Every time I visit Illinois there are certain things that I get extremely excited about, besides seeing my family, of course. Between the food, the places, and the culture Chicago will always be one of my favorite places to visit. It isn't just my hometown. To me, it's a place that has allowed me to live in the best of both worlds since I have spent my life growing up in both California and Chicago. Here are the reasons why this place has a special part of my heart.

1. Portillos

If you haven't had a beef sandwich or hot dog from Portillos then you are depriving your taste buds of amazing food. There isn't a Portillos close to me in Northern California, so it's usually my first stop when I leave the airport. I also love to send pictures of my plate back to my family in California.

2. Dunkin' Donuts

Coffee makes a better day and a better me. The iced coffee from Dunkin' Donuts takes my love for coffee to a whole new level. Whether I am going there for winter, spring, or summer vacation I will most likely have an iced Dunkin' Donuts latte in my hand.

3. Millennium Park

Between the bean, the seasons, and the beautiful architecture this is my favorite spot to hang out with my family and make memories. The bean is fun to take pictures against. In the winter it is fun to ice-skate there, and no matter the season it's a magnificent walk, hence the name The Magnificent Mile. Plus, the movie "The Vow" and other movies were filmed here too, which makes it even more interesting.

4. The food

In general, whether I go out to eat or have meals at home the food in Chicago makes my tummy warm and happy. And yes, the pizza is as amazing as everyone says it is. However, I especially look forward to the home-cooked meals by my 100% Italian grandmothers. There are certain dishes that I always request from my grandmas when I visit such as vodka pasta, sausage and other Italian favorites. Food always brings my family together whether we are cooking or eating together, and that always creates great memories.

5. The culture

In Chicago, everyone is generally so friendly. It doesn't matter if you're a stranger or not; they will converse with you and maybe even hug you. Also, there are so many nationalities that all have a lot of pride in their culture. Different cities are even known to have a lot of certain cultures, such as Polish or Italian, and everyone is very proud to celebrate their culture. Everyone is also pretty outgoing and doesn't get offended by your opinions. Don't get me wrong; they'll let you know they don't like it, but they don't get super sensitive about controversy. I addition, my family is 100 percent Italian and honors it a lot, and I don't get that in California.

6. The accent

They don't think they have one but you can hear the exaggerated vowels, and I love it. I think it's fun to come back to California with a hint of it in how I talk, too.