fair parade in anticipation of the best to come.

12. Being able to see an Amish horse drawn field implement right next to an huge advanced and current motor driven implement.

13. Driving to the north to see the old presidents' homes.

14. Opening my window and hearing farm progress by listening to the roar of the huge tractors.

15. Being able to still smell the farms which still have livestock.

16. Going to the horse shows to see the state's finest horses.

[sunnyandcloudydays]

Nice lists from everyone..

I have a picture I took a few years back.

The picture is of when the leaves are at peak.
There are reds, yellows and all variations of what come to mind with "fall"

The Illinois landscape is magical that time of year.

Illinois is at its best in the fall.
Summer has one last call to show her vibrant beauty.

It's almost as if the trees are literallly blushing with color.

I also love the snow in the wintertime and the silence that accompanies.
The way the snow reflects the lights and emits a type of light is dazzling.

Summer time has its sweet smells of flowers and plants in full bloom.

Illinois is a beautiful state
Praries, Cities, Rolling Hills in the North West and Souther parts of the state and the colorful praries in the middle .

LOVE IT

[linicx]

I can add the high rolling hills and tall cliffs in the Illinois River Valley
The tiny dam at Bernadotte.
Roads that don't go 'no where'. There is a purpose for it.
Magnificent architecture from the past
The little white washed clapboard church hidden among the hills on Waterford Road.
The hills crisp with fall air early in the morn.
The sound of geese in flight.
The doe and her babies foraging in winter wheat disted with new snow. at Lake Andeson.
Small town local festivals.
Campgrounds and marina where you don't expect it.
A tiny communities with 12 families
Eagles and many other species that are returning to the Illinois River Valley after a 100 year absence.
The sound of silence on a sultry, starry summer night.
The absence of rush hour interstate traffic.
City lights dancing off ice laden trees; from a distance it resembles diamonds
A freshly fallen snow untouched by human or animal.

[sunnyandcloudydays]

Originally Posted by linicx

I can add the high rolling hills and tall cliffs in the Illinois River Valley
The tiny dam at Bernadotte.
Roads that don't go 'no where'. There is a purpose for it.
Magnificent architecture from the past
The little white washed clapboard church hidden among the hills on Waterford Road.
The hills crisp with fall air early in the morn.
The sound of geese in flight.
The doe and her babies foraging in winter wheat disted with new snow. at Lake Andeson.
Small town local festivals.
Campgrounds and marina where you don't expect it.
A tiny communities with 12 families
Eagles and many other species that are returning to the Illinois River Valley after a 100 year absence.
The sound of silence on a sultry, starry summer night.
The absence of rush hour interstate traffic.
City lights dancing off ice laden trees; from a distance it resembles diamonds
A freshly fallen snow untouched by human or animal.

Driven the road to nowhere a few times. and you sure nailed it when you state there is a purpose.

[linicx]

It is hard to fathom just how many interconnecting roads Illinois does have until you look at a county map.

[lunapath]

These all made me miss home quite a lot. A few of my own:

1. The UofI campus.
2. Allerton park and the lady in white.
3. The reptiles and amphibians.
4. Driving the endless country roads just for fun.
5. Running through the cornfields looking for spiders.
6. The excitement when a group of kids says, "Let's go cow-tipping!" but they never do.
7. All the little antique shops.
8. Counting the train cars.
9. Pizza, BBQ, Chili Macs, and fresh vegetables.
10. Sweet. Corn. Festival!

By the way, there was always a pow wow in Mattoon that we went to every year, does it not happen anymore?

[mdand3boys]

I grew up in and around Peoria and Springfield. Like the area, but I like it more in Hawaii... sorry...

[radiojunkie2006]

Originally Posted by mdand3boys

I grew up in and around Peoria and Springfield. Like the area, but I like it more in Hawaii... sorry...

I was waiting for someone to burst the 'feel good' bubble!

[cubssoxfan]

Steve-O, Steve-O; where art thou Steve-O?!