Living in Illinois has likely left you with some fond memories. If you’ve ever had to move away, though, you probably get nostalgic for the comforts of a familiar place. Here are 16 things that make Illinoisans remember home and wish they could return ASAP.
If this list gives you FOMO (fear of missing out), just remember that it will all be here when you return. Scroll on for all the best things about our state.
- Gravel roads.
Wikimedia Commons/Ingvar Pärnamäe Much of Illinois is country roads and farmland. Many roads are not paved and are instead made from dirt or gravel. Some people hate driving on them because the stones hit your car and dust sticks to the side, but they are quintessential to life in the middle of nowhere.
- Snow storms.
Pexels/Magda Ehlers Really, any inclement weather will make you remember home if you’re from Illinois. We get some of the heaviest rains and snowfalls in the country, so we’re used to it.
- Icicles.
Pixabay/BrianTucker Those winter storms always leave a little bit of magic behind. Seeing ice coat trees or drip from roof tops makes you feel like a kid again. Try to resist the urge to eat the icicles though.
- Covered bridges.
Wikipedia/Bwsmith84 Just as charming as any Midwestern state, Illinois is home to bridges, especially adorable ones like this. While not all are cleared for anything other than pedestrian traffic, they are all wonderful for photos.
- Quiet small towns.
Wikimedia Commons/Robert Lawton Though home to one of the biggest cities in the nation, Illinois still has plenty of rural spaces and tiny little towns. Life is slower and calmer here, and it’s not hard to remember home when you pass one.
- Construction.
Max Pixel Orange barrels line the roads almost every time of year in Illinois. Especially during summer, crews are out day and night fixing who knows what.
- Corn fields.
Max Pixel Nothing is more iconic to Illinois than corn. More than 85 percent of our state is covered in fields to grow this stuff, and at harvest time, we go crazy for it.
- City lights.
Pexels/Casey Allen The glow of a distant skyline will undoubtedly make you think of Chicago if you are from Illinois. Nothing is as beautiful as the city shining at night.
- Large bodies of water.
Pixabay/SaraVaccari Whether you’re by the sea or another Great Lake, you’ll likely remember the endless beaches, crashing waves, and horizons found along Lake Michigan. We’ll take our lake over an ocean any day.
- Fried fish.
PublicDomainImages/Scott Lee Of course, food is sure to make you remember home faster than anything. Fried fish on a Friday says Illinois better than just about anything else. Luckily, many places around the Midwest are all about this tradition.
- Tenderloin sandwiches.
Wikimedia Commons/Glane23 Illinoisans can’t get enough of this amazing dish. Try one from out of state, and you’ll instantly be comparing it to your favorite sammich back home.
- Pizza.
Wikimedia Commons/Jon Sullivan Illinois is the pizza capital of the world, so it’s hard not to think of your hometown favorite every time you try a pie elsewhere. Whether you like it thick or thin, Illinois does all the styles right.
- Cheese fries.
Flickr/thisisbossi We typically enjoy this delicious dish atop a hamburger patty and slice of bread (i.e. a horseshoe sandwich), but we’ll take it either way. It’s difficult to resist this salty, delicious mess.
- State fairs.
Wikimedia Commons/Martybiniasz Nothing will make you remember home like a festival. Be it for a county or the state, a carnival will instantly take you back to summers in Illinois.
- Farmers markets.
Flickr/NatalieMaynor This summer and fall commodity is special in Illinois. Locals love to get their produce from local growers and enjoy visiting these stands weekly, when they are available.
- Fireflies.
Wikimedia Commons/Mike Lewinski These glowing night bugs are like streaks of lightning in the night. Nothing will take you back to lazy summer nights in Illinois like the light show from these critters.
Another thing that might make you think of home is having one of these 11 bizarre experiences that all Illinoisans know well.
Wikimedia Commons/Ingvar Pärnamäe
Much of Illinois is country roads and farmland. Many roads are not paved and are instead made from dirt or gravel. Some people hate driving on them because the stones hit your car and dust sticks to the side, but they are quintessential to life in the middle of nowhere.
Pexels/Magda Ehlers
Really, any inclement weather will make you remember home if you’re from Illinois. We get some of the heaviest rains and snowfalls in the country, so we’re used to it.
Pixabay/BrianTucker
Those winter storms always leave a little bit of magic behind. Seeing ice coat trees or drip from roof tops makes you feel like a kid again. Try to resist the urge to eat the icicles though.
Wikipedia/Bwsmith84
Just as charming as any Midwestern state, Illinois is home to bridges, especially adorable ones like this. While not all are cleared for anything other than pedestrian traffic, they are all wonderful for photos.
Wikimedia Commons/Robert Lawton
Though home to one of the biggest cities in the nation, Illinois still has plenty of rural spaces and tiny little towns. Life is slower and calmer here, and it’s not hard to remember home when you pass one.
Max Pixel
Orange barrels line the roads almost every time of year in Illinois. Especially during summer, crews are out day and night fixing who knows what.
Nothing is more iconic to Illinois than corn. More than 85 percent of our state is covered in fields to grow this stuff, and at harvest time, we go crazy for it.
Pexels/Casey Allen
The glow of a distant skyline will undoubtedly make you think of Chicago if you are from Illinois. Nothing is as beautiful as the city shining at night.
Pixabay/SaraVaccari
Whether you’re by the sea or another Great Lake, you’ll likely remember the endless beaches, crashing waves, and horizons found along Lake Michigan. We’ll take our lake over an ocean any day.
PublicDomainImages/Scott Lee
Of course, food is sure to make you remember home faster than anything. Fried fish on a Friday says Illinois better than just about anything else. Luckily, many places around the Midwest are all about this tradition.
Wikimedia Commons/Glane23
Illinoisans can’t get enough of this amazing dish. Try one from out of state, and you’ll instantly be comparing it to your favorite sammich back home.
Wikimedia Commons/Jon Sullivan
Illinois is the pizza capital of the world, so it’s hard not to think of your hometown favorite every time you try a pie elsewhere. Whether you like it thick or thin, Illinois does all the styles right.
Flickr/thisisbossi
We typically enjoy this delicious dish atop a hamburger patty and slice of bread (i.e. a horseshoe sandwich), but we’ll take it either way. It’s difficult to resist this salty, delicious mess.
Wikimedia Commons/Martybiniasz
Nothing will make you remember home like a festival. Be it for a county or the state, a carnival will instantly take you back to summers in Illinois.
Flickr/NatalieMaynor
This summer and fall commodity is special in Illinois. Locals love to get their produce from local growers and enjoy visiting these stands weekly, when they are available.
Wikimedia Commons/Mike Lewinski
These glowing night bugs are like streaks of lightning in the night. Nothing will take you back to lazy summer nights in Illinois like the light show from these critters.
How else do you remember home in Illinois? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
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