Chicago may have the Bulls and the blues, but Springfield is still the capital of Illinois, with a proud history of its own. After all, Springfield was the hometown of one of the greatest presidents to serve in the history of the United States: Abraham Lincoln. While he wasn't born here, he lived in Springfield when he was elected President, and several important landmarks—like his home, presidential library, and tomb at Oak Ridge Cemetery—remain in the area.

Not only is the city rich with US history, but it has also been a place for the arts, which, not surprisingly, often crossed lines with social activism. Writers like Vachel Lindsay and Edgar Lee Masters, known most notably for their poetry, often injected political ideas into their collected works, feeding the city's sense of care for its citizens. There must be something in the water, because Springfield continues to celebrate this artistic tradition with events like the Old Capitol Art Fair and the Route 66 Film Festival, as well as with underground haunts like the Black Sheep Café, an all-ages venue that brings local music to the masses.

Springfield residents also appreciate their local businesses, which is evident in the downtown shopping culture, where you can find innovative stores like Flea Market to Fabulous, the Itty Bitty Fashion Truck storefront, and Studio on 6th. If you're out and about shopping, taking in the historic scenes, or enlightening yourself with the works of your favorite local artists, you don't want to worry about what's going on back at home. ADT has several products like home monitoring and home automation that will make you feel safer about your house—and all those great buys you snagged on your last visit to White Oaks Mall.