If you’ve ever thought about picking up and moving to an entirely new place, you know that it can be a tough choice to make. We did that exact thing, and it was the best decision ever.
We decided to move to Arkansas from Chicago, and we found wonderful people, beautiful scenery, and the great outdoors waiting for us in NWA. If you want to hear more about our journey to discovering how great Arkansas is, keep reading!
Video
Reasons We Wanted Out of Chicago
We decided to leave the Chicagoland area for many reasons. It’s something we had been thinking about for quite some time. So, we finally had a moment where we felt it was now or never. All our reasons for wanting to leave were only getting stronger.
Cold Weather
One of those reasons was the weather because some days – sometimes months – we would go without sunshine, which isn’t enjoyable. So there were quite a few days where we asked ourselves, “Why do we live here?”
If you want to learn more about Northwest Arkansas architecture, check out this article, Architecture in Northwest Arkansas – 7 Award-Winning Designs.
High Cost of Living and Crime Rate
In addition to the weather, the cost of living really started to get out of control, and there was a high tax rate for everything in Illinois.
Another reason we wanted out of Chicago was that the crime rate was starting to climb. Crime was moving more and more out of the city and into the suburbs.
Also, I have a 3-day itinerary that can help you decide what activities to do if you’re overwhelmed by everything Northwest Arkansas has to offer.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a foodie, a sports person, a sightseer, or want to spend quality time with your kids; I have something for you. Check out the link below to learn more:
https://www.allthingsnwa.com/3-day-itinerary-northwest-arkansas
Poor Environment for Growth
We had been married for almost two years at that point, and we wanted to buy our first home. We were looking at what we could get and what was available on the market. With that said, Chicago was looking increasingly like a place where we couldn’t thrive – we would only be getting by. So, we finally decided to think more seriously about it and try to find a place where we could prosper and thrive.
Once we decided that we were ready to leave Illinois, we started trying to find out where we wanted to move. We were looking for a few specific things that a state could offer that we were not getting in Illinois.
Looking for big opportunities? NWA is just the place! 5 BIG Things Happening In Northwest Arkansas
What We Love About Arkansas
Outdoor Activities
Arkansas had a lot of things to offer that we loved. There was better access to activities – just things to do – whether inside or outside. However, we were more interested in outdoor activities. We have bikes, so once we discovered that Northwest Arkansas has trails everywhere – paved and unpaved – we were excited at the thought and opportunity of being able to utilize our bikes more than we had previously.
We like to be outside and do anything outdoors, even hiking. So, it looked like there was a huge opportunity for that in Northwest Arkansas.
Lower Cost of Housing
Also, the cost of housing in Arkansas is a lot cheaper than in Chicagoland. Your money goes farther in Arkansas, and with the major corporations here, there’s quite a bit of opportunity. That’s something we didn’t realize until we looked into Arkansas. We never thought about it, but there’s a lot to offer.
Some big news about NWA you cannot miss!! – 5 Things People Don’t Know About Northwest Arkansas
Beautiful Landscapes and Scenery
Another thing we love about Northwest Arkansas is the landscape. Coming from Illinois, where the terrain is flat and consists mostly of cornfields, and the only elevation you see is mountains of garbage, it’s been absolutely gorgeous to see trees everywhere. You might be on a road going up a mountain, and once you get to the top, you have such a beautiful view.
What we absolutely love are the sunsets. The sunsets are unreal here; we didn’t have that in Illinois. Sometimes we’d get pretty ones, but here, it’s like you have to stop what you’re doing and go outside and see the sunset – because it’s just that gorgeous. There are days when we’re just in awe that we live here and that this is our home now.
Business Opportunities
Arkansas also had what we were looking for in terms of business opportunities. We’re opening up an automotive detailing business, and we wanted to bring it here. That was another thing we were looking at: where we were going to start this business.
It became clear that Illinois was not the best place for us to do that. There’s much less red tape in Arkansas: it’s easier to get things going. So we’re looking forward to being more part of the community. There’s a very entrepreneurial spirit down here. Many people are starting their own businesses.
Tips for Making the Move
A tip we have for anyone looking to make the move is to keep in mind that it is scary. Essentially we were leaving our family and friends behind. It can be difficult to leave family, but ultimately, we had to do our own thing, like starting a family and a business.
We had put down roots in Illinois, and then a couple of people moved away, or situations changed. So then we were sitting there thinking how things were different than what we wanted. So we just decided to make the move.
We also recommend not to keep pushing it off and waiting because we’re kicking ourselves that we didn’t make the move sooner.
One thing about Northwest Arkansas that might be surprising is that it’s a hidden gem. It’s just this little part of Arkansas. When we first heard of it, we were like, “Arkansas? What’s in Arkansas?” Come to find out, it’s a hidden place with amazing people and communities. We can’t say enough good things about NWA, and now we call it home. So yes, we love it here!
Final Thoughts
Significant changes, such as moving to another state, can be scary but also worth it. Arkansas had many opportunities for us when it came to business and more affordable housing. We also felt that it was a safer environment.
The abundance of outdoor activities and the beautiful scenery only made the decision to make the move that much easier.
We didn’t feel that we could thrive in Chicago, and when we discovered the hidden gem that is Arkansas, we took a leap of faith. It really worked in our favor.