Photo: Jonas Ferlin/PEXELS
SNS - If you are planning to relocate to Illinois with your family, you will not be making a mistake. If you're curious about what makes the Prairie State perfect for settling down, keep reading and learn all about the benefits of moving there. You will discover five reasons why you should plan to move your family to Illinois. Prepare for the move
Before you relocate, take your time to familiarize yourself with this state. Learn what it offers to families, find a new home, and discover the best places to raise your children. Along with that, you should also do your best to prepare your kids for the upcoming move. So, if they are old enough to understand what's happening, try including them in the relocating project. And even though sticking to their routine is a key to successful parenting, challenge them and give them chores. That will help them overcome this move more easily and quickly.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
1. Education opportunities
Educational opportunities are among the best benefits of living in Illinois with your family. Home to prestigious universities such as the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Northwestern University, and the University of Chicago, the state offers world-class higher education options. Additionally, Illinois features strong public school systems in many areas, ensuring quality education for children from kindergarten through high school. Whether pursuing advanced degrees or establishing a solid foundation for their children's academic journey, families in Illinois have access to a diverse range of educational resources and institutions to support their goals. In other words, when you relocate here, you can relax knowing your kids will get a high-quality education. 2. Cultural activities
Illinois is a treasure trove of cultural activities, offering something for everyone in the family to enjoy. Chicago, the state's cultural hub, is home to world-renowned museums such as the Art Institute of Chicago, the Field Museum, and the Museum of Science and Industry. These places are known for providing enriching experiences for art, history, and science enthusiasts alike.
Runners start out at the annual St. Joseph 5K. There are various community festivals and athletic events, recreational and pro, all summer long in Illinois.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
Illinois offers a range of affordable residential opportunities, making it an attractive choice for families seeking a comfortable place to call home. While certain areas may have higher housing costs, the state provides diverse options for various budgets and preferences. Thanks to that, your new living space can be an apartment in an urban neighborhood, a house in a suburban area, or whatever option you desire. Illinois offers a mix of housing styles and neighborhoods to accommodate different lifestyles, and you won't have any trouble finding the perfect place for your family to settle down. Hire pros for help
However, if you prefer to live in an urban location like Chicago, it is important to have a good real estate agent by your side. With this expert as your partner, you can complete this house-hunting process in no time. In addition to that, when relocating to Chicago, it is recommended to ask movers to help you safely transfer your belongings to a new home. This way, even if you are planning on moving here from Florida, you can rest assured your possessions will be safe. With the help of these specialists, you can have a smooth move whether you want to relocate to Chicago or its nearby areas in East Central Illinois, like Tolono, St. Joseph, or Urbana. 4. Employment opportunities
Minimum wage is currently at $14 per hour in Illinois. There is no shortage of jobs or opportunities for self-employment paying more in both urban and rural areas around the state.
Photo by Mikael Blomkvist/PEXELS
Illinois offers a high quality of life characterized by a unique blend of urban excitement and natural beauty. With vibrant cities like Chicago providing many cultural attractions, dining experiences, and entertainment options, residents can enjoy a dynamic urban lifestyle.
Alyssa Teijeiro-Ficht (right) leads a Flamenco dance workshop at Lincoln Square Mall on Saturday during the Boneyard Arts Festival in Urbana. There is no shortage of culture even in smaller Illinois cities like Champaign-Urbana, Bloomington-Normal, and Springfield for residents to enjoy.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
When you settle into your new home beyond the city limits, you'll notice that the state has picturesque landscapes, including scenic parks, lakeshores, and forest preserves, offering abundant outdoor recreation and relaxation opportunities. Apart from that, Illinois' central location offers easy access to neighboring states and major metropolitan areas. When planning to move your family to Illinois, know that this state presents a compelling destination for parents and kids! It offers a perfect blend of opportunity, culture, and quality of life. Therefore, it is no wonder that Illinois welcomes families with open arms, promising a fulfilling and enriching experience for those who choose to make it their home.
Every day in America we hear the names of Biden and Trump mentioned on various news television or radio stations. We daily hear about the struggles of Ukraine and Russia. Border security, illegal immigrants, inner city issues and China are almost daily themes.
How could we ever get through a day in America without hearing these ongoing names, themes and issues? It doesn’t seem like we can especially if we daily watch the national news.
Many of us don’t want to live with our heads in the sand thinking the world is a cozy place with everyone living in unity. Most of us understand the world has problems and political personalities that we either admire or abhor or can’t live without. However, most of us have our breaking point when it comes to the daily fodder of political jockeying, mudslinging and media grids committed to swaying how you are supposed to feel about different candidates or world problems.
Recently, I attended my high school senior class reunion and thoroughly enjoyed the gathering of old classmates. We caught up on old times, old ballgames, previous teachers and administrators as well as how life is going today. We remembered those who are already deceased and heard some funny stories and jokes. We shared food together and enjoyed small talk, laughs and some hugs. The line often repeated throughout the evening was, “You sure are looking good.” This was an honest compliment for the most part because old friends always look good. An old classmate or someone who shared years of school history with you is typically a welcomed sight.
I couldn’t help but noticing as the evening wound down that I didn’t hear anybody wanting to argue about politics or political candidates. I didn’t hear anyone worried that China might invade Taiwan. There wasn’t discussion about our border or America’s growing homeless crisis. Our two plus hours was spent simply enjoying each other, reminiscing and having a few laughs. A lot of good admiring words where shared between people making for an enjoyable evening. We had a two-hour successful gathering that didn’t involve the top news stories of the week or the bad stuff that we hear about every day.
Taking a break of from all of the mainstream daily tensions that divide many of us would be a novel idea for all of us. Take a break from it all, at least occasionally. Just focus on kindness, friendship, helping people and being good to each other.
You’ll have ample opportunity to express your frustrations when you vote or when you decide to watch a political debate. There are plenty of those coming. If you start feeling like you are an indifferent and detached from reality, then you can always turn on the evening news to have your fervor or fever reignited.
