Quincy and Nauvoo Named 2 of Illinois’ Most ‘Charming’ Towns

Please don't take this the wrong way, but I was a little surprised when I learned that both Quincy and Nauvoo had been named two of the "most charming" towns in Illinois. I'll attempt to explain why.

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First of all, I want to be clear that I think it's a good thing - a very good thing - that both Quincy and Nauvoo received this mention from the website Trips to Discover. I love the angle that they're looking beyond Chicago for great Illinois destinations.

This begs the question "What makes a town charming?". That's a tricky one. What's "charming" to one person might be irritating to someone else. The writer went out of her way to explore some out-of-the-way Illinois places and that's awesome. She mentioned "welcoming faces, quaint B&Bs, and history" and both Quincy and Nauvoo have tons of history for sure.

In my trips to Nauvoo over the years, I would agree that charming is an adjective that fits there.

Big disclaimer: I love Quincy and have spent much of my adult life here. It's just that the word charming doesn't immediately come to mind. My family used to travel from Hannibal to Quincy primarily shopping and during the many years I've lived here, I'd classify the city as welcoming and friendly. Just don't know if I can say charming is accurate, but that's just me talking.

The Trips to Discover article is a refreshing look at towns in Illinois that don't often get mentioned, so kudos to the writer on looking beyond the Windy City for entertainment - and charm.