Illinois Big City Voted Best in the Country for the 8th Year in a Row

Three cheers for Illinois! Actually make that eight cheers! We are home to the best big city in the country for the 8th time in a row.

Illinois has some downfalls that's for sure, but it seems like sometimes we all forget the big huge plus of living here in the Prairie State, Chicago!

I know you might be thinking... but is Chicago really that great?

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You know, it really is that great, and I'm not the only one who thinks so.

For the 8th year in a row, Conde Nast Traveler readers crowned Chicago the best big city in the country.

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That's a pretty big honor! But we totally deserve it.

When you look at our country as a whole, Chicago is one of the biggest cities, it's literally media market number two, behind New York and Los Angeles. But you know what Chicago has that those cities don't? Nice people.

I haven't lived in New York, but I've spent enough time there to know that there's a lot of hustle and bustle and not a lot of 'hey how are you today?' to a stranger at a coffee shop.

On the flip side, I have lived in Los Angeles, and while there is a lot of 'hey how are you?,' none of it is sincere. Most LA-ers are really saying, 'hey, how can you do something for me?'

Here in the Midwest, including the big city of Chicago, you'll find people who are actually being friendly and want to make a real connection.

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And because of that I think it's the best city in the country, and clearly I'm not alone.