I live in Libertyville, a suburb of Chicago, located in Lake Country. We are close enough to the big city to have easy access to the many amenities. It’s only about an hour’s drive to attend a Chicago Bulls or Blackhawks game. I often buy tickets to concerts or theater productions in Chicago. I love to go shopping in the city. I definitely don’t want to live there. The cost of living is way too high, and I don’t like the lack of space or privacy. In my opinion, Libertyville is one of the best places to live in Illinois. It is an extremely safe area where most residents own their homes. It offers a suburban feel, and there’s plenty of restaurants, parks and activities. The public schools are highly rated. The biggest challenge with the area is the weather. It tends to be windy, cold and wet for most of the year. Between the rain, snow, cold temperatures and windchill, I am often kept inside. It makes me especially appreciate those rare days of sunshine and blue skies. Fortunately, there’s always something fun going on in Libertyville. In the fall, there’s apple picking, hayrides and haunted corn mazes. In the spring, I often go paddle boating at Independence Grove Forest Preserve. The summer is the perfect time to visit Six Flags or Butler Lake. Plus, there’s live music, wine tastings and various festivals held right on Main Street. At any time of year, I enjoy hiking through the Edward L. Ryerson Conservation area. There are 471 acres of protected woods to explore. It’s cold in the winter but the snow is just beautiful.